2023 Pan American Games: Day 5 Prelims Live Recap

2023 PAN AMERICAN GAMES

• October 21-25, 2023
• Santiago, Chile
• Meet Central
• Entries (Psych Sheet)
• Live Results
• Live Stream
  • Fubo TV (subscription required)
  • PanAm Sports Channel (USA, Canada, Jamaica)
• Day 1 Prelims Recap | Day 1 Finals Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Recap| Day 2 Finals Recap
• Day 3 Prelims Recap | Day 3 Finals Recap
• Day 4 Prelims Recap | Day 4 Finals Recap

The day has come. Today marks the fifth and final day of the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago. Like yesterday, there are only six events on today’s schedule.

DAY 5 PRELIMS EVENT SCHEDULE

• Women’s 1500 free (Timed Final – Early Heats)
• Women’s 200 IM
• Men’s 200 IM
• Men’s 1500 free (Timed Final – Early Heats)
• Women’s 4×100 medley relay
• Men’s 4×100 medley relay

The 1500 free is a timed finals event, which means the early heats will be swum with prelims this morning and the fastest heat of each will go tonight in finals. Before anyone panics, there is just one heat of the women’s mile this morning and just two heats of the men’s event.

The women’s 200 IM ought to be a fun race. Canadian Sydney Pickrem already won gold in the women’s 200 breast, where she had a really solid swim. Though she didn’t compete at the World Championships this summer, she is without question one of the top women’s 200 IMers in the world right now, as evidenced by her seed time of 2:08.61. Fellow Canadian Mary-Sophie Harvey is the only other swimmer in the event seeded under 2:12, coming in with a 2:09.65.

Canada also comes in as the top seed in the men’s 200 IM, where Finlay Knox is entered at 1:57.26. He has an edge of about 1.5 seconds over #2 seeded Arsenio Bustos (1:58.74).

WOMEN’S 1500 FREESTYLE – EARLY HEATS

• World Record: 15:20.48 – Katie Ledecky, United States (2018)
• Pan American Games Record: 16:16.54 – Delfina Pignatiello, Argentina (2019)

There were only four swimmers who raced in the women’s 1500 free this morning. As a timed final event, these swimmers could potentially move up into the top 8 once the fastest heat competes in finals tonight.

This morning, Venezuela’s Maria Yegres posted the top time, swimming a 17:26.48.

WOMEN’S 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 2:06.12 – Katinka Hosszu, Hungary (2015)
• Pan American Games Record: 2:10.51 – Caitlin Leverenz, United States (2015)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Sydney Pickrem (Canada) – 2:14.41
2. Kennedy Noble (United States) – 2:15.23
3. Kristen Romano (Puerto Rico) – 2:15.98
4. Abby Harter (United States) – 2:16.81
5. Mary-Sophie Harvey (Canada) – 2:16.94
6. Stefania Gomez (Colombia) – 2:17.08
7. McKenna Debeever (Peru) – 2:17.58
8. Gabrielle Roncatto (Brazil) – 2:18.28

Canadian Sydney Pickrem led prelims of the women’s 200 IM with a 2:14.41, earning the top seed for tonight’s final. While that time was about 6 seconds off her career best, Pickrem’s time was still enough this morning. She was out in 28.74 on fly, then split 34.14 on back, 38.42 on breast, and 33.11 on free. We can expect Pickrem to be significantly faster tonight.

Another swimmer we can expect to be much faster tonight is the other Canadian in the race, Mary-Sophie Harvey. Harvey came in 5th this morning with a 2:16.94 but don’t be fooled, she’s been under 2:10 in the event before. She’s been having a good meet this week as well, so we can expect a faster swim from Harvey tonight.

American Kennedy Noble was 2nd this morning, swimming a 2:15.23. Noble was the gold medalist in the 200 back earlier in the meet, where she broke the Pan American Games Record.

MEN’S 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 1:54.00 – Ryan Lochte, United States (2011)
• Pan American Games Record: 1:57.06 – Henrique Rodrigues, Brazil (2015)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Collyn Gagne (Canada) – 2:02.18
2. Mason Laur (United States) – 2:02.41
3. Vini Lanza (Brazil) – 2:02.44
4. Finlay Knox (Canada) – 2:02.45
5. Leonardo Coelho (Brazil) – 2:02.63
6. Arsenio Bustos (United States) – 2:02.77
7. Erick Gordillo (Independant) – 2:02.93
8. Joaquin Piñero (Argentina) – 2:03.05

Canadian Collyn Gagne led prelims of the men’s 200 IM with a 2:02.18 this morning. The field was tight, seeing the top 8 separated by just 0.87 seconds in total. It was a solid swim for Gagne, who was entered with a 2:00.62. He was strong on the back half of the race, splitting 36.12 on breaststroke and 28.80 on freestyle for a 1:04.92 on the second 100.

The other Canadian in the field, Finlay Knox is the Canadian Record holder in the event (1:57.26) and was the top seed coming into the meet. He came in 4th this morning with a 2:02.45.

American Mason Laur was 2nd this morning in 2:02.41. Vini Lanza was out ahead of Gagne in their heat, but wasn’t as fast on the back half and faded to 2nd in the heat and 3rd overall with a 2:02.44.

MEN’S 1500 FREESTYLE – EARLY HEATS

• World Record: 14:31.02 – Sun Yang, China (2019)
• Pan American Games Record: 15:06.40 – Ryan Cochrane, Canada (2015)

There were two heats of the men’s 1500 free this morning, featuring a total of 10 swimmers. Of course, this is a timed final event, so the fastest 8 seeds still have yet to race, which they will do tonight in finals.

This morning, Canadian Timothe Barbeau led the field, swimming a 15:35.59. It was a decent swim for Barbeau, who entered the meet with a 15:32.99.

Honduras’ Deigo Dulieu had a huge swim this morning, posting the 2nd-fastest time overall with a 15:42.82. He was entered with a 15:50.75.

WOMEN’S 4×100 MEDLEY RELAY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 3:50.40 – United States (2019)
• Pan American Games Record: 3:56.53 – United States (2015)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Canada – 4:05.19
2. United States – 4:06.63
3. Colombia – 4:10.54
4. Brazil – 4:11.38
5. Mexico – 4:13.11
6. Venezuela – 4:13.65
7. Argentina – 4:13.97
8. Cuba – 4:18.57

Canada posted the top time this morning in the women’s 4×100 medley relay. Madelyn Gatrall (1:02.11), Sophie Angus (1:06.77), Katerine Savard (59.49), and Brooklyn Douthwright (56.82) combined for a 4:05.19, leading the field by 1.44 seconds. Angus’ breast split was particularly notable, as her 1:06.77 was by far the fastest breast split of the morning.

The Americans were the only other team under 4:10 this morning, coming in 2nd with a 4:06.63. Reilly Tiltmann led off in 1:01.80, which was the fastest backstroke split in the field. Then, Anna Keating clocked a 1:10.82 on breast, Olivia Bray was 59.21 on fly, which was the fastest fly split, and Gabi Albiero anchored in a field-leading 54.60.

MEN’S 4×100 MEDLEY RELAY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 3:26.78 – United States (2021)
• Pan American Games Record: 3:30.25 – United States (2019)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. United States – 3:37.19
2. Brazil – 3:37.45
3. Canada – 3:39.27
4. Mexico – 3:42.22
5. Colombia – 3:45.07
6. Argentina – 3:46.72
7. Chile – 3:47.76
8. Venezuela – 3:49.32

The U.S. and Brazil had a nice race in prelims of the men’s 4×100 medley relay this morning. Gabriel Fantoni got Brazil out to a slim lead, splitting 55.01 on backstoke, which was just ahead of American Chris O’Connor who swam a 55.38. Noah Nichols then took the lead over for the U.S., splitting 59.91 on breast, while Raphael Windmuller was 1:01.14 for Brazil. Continuing to have great meet, Jack Dahlgren clocked a 52.34 on fly, which was faster than Brazil’s Victor Baganha, who swam a 52.92. It came down to the anchor for Brazil, and Victor Alcara came through, putting up a 48.38, while American Coby Carrozza was 49.56. Still, the U.S. got to the finish first and will have the top seed for tonight’s final.

Meanwhile, Canada won heat 1 of the event with a 3:39.27. Raben Dommann (55.09), Brayden Taivassalo (1:00.89), Keir Ogilvie (53.89), and Edouard Fullum-Huot (49.40) teamed up to make it happen, winning their heat by over 7 seconds and clocking the 3rd-fastest time of the morning.