2023 Pro Swim Series – Fort Lauderdale: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2023 PRO SWIM SERIES – FORT LAUDERDALE

• March 1-4, 2023
• Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Long Course Meters (50 meters)
• Prelims/Finals
  • `Prelims: 9:00 AM (EST)
  • Finals: 5:00 PM Wednesday, 6:00 PM (EST) Thursday-Saturday
• Meet Central
• Live Results
• Psych Sheets
• Ways to Watch
• Storylines to Follow
• Day 1 Finals Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Recap

The second finals session of the Fort Lauderdale Pro Swim Series will begin at 6 pm EST and will feature 10 individual events. We’ll start with the women’s 100 freestyle, in which seven Olympians are set to battle it out. Sprint queens Simone Manuel, Abbey Weitzeil, Natalie Hinds, Olivia Smoliga, and Erika Brown are in the mix, along with Katie Ledecky and Summer McIntosh who are taking a break from their usual long-distance line-up. Those seven will be joined by Erika Pelaez who swam a 5th place 55.12 in the prelims to earn a spot amongst this red-hot field.

Matt Richards of the UK was the fastest man in the 100 freestyle during the morning session, hitting a 48.41. That was his second-fastest time in history behind the 48.2 he swam at the Tokyo Olympics. NAG record-breaker Kaii Winkler is #2 heading into the final as Ruslan Gaziev scratched the event. Other entrants will be Hunter Armstrong, Dylan Carter, and Alberto Mestre.

The Indiana breaststrokers came in strong in the 100 breaststroke as Lilly King and Cody Miller claimed top seeds in the 100 breaststrokes. They will be looking for their first wins of the meet in that event but will each face their fair share of competitors.

Regan Smith and Justin Ress will lead us into the 50 backstroke while Summer McIntosh and Trenton Julian picked up top seeds in the 200 butterfly. The final event of the night is the 400 freestyle where Olympic champion Ahmed Hafnaoui has a shot at gold. In the women’s event, Leah Smith is the top seed and will be joined by Siobhan Haughey, Katie Grimes, Ella Jansen, and more.

DAY 2 FINALS HEAT SHEETS

WOMEN’S 100 FREESTYLE

• World Record: 51.71, Sarah Sjostrom (2017)
• World Junior Record: 52.70, Penny Oleksiak (2016)
• American Record: 52.04, Simone Manuel (2019)
• U.S. Open Record: 52.54, Simone Manuel (2018)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 53.12, Sarah Sjostrom (2016)

Top 8:

1. Abbey Weitzeil – 53.38
2. Katie Ledecky – 54.01
3. Erika Brown – 54.39
4. Olivia Smoliga – 54.49
5. Summer McIntosh – 54.54
6. Simone Manuel – 54.55
7. Natalie Hinds – 54.78
8. Erika Pelaez – 55.16

Top seed Abbey Weitzeil pulled off the first win of the night, stopping the clock in a 53.38 in the women’s 100 freestyle. With that swim, Weitzeil became the fastest woman in the world this season by surpassing Dutch swimmer Marrit Steenbergen who posted a 53.61 in December 2022. This is one of Weitzeil’s best in-season times on record and was a bit slower than her recent PB of 52.99 from last summer.

Distance legend Katie Ledecky showed off her sprint chops in this final by taking the silver medal with a 54.01, which is her 3rd-fastest swim ever. Ledecky’s top two times come from 2016 when she swam a 53.75 and a 53.99.

Erika Brown, who originally placed 9th in the prelims made the most of getting scratched into this final when she swam her way to a bronze medal, hitting a 54.39. That time is more than a second faster than her morning time of 55.63. Brown touched just ahead of Olivia Smoliga‘s 54.49 for 4th.

Summer McIntosh was 5th here with a 54.54, followed by Simone Manuel in a 54.55 for 6th.

MEN’S 100 FREESTYLE

• World Record: 46.86, David Popovici (2022)
• World Junior Record: 46.86, David Popovici (2022)
• American Record: 46.96, Caeleb Dressel (2019)
• U.S. Open Record: 47.39, Ryan Held/Caeleb Dressel (2019)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 48.00, Nathan Adrian (2016)

Top 8:

1. Dylan Carter – 48.28
2. Matt Richards – 48.48
3. Hunter Armstrong – 48.95
4. Kaii Winkler – 49.11
5. Victor Guimares Alcara – 49.14
6. Ryan Held – 49.21
7. Luiz Altamir – 49.60
8. Alberto Mestre – 49.89

Three men got under 49 seconds in this final, led by Trinidad and Tobago swimmer Dylan Carter. Carter posted a 48.28 in the final to take out his own national record in this event, which was previously a 48.30 from last year at the 2022 World Championships. That makes this swim the fastest in-season performance ever by Carter.

Matt Richards was the top seed in this event out of prelims, having swum his second-fastest time ever during prelims with a 48.41. He was a little bit slower in the final, hitting a 48.48 for the silver medal. The top American in the field was Hunter Armstrong who threw down a 48.95 to get just over a half second away from his 2022 best time of 48.25.

Kaii Winkler set a new NAG during prelims with a 48.81, but couldn’t quite crack the 49-second mark in the final, settling for a 49.11 for fourth place. Victor Guimares Alcara of Brazil, who got scratched into this final, pulled off a 49.14 for 5th place in the final.

WOMEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE

• World Record: 1:04.13, Lilly King (2017)
• World Junior Record: 1:04.35, Ruta Meilutyte (2013)
• American Record: 1:04.13, Lilly King (2017)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:04.45, Jessica Hardy (2009)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 1:05.32, Lilly King (2021)

Top 8:

1. Lilly King – 1:06.28
2. Kara Hanlon – 1:06.93
3. Imogen Clark – 1:07.85
4. Sophie Angus – 1:08.08
5. Rachel Bernhardt – 1:08.20
6. Annie Lazor – 1:08.37
7. Macarena Aileen Ceballos – 1:08.61
8. Tara Volk – 1:08.86

World record holder Lilly King did was she does best by winning a 100 breaststroke title here. King topped the podium in the event with a 1:06.28, which is a new season best and the 3rd-fastest time in the world this season. She’s now sitting behind Tes Schouten of the Netherlands (1:06.09) and Reona Aoki of Japan (1:06.11).

King holds the world record in this event as well as the Pro Swim Series record at a 1:05.32 from back in 2021. King’s time of 1:06.28 is more than two seconds off her PB and WR but was enough to out-touch Great Britain’s Kara Hanlon who swam a 1:06.93 for silver.

This was Hanlon’s second time under 1:07 in the long course 100 breaststroke, having hit a 1:06 last week at BUCs. It also got her closer to the current British record in the event of 1:06.21, which Molly Renshaw set in 2021.

Great Britain appeared twice on the podium with Imogen Clark hitting a 1:07.85, while Canada’s Sophie Angus and Rachel Bernhardt finished in 4th and 5th, respectively, with a 1:08.08 and 1:08.20.

MEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE

• World Record: 56.88, Adam Peaty (2019)
• World Junior Record: 59.01, Nicolo Martinenghi (2017)
• American Record: 58.14, Michael Andrew (2021)
• U.S. Open Record: 58.14, Michael Andrew (2021)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 58.86, Adam Peaty (2017)

Top 8:

1. Nic Fink – 59.97
2. Michael Andrew – 59.98
3. Cody Miller – 1:00.12
4. Tommy Cope – 1:00.84
5. Will Licon – 1:01.26
6. Finlay Knox – 1:01.29
7. Anton McKee – 1:01.35
8. Gregory Butler – 1:01.54

American record holder opened a second faster than his prelims swim with a 27.41 and was in the lead at the halfway point. In the end, however, Nic Fink managed to close faster and overtook the lead for the victory.

The race came down to the very last stroke as the top two performers touched just one one hundredth of a second apart. Fink delivered a 59.97 for the gold medal, while Michael Andrew came to the wall with a 59.98 for silver.

Fink and Andrew are now #1 and #2 in the USA this season in the men’s 100 breaststroke, over-taking Cody Miller who hit the top time during prelims with a 1:00.43. The top performer worldwide this season is Arno Kamminga who powered to a 58.90 at the Rotterdam Qualification meet in December 2022.

While he didn’t match his top seed, Cody Miller did improve upon his time in this final by swimming a 1:00.12 for the bronze medal. He out-touched Tommy Cope and Will Licon, who placed 4th and 5th with a 1:00.84 and a 1:01.26.

WOMEN’S 50 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 26.98, Xiang Liu (2018)
• World Junior Record: 27.49, Minna Atherton (2016)
• American Record: 27.12, Katharine Berkoff (2022)
• U.S. Open Record: 27.12, Katharine Berkoff (2022)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 27.38, Kylie Masse (2023)

Top 8:

1. Regan Smith – 27.55
2. Lauren Cox – 27.91
3. Medi Harris – 28.03
4. Olivia Smoliga – 28.44
5. Julie Kepp Jensen – 28.97
6. Erika Pelaez – 29.02
7. Athena Meneses Kovacs – 29.42
8. Lila Higgo – 29.54

Regan Smith pulled off a win in the 50 backstroke by swimming a 27.55. That’s only 0.30 seconds slower than her lifetime best of 27.25, which she swam in April 2022. Smith has been under 28 seconds a total of seven times before this meet and this is her 5th-quickest swim in history.

Smith is now the #2 performer globally this season, passing Katharine Berkoff’s 27.80 from the Knoxville Pro Swim in January. Smith raced at that meet as well, hitting a 27.81.

Smith shared the podium with Great Britain’s Lauren Cox who also managed to dip under 28 seconds here with a 27.91. That makes Cox the fastest European in the world this season and just the 6th woman to get under 28 for 2022-2023.

Medi Harris rounded out the podium with a 28.03, slightly trailing her 2022 best time in the event of 27.56. Olivia Smoliga, swimming in her second final of the night, had her second 4th place finish of the night with a 28.44.

MEN’S 50 BACKSTROKE

• World Record: 23.71, Hunter Armstong (2022)
• World Junior Record: 24.00, Kliment Kolesnikov (2018)
• American Record: 23.71, Hunter Armstrong (2022)
• U.S. Open Record: 23.71, Hunter Armstrong (2022)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 24.49, Justin Ress (2023)

Top 8:

1. Justin Ress – 24.73
2. Hunter Armstrong – 24.95
3. Shaine Casas – 25.20
4. Joao Nogueira Costa – 25.75
5. Javier Acevedo – 25.78
6. Jonny Marshall – 25.99
7. Chris Thames – 26.03
8. Ulises Saravia – 26.13

World record-holder in this event Hunter Armstrong had his second race of the night and managed to get on the podium for a second time. Armstrong was a bit slower than the all-time fastest performance he threw down at US Trials last year (23.71) with a 24.95. That time was good enough for silver as his World Champs teammate Justin Ress got to the wall first with a 24.73.

Ress was a bit slower here than what he swam at the Knoxville Pro Swim Series in January. There, he posted a 24.49 for the gold medal, which remains the second-fastest time in the world this year behind Ksawery Masiuk’s 24.44.

Hunter Armstrong was actually also faster in Knoxville, having posted a 24.70 compared to the 24.95 he swam tonight. Shaine Casas has a season-best of 25.20 to claim the silver medal and Joao Nogueira Costa was behind him with a 25.75 for 4th.

WOMEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY

• World Record: 2:01.81, Zige Liu (2009)
• World Junior Record: 2:05.20, Summer McIntosh (2022)
• American Record: 2:04.14, Mary Descenza (2009)
• U.S. Open Record: 2:05.85, Hali Flickinger (2021)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 2:06.11, Hali Flickinger (2020)

Top 8:

1. Summer McIntosh – 2:05.05
2. Bella Sims – 2:09.89
3. Maria Jose Mata Cocco – 2:11.00
4. Ana Catarina Monteiro – 2:12.17
5. Kamryn Cannings – 2:13.33
6. Audrey Derivaux – 2:13.39
7. Samantha Banos – 2:14.69
8. Katie Ledecky – 2:17.19

Just as she did at the 2022 World Championships, Summer McIntosh swam a new world junior record tonight in the 200 butterfly. McIntosh hit a 2:05.05 to win the gold medal by almost five seconds here, taking out her previous WJR of 2:05.20 from last summer.

McIntosh also set a new US Open record, which Hali Flickinger set in 2021 at a 2:05.85, and a new Pro Swim Series record, which was also held by Flickinger at a 2:06.11 from 2020. McIntosh is now the fastest woman in the world in this event this season, improving upon Regan Smith‘s December 2022 swim of 2:07.30.

Bella Sims dipped under 2:10 with her time of 2:09.89, which was good enough for a silver medal and a new best time. Heading into this meet Sims held a PB of 2:13.91 and got down to a 2:13.06 in the prelims. Behind Sims’ 2:09.89, Mexico’s Maria Jose Mata Cocco put up a 2:11.00 for the bronze medal, while Ana Catarina Monteiro hit a 2:12.17 for 4th.

MEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY

• World Record: 1:50.34, Kristof Milak (2022)
• World Junior Record: 1:53.79, Kristof Milak (2017)
• American Record: 1:51.51, Michael Phelps (2009)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:52.20, Michael Phelps (2008)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 1:53.84, Luca Urlando (2019)

Top 8:

1. Ilya Kharun – 1:54.49
2. Trenton Julian – 1:55.70
3. Chase Kalisz – 1:56.03
4. Zach Harting – 1:56.79
5. Nicolas Albiero – 1:56.98
6. Luiz Altamir – 1:57.66
7. Connor Lamastra – 1:58.44
8. Hector Ruvalcaba Cruz – 1:59.68

Ilya Kharun came into this meet with a best time of 1:56.66 in the 200 butterfly, which he swam in July 2022 in Irvine. After swimming a 1:57.33 in prelims for #2 heading into finals, Kharun hit a huge best time to win gold in the final with his 1:54.49. That time is a new Canadian record for Kharun, taking out the 1:56.27 by Mack Darragh in 2018.

Kharun won this event by over a second, touching the wall ahead of Trenton Julian‘s 1:55.70 for silver. Julian also improved upon his prelims time but wasn’t quite as fast as the 1:54.22 that he swam in April 2022 at US Trials.

Chase Kalisz rounded out the top three with a 1:56.03 and Zach Harting was just a bit slower with his 1:56.79 for fourth place.

WOMEN’S 400 FREESTYLE

• World Record: 3:56.40, Ariarne Titmus (2022)
• World Junior Record: 3:58.37, Katie Ledecky (2014)
• American Record: 3:56.46, Katie Ledecky (2016)
• U.S. Open Record: 3:57.94, Katie Ledecky (2018)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 3:57.94, Katie Ledecky (2018)

Top 8:

1. Katie Grimes – 4:05.18
2. Siobhan Haughey – 4:05.84
3. Claire Weinstein – 4:06.24
4. Leah Smith – 4:06.43
5. Ella Jansen – 4:07.18
6. Regan Smith – 4:11.53
7. Michaela Mattes – 4:13.46
8. Leah Crisp – 4:14.79

At the 350-meter mark of this 400 freestyle final, four swimmers were ahead of Katie Grimes. Grimes split a 3:36.01, while Siobhan Haughey, Claire Weinstein, Leah Smith, and Ella Jansen all split in the 3:35 range. Katie Grimes, who specializes in open water in addition to pool distance swimming, had the speed she needed on the final 50 to pull ahead of the field.

Grimes split 29.17 on the last lap of the race, which was the only sub-30 split in the heat. She overtook the field and touched with a 4:05.18 for the gold medal. Siobhan Haughey, who was first at the 350, closed with a 30.36 and wound up in second place with a 4:05.84.

Claire Weinstein and Leah Smith ultimately battled it out for the bronze medal and Weinstein came out on top with a 4:06.24 while Smith hit a 4:06.43. Ella Jansen clinched 5th place overall with a 4:07.18.

MEN’S 400 FREESTYLE

• World Record: 3:40.07, Paul Biedermann (2009)
• World Junior Record: 3:44.60, Mack Horton (2014)
• American Record: 3:42.78, Larsen Jensen (2008)
• U.S. Open Record: 3:43.53, Larsen Jensen (2008)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 3:43.55, Sun Yang (2016)

Top 8:

1. Ahmed Hafnaoui – 3:46.02
2. Marwan Elkamash – 3:47.34
3. Kieran Smith – 3:48.02
4. Guilherme Costa – 3:48.33
5. Daniel Jervis – 3:51.28
6. Bobby Finke – 3:52.11
7. Luke Turley – 3:52.13
8. Michael Brinegar – 3:57.87

Olympic champion Ahmed Hafnaoui got another gold medal in the 400 freestyle here by swimming a 3:46.02. That time is his 3rd-fastest on record and is only slower than his two swims at the Olympics of 3:43.36 and 3:45.68. He swam a 3:50.77 in prelims, which proved to just be a warmup before slicing more than 4 seconds off in the final.

Marwan Elkamash of Egypt was the #2 man in the 400 freestyle final, delivering a 3:47.34 to trail his 2017 PB of 3:46.36. Kieran Smith took bronze with a 3:48.02, hitting the wall just ahead of Guilherme Costa’s 3:48.33.

Double Olympic champion Bobby Finke swam in this final as well, hitting a 3:52.11 for 6th place behind Daniel Jervis’ 5th place 3:51.28.