Here’s a story that’ll make you sit up and take notice: the Army men’s swim team just punched their ticket to the NCAA Championships with a jaw-dropping 3:04.10 in the 400 medley relay—a time that not only qualifies them but also places them among the elite. But here’s where it gets even more impressive: Sophomore Johnny Crush kicked things off with a blistering 44.10 split, tying him as the 16th fastest performer in history. Talk about starting with a bang!
This achievement is no small feat, especially when you consider the 2026 NCAA qualifying time for the men’s 400 medley relay is set at 3:04.96—a mark only 18 relays have managed to beat this season. Army’s previous best time this season was a 3:08.78, so this leap is nothing short of remarkable. With this performance, they’ve catapulted themselves to the #13 spot in the NCAA rankings for the event. And this is the part most people miss: it’s not just about the team’s overall time; it’s the individual splits that tell the real story.
Let’s break it down. Here’s a side-by-side comparison of their splits from today’s time trial versus midseason:
| Swimmer | Time Trial | Midseason |
|-----------------------|----------------|---------------|
| Johnny Crush | 44.10 | 46.56 |
| Kohen Rankin | 50.90 | 52.18 |
| Daniel Verdolaga | 46.73 | 46.69 |
| Thomas Hadji | 42.37 | 43.35 |
| Total | 3:04.10 | 3:08.78 |
Crush’s performance today was the game-changer. His 44.10 split not only ties him historically but also propels him to the #3 spot in the NCAA this season, up from #9. To put it in perspective, he finished 8th in the 100 back at the 2025 NCAA Championships with a 45.07 in the finals. But here’s the controversial part: Is Crush’s rapid improvement a sign of untapped potential, or is he peaking too early? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Kohen Rankin, who swam the breaststroke leg, also deserves a shoutout. His 50.90 split today was just shy of his personal best of 50.76, which he achieved during the Army-Navy dual meet in December. Like Crush, Rankin competed individually at the 2025 NCAA Championships, swimming in the prelims of the 100 and 200 breaststrokes. His consistency and speed are proving to be invaluable for the team.
Looking ahead, the Army men are set to compete in the Patriot League Championships starting Wednesday, February 18th. This will be their chance to further improve their seed time and, more importantly, defend their team title after defeating Navy last year. But here’s the question: Can they maintain this momentum, or will the pressure of defending their title weigh them down? Share your thoughts below.
About Anya Pelshaw: Anya has been a cornerstone of SwimSwam since June 2021, serving as both a writer and social media coordinator. She’s covered the 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 Women’s NCAA Championships, as well as the 2023 US Summer Nationals and the 2024 European Championships. Her insights and coverage have been instrumental in bringing these events to life for fans around the world. Read More.
