2023 U.S. Pro Championships: Day 1 Finals Live Recap

2023 PRO CHAMPIONSHIPS

• July 26 to 29, 2023
• LCM (50m)
• William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, Irvine, California, United States
• Meet Central
• Meet Information
• Pre-Scratch Timelines
• Pre-Scratch Psych Sheet (Updated)
• Live Stream
• Live Results

NIGHT 1 HEAT SHEETS

The first session of the 2023 TYR Pro Championships kicks off tonight in Irvine at the William Woollet Jr. Aquatics Center. As is the case with the Pro Swim Series, the first night of the meet will be a very short session, featuring only the men’s and women’s 800 free individually. The 800 free relay for men and women will also be competed tonight.

The women’s 800 free is led by Georgia’s Rachel Stege, who comes in with an 8:38.72. Though Stege is entered at 8:38.72, her real personal best is an 8:32.71, which she swam at U.S. Trials last month. Given that, she comes into the race tonight with the most momentum.

Stege was the 3rd seed coming into the meet, however, Texas’ Erica Sullivan and Wisconsin’s Paige McKenna have both scratched the event.

Meanwhile, NC State’s Will Gallant leads the pack in the men’s 800 free, coming in with a 7:50.55. Tokyo Olympian Michael Brinegar, who now trains at Ohio State, is the 2nd seed with a 7:53.00. Notably, Bobby Finke broke the American Record in the 800 free this morning (U.S. time) at the World Championships, tearing to a 7:38.67 for bronze.

WOMEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – TIMED FINALS

• World Record: Katie Ledecky, USA – 8:04.79 (2016)
• American Record: Katie Ledecky – 8:04.79 (2016)
• US Open Record: Katie Ledecky, USA – 8:06.68 (2016)

PODIUM:

1. Paige Madden – 8:32.46
2. Rachel Stege – 8:34.75
3. Caroline Pennington – 8:41.10

University of Virginia pro swimmer Paige Madden took the women’s 800 free to kick off the 2023 TYR Pro Championships tonight. Madden clocked an 8:32.46, marking a huge personal best for the 24-year-old. Madden, who represented the U.S. in the women’s 400 free at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics two summers ago, entered this meet with a career best of 8:37.37 in the 800 free. Madden’s season best was 8:41.14 heading into today.

She swam the race very well, splitting 4:15.11 on the first 400m, then coming home in 4:17.35, for some good, consistent splitting across the board.

Georgia’s Rachel Stege put up a solid swim for second tonight, hitting the wall in 8:34.75. That time comes in just off her personal best of 8:32.71, which she swam a month ago at the U.S. Trials in Indianapolis.

MEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – TIMED FINALS

• World Record: Zhang Lin, China – 7:32.12 (2009)
• American Record: Bobby Finke – 7:38.67 (2023)
• US Open Record: Bobby Finke, USA – 7:40.34 (2023)

PODIUM:

1. Matthew Galea – 7:50.25
2. Daniel Matheson – 7:52.34
3. Will Gallant – 7:54.75

Australian 21-year-old Matthew Galea cracked a new personal best en route to victory in the men’s 800 free tonight. Galea put together a great swim, pulling away from the field to finish in 7:50.25.

He was incredibly consistent, splitting under 30 seconds on all but 3 of his 50s tonight, and under 1:00 on all but 1 of his 100s. At the 400m turn, Galea was at 3:54.61, meaning he then came home in 3:55.64 on the back half.

Arizona State’s Daniel Matheson also clocked a new career best, finishing 2nd in 7:52.34. It was a massive performance out of the 20-year-old, blowing away his previous best of 8:01.30, which he swam at U.S. Nationals last summer.

WOMEN’S 4×200 FREESTYLE RELAY – TIMED FINALS

PODIUM:

1. Wisconsin Aquatics ‘A’ – 8:01.99
2. Alto Swim Club ‘A’ – 8:05.18
3. Ohio State University ‘ A’ – 8:09.86

Wisconsin put up a very solid time to win the women’s 800 free tonight in Irvine. Abby Carlson led the team off in 1:59.70, followed by Phoebe Bacon in 2:01.78, then Abby Wanezek in 2:00.66, and Beata Nelson with a 1:59.85 on the anchor. It was a fantastic performance for the Badgers, as 3 of the 4 legs were under their personal bests in the 200 free.

Starting with Carlson, her performance on the lead-off tonight marks a new PB, as well as her first time under 2:00 in the event. Phoebe Bacon was well under her official personal best of 2:11.11, while Wanezek was clear of her PB of 2:04.18 as well.

MEN’S 4×200 FREESTYLE RELAY – TIMED FINALS

PODIUM:

1. Australia ‘A’ – 7:12.75
2. Athens Bulldog Swim Club ‘A’ – 7:13.05
3. Wisconsin Aquatics ‘A’ – 7:23.72

Australia has won the first men’s relay of the 2023 TYR Pro Championships. Maximillian Giuliani was fantastic on the lead-off leg for the Aussies, clocking a 1:46.26. He was followed by Thomas Huack in 1:48.49, then William Petric in 1:49.21, and Matthew Galea, the 800 free champion, with a 1:48.79 anchor.

Another notable split came from Athens Bulldog Swim Club’s Jake Magahey, who anchored his relay in a sizzling 1:46.35.