2023 Westmont Pro Swim Series – Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

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 Recap

THURSDAY PRELIMS HEAT SHEET

WATCH:

Today is the first full day of competition in Westmont after a short distance session last night. This morning’s lineup features the prelims of  the 200 free, 100 breast, 50 back, 100 fly, and 400 IM.

Kicking off the session is the 200 freestyle, which features Erin Gemmell as the top seed on the women’s side and Olympian Kieran Smith on the men’s side. Entered behind Smith is the Texas duo of Carson Foster and Luke Hobson. Hobson was recently crowned the NCAA Division I champion in this event last month.

World record holder Lilly King comes in as the top seed in the women’s 100 breaststroke. Olympic gold medalist Lydia Jacoby, who will swim next to King this morning, is an athlete to keep an eye on as she too is coming off of an NCAA title.

Michael Andrew will take on Nic Fink yet again in the men’s 100 breaststroke, with both entering at 58-point. In Fort Lauderdale, Fink edged Andrew in this race by just 0.01.

Abbey Weitzeil is seeded first in the 50 backstroke as the only athlete entered on a real 50 time. Others to keep an eye on include Katharine Berkoff, Regan Smith, and Isabelle Stadden. Smith is taking on the back-to-back double with the 100 fly, which she is seeded first in by over a second.

The men’s 50 backstroke is also stacked, featuring World Record holder Hunter Armstrong and Pro Swim Series record holder Justin Ress. In the men’s 100 fly, Shaine Casas owns the top seed. Casas set the Pro Swim Series record in this event last month in Fort Lauderdale.

All eyes will be on Leon Marchand this morning as he races the 400 IM just a month after his historic performance at NCAAs. Foster is entered at 2nd, while Pro Swim Series record holder Chase Kalisz sits at 3rd. Giulia Goerigk leads a small field on the women’s side, followed by Leah Hayes.

WOMEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 1:52.98 – Frederica Pellegrini (2009)
• American Record: 1:53.61 – Allison Schmitt (2012)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 1:54.13 – Summer McIntosh (2023)
• US Open Record: 1:54.13 – Summer McIntosh (2023)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Anna Peplowski (IU) – 1:58.43
2. Erin Gemmell (NCAP) – 1:58.62
3. Leah Hayes (TIDE) – 1:59.33
4. Izzy Ivey (UN) – 2:00.22
5. Leah Smith (TXLA) – 2:00.25
6. Madi Mintenko (PPA) – 2:00.59
7. Maria de Silva Costa (BR) – 2:00.70
8. Julia Mrozinski (DEU) – 2:00.70

Indiana’s Anna Peplowski had a fantastic swim this morning to take the top seed heading into tonight’s final. Peplowski dropped nearly a second and a half from last July to hit a best time of 1:58.43. She flipped at 57.63 in the opening 100, and returned in 1:00.80.

Erin Gemmell finished just two tenths behind Peplowski in the last heat of prelims. Her swim puts her over two seconds off her personal best time from August, but only a second off her season best time done at the U.S. Open in December.

Leah Hayes was the only other swimmer to crack the 2:00 barrier this morning, winning her heat 1:59.33. Hayes has been as fast 1:59.14 in this event, which she swam at this meet a year ago.

15-year-old Madi Mintenko from Pikes Peak Athletics will be the youngest in tonight’s A-final. She recorded a personal best time of 2:00.59, which puts her below the Olympic Trials qualifying time.

MEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 1:42.00 – Paul Biedermann (2009)
• American Record: 1:42.96 – Michael Phelps (2008)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 1:44.82 – Sun Yang (2016)
• US Open Record: 1:44.10 – Michael Phelps (2008)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Jorge Iga (UN) – 1:47.29
2. Kieran Smith (RAC) – 1:48.30
3. Kregor Zirk (EST) – 1:48.33
4. Baturalp Unlu (TUR) – 1:48.68
5. Luke Hobson (UN) – 1:48.80
6. Grant House (SUN) – 1:48.62
7. Robin Hanson (CAL) – 1:49.34
8. Vinicius Tavares Assuncao (BRA) – 1:49.57

Jorge Iga dominated the heats of the men’s 200 freestyle, as he swam the fastest time of the morning by over a second. Iga clocked a 1:47.29, which is nearly two seconds quicker than he was last month in Fort Lauderdale.

The next five swimmers put up 1:48-points this morning, setting up an exciting race for tonight. Kieran Smith qualified in 2nd with a 1:48.30, which is just about where he was in prelims of this event last month.

Rounding out the top eight qualifiers was Vinicius Assuncao of Brazil, who logged a 1:49.57 this morning to take the final spot in the A-final.

WOMEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 1:04.13 – Lilly King (2017)
• American Record: 1:04.13 – Lilly King (2017)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 1:05.32 – Lilly King (2021)
• US Open Record: 1:04.45 – Jessica Hardy (2009)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Lydia Jacoby (UN) – 1:06.65
2. Anna Elendt (UN) – 1:07.27
3. Lilly King (ISC) – 1:07.56
4. Annie Lazor (ISC) – 1:08.87
5. Raya Mellot (UN) – 1:09.10
6. Gabrielle Assis de Silva (BR) – 1:09.27
7. Miranda Tucker (TFA) – 1:09.30
8. Jhennifer Alves Da Conceicao (ECP) – 1:09.37

Texas’ Lydia Jacoby and Anna Elendt took the top two spots this morning. Jacoby stopped the clock at 1:06.65, while Elendt won heat four in 1:07.27. Elendt was just under two seconds off her personal best time from March of 2022.

Indiana’s duo of Lilly King and Annie Lazor swam the next fastest times of prelims. King finished 2nd to Jacoby in the final heat of prelims to post a 1:07.56. King has been as fast as 1:06.28 this year, while Lazor’s season best time stands at 1:08.35.

15-year-old Raya Mellott added just a few tenths to her personal best time to qualify in 5th, while Gabrielle Assis de Silva was the only swimmer in the top-8 to drop from her entry time to qualify in 6th.

MEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 56.88 – Adam Peaty (2019)
• American Record: 58.14 – Michael Andrew (2021)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 58.58 – Adam Peaty (2017)
• US Open Record: 58.14 – Michael Andrew (2021)

Top-8 Qualifiers:

1. Nic Fink (MAAC) – 1:00.61
2. Cody Miller (SAND) – 1:00.74
3. Jorge Murillo (TAC) – 1:00.87
4. Denis Petrashov (UOFL) – 1:00.95
5. Michael Andrew (MASA) – 1:01.03
6. Lyubomir Epitropov (BGR) – 1:01.19
7. Will Licon (TXLA) – 1:01.36
8. Joao Luiz Gomes Junior (ECP) – 1:01.41

Nic Fink came out on top of a tight field this morning in the men’s 100 breaststroke. Fink posted a 1:00.61, which is about a second faster than he was in prelims of this event in Fort Lauderdale.  His personal best time stands at 58.37 from last April.

Cody Miller had a strong swim this morning to take the 2nd spot. Miller finished 3rd in this event last month with a 1:00.12 in finals. Jorge Murillo and Denis Petrashov also hit 1:00-points to qualify in 3rd and 4th, respectively.

Michael Andrew was a bit off this morning, coming in at 1:01.03 for 5th. He’s been as fast as 59.98 this year, and should be one to keep an eye on in finals tonight.

WOMEN’S 50 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 26.98 – Xiang Liu (2018)
• American Record: 27.12 – Katharine Berkoff (2022)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 27.38 – Kylie Masse (2023)
• US Open Record: 27.12 – Katharine Berkoff (2022)

Top-8 Qualifiers:

1. Katharine Berkoff (NCS) – 27.42
2. Regan Smith (SUN) – 27.54
3. Isabelle Stadden (CAL) – 27.83
4. Simona Kubova (CZE) – 28.13
5. Abbey Weitzeil (CAL) – 28.33
6. Erika Brown (TNAQ) – 28.48
7. Olivia Smoliga (SUN) – 28.52
8. Maggie Wanezek (EBSC) – 28.84

It’s shaping up to be a three-way race this evening between Katharine Berkoff, Regan Smith, and Isabelle Stadden as all three posted sub-28s this morning. Berkoff, the American record holder, leads the way with a 27.42. This swim is her 3rd-fastest time ever in the event.

Smith shaved off a hundredth from her winning time in Fort Lauderdale, while Stadden’s swim marked a personal best time.

17-year-old Maggie Wanezek of Elmbrook Swim Club swam a 28.84 to sneak into 8th. Wanezek’s best time stands at 28.39, done on a relay at Juniors this past summer.

MEN’S 50 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 23.71 – Hunter Armstrong (2022)
• American Record: 23.71 – Hunter Armstrong (2022)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 24.49 – Justin Ress (2023)
• US Open Record: 23.71 – Hunter Armstrong (2022)

Top-8 Qualifiers:

1. Justin Ress (MVN) – 24.76
2. Hunter Armstrong (NYAC) – 24.99
3. Bjorn Seeliger (CAL) – 25.03
4. Gabriel Fantoni (ISC) – 25.43
5. Ryan Held (NYAC) – 25.53
6. Jacob Molacek (TFA) – 25.54
7. Berke Saka (TUR) – 25.59
8. Kai Van Westering (IU) – 25.61

As expected, Justin Ress and Hunter Armstrong put up the fastest two times of the morning, both getting under 25-seconds. Ress leads with a 24.76, which is just 0.03 shy of what he was last month. Armstrong was also a few hundredths off his Fort Lauderdale performance, swimming a 24.99 this morning.

Cal’s Bjorn Seeliger recorded the 3rd-fastest time from heat four. He stopped the clock at 25.03, which is three tenths faster than he was at the Knoxville Pro Swim Series in January. His personal best is 24.79, which he swam this past August at the European Championships.

A pair of 19-year-olds grabbed the last two spots in tonight’s A-final, led by Berke Saka of Turkey and Kai Van Westering of Indiana University.

WOMEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 55.48 – Sarah Sjostrom (2016)
• American Record: 55.64 – Torri Huske (2022)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 56.38 – Sarah Sjostrom (2016)
• US Open Record: 55.66 – Torrie Huske (2021)

Top-8 Qualifiers:

1. Regan Smith (SUN) – 57.83
2. Kelly Pash (UN) – 58.53
3. Gabi Albiero (UOFL) – 58.77
4. Beata Nelson (WA) – 59.35
5. Emma Sticklen (UN) – 59.46
6. Natalie Hinds (GSC) – 59.68
7. Katherine Zenick (OSU) – 1:00.17
8. Leah Gingrich (UN) – 1:00.29

Regan Smith swam the quickest time of the morning in the 100 fly, as she stopped the clock at 57.83. Smith’s best time stands at 56.60, which she swam last month in Fort Lauderdale. She’ll take on a tough double tonight with the 50 backstroke right before this event.

Texas had a strong showing this morning with both Kelly Pash and Emma Sticklen advancing to tonight’s A-final. Pash swam a 58.53, which puts her less than a second of her personal best time from last July. Sticklen qualified in 5th with a 59.46, also putting her a about a second shy of her best time from last summer.

Other athletes breaking 1:00 this morning included Gabi Albiero, Beata Nelson, and Natalie Hinds. Albiero’s swim marked a season best, while Hinds and Nelson were just off their own.

MEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 49.45 – Caeleb Dressel (2021)
• American Record: 49.45 – Caeleb Dressel (2021)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 50.80 – Shaine Casas (2023)
• US Open Record: 49.76 – Caeleb Dressel (2021)

Top-8 Qualifiers:

1. Shaine Casas (TXLA) – 51.31
2. Youssef Ramadan (VT) – 52.02
3. Marius Kusch (ISC) – 52.10
4. Eric Friese (UN) – 52.35
5. Arsenio Bustos (NCS) – 52.35
6. Kayky Marquart Mota (ECP) – 52.42
7. Zach Harting (CARD) – 52.69
8. Tyler Sesvold (TFA) – 52.70

Shaine Casas decisively claimed the top seed heading into tonight’s final with a 51.31. His time puts him about a second and a half off his Pro Swim Series record time of 50.80, done last month in Florida. Casas’ personal best time stands at 50.40 from last summer.

Virginia Tech’s Youssef Ramadan had a solid swim to qualify in 2nd. Ramadan, who was recently crowned the NCAA Champion in this event, recorded a 52.02, putting him within half a second of his personal best time from the Olympics in 2021.

Santo Condorelli was out the fastest at the halfway point of heat eight, but stopped coming off the wall and did not finish.

WOMEN’S 400 IM – PRELIMS

• World Record: 4:25.87 – Summer McIntosh (2023)
• American Record: 4:31.12 – Katie Hoff (2008)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 4:31.07 – Katinka Hosszu (2015)
• US Open Record: 4:28.61 – Summer McIntosh (2022)

Top-8 Qualifiers:

1. Giulia Goerigk (TAMU) – 4:45.19
2. Leah Hayes (TIDE) – 4:45.69
3. Anastasya Gorbenko (ISR) – 4:48.55
4. Alexis Yager (TNAQ) – 4:51.02
5. Erin Gemmell (NCAP) – 4:51.81
6. Nathalia Siqueira Almeida (BRA) – 4:52.13
7. Kim Herkle (CARD) – 4:53.17
8. Nicole Zettel (TAC) – 4:54.08

Giulia Goerigk of Texas A&M held on to her top seed this morning with a 4:45.19. She finished 18th in this event at NCAAs last month, and was entered in this meet at 4:38.23.

Finishing less than a second behind her this morning was Leah Hayes, who stopped the clock at 4:45.69. Hayes’ personal best is 4:39.25, which she swam a year ago at the International Team Trials. This will be her second race of the night, as she qualified for the 200 freestyle A-final earlier in the session.

Erin Gemmell will also take on the 200 free-400 IM double tonight. She added just under two seconds to her personal best time from last summer to qualify in 5th for tonight’s final.

MEN’S 400 IM – PRELIMS

• World Record: 4:03.84 – Michael Phelps (2008)
• American Record: 4:03.84 – Michael Phelps (2008)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 4:08.92 – Chase Kalisz (2018)
• US Open Record: 4:05.25 – Michael Phelps (2008)

Top-8 Qualifiers:

1. Leon Marchand (UN) – 4:13.59
2. Carson Foster (UN) – 4:16.23
3. Hubert Kos (UN) – 4:17.08
4. Chase Kalisz (SUN) – 4:19.79
5. Cedric Bussing (GER) – 4:20.21
6. Tommy Bried (CARD) – 4:23.72
7. Brandonn Almeida (BRA) – 4:23.73
8. Bobby Finke (SPA) – 4:24.52

Leon Marchand swam what looked like a very comfortable 4:13.59 to top this morning’s prelims. He opened with a 55.81 fly split, followed by 1:05.61 for backstroke, 1:10.20 on breast, and closed in 1:01.97 for freestyle.

Carson Foster dominated his heat to win it in 4:16.23. Foster out-split Marchand on backstroke and freestyle, clocking splits of 1:05.20 and 1:01.57, respectively. His best time stands at 4:06.56, done at the World Championships last summer.

Marchand will be joined in tonight’s A-final by his teammate Hubert Kos, who logged a 4:17.08 to finish 2nd in the last heat. Kos finished 4th in this event at NCAAs last month, and owns a best time of 4:13.50.