2023 PRO SWIM SERIES – WESTMONT
- April 12-15, 2023
- FMC Aquatic Center, Westmont, Illinois
- Long Course Meters (50 meters)
- Event Central
- Pre-Scratch timeline
- Psych Sheets
- Live Stream
- Live Results
- Day 1 Finals Live Recap
The first finals session of the 2023 Pro Swim Series in Westmont, IL, is in the books. The first night of the meet was short, only featuring timed finals of the 800 free. Unlike our live recaps, which tend to be more focused on the top finishers in each event for the most part, this post is dedicated to highlighting some performances that may have flown under the radar last night.
First up, we have Saint Petersburg Aquatics 13-year-old Brinkleigh Hansen, who came in 15th in the women’s 800 free last night with an 8:58.42. While the swim was under Hansen’s seed time of 9:00.64, it wasn’t actually a personal best for the youngster. Hansen had just posted a new lifetime best of 8:57.60 in the 800 about three weeks ago at the 2023 FL ISCA International Senir Cup. Given that, it means Hansen broke 9:00 for the first time three weeks ago, then did so again last night.
Seattle Metropolitan Aquatic Club 16-year-old Mia Foster had a big swim last night as well. Foster came in 23rd in the women’s 800, swimming a huge new personal best of 9:08.72. The performance took just shy of 14 seconds off Foster’s previous best of 9:22.51, which she swam last July.
University of Florida sophomore Aryan Nehra notched a new personal best en route to a seventh-place finish in the men’s 800 free. Nehra clocked an 8:03.15, taking 6.53 seconds off his previous best of 8:09.68, which he established about one year ago, at the 2022 Pro Swim Series in San Antonio.
Aiden Hammer, a 15-year-old out of King Aquatic Club in Washington, came in 17th in the men’s 800 free last night with an 8:18.30. The swim marked Hammer’s first time under 8:20 in the event, beating out his previous mark of 8:21.93, which he swam at the Santa Clara Futures meet last July.
Hammer put together a fantastic race, throwing down a huge negative split. He was out in 4:11.32 on the first 400m of the race last night, then came roaring home in 4:06.98 on the second 400.
