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
- Day 2 Prelims Live Recap
- Day 2 Finals Live Recap
- Day 3 Prelims Live Recap
The third night of racing at the Pro Swim Series stop in Westmont features finals of the 200 fly, 50 free, 100 back, 200 breast, 50 fly, and 400 free at the FMC Aquatic Center on Friday evening.
Some of the intriguing battles on tap for this session include Carson Foster vs. Leon Marchand in the men’s 200 fly, Abbey Weitzeil vs. Gabi Albiero in both the women’s 50 free and 50 fly, Texas teammates Lydia Jacoby and Anna Elendt vs. Annie Lazor and Lilly King in the women’s 200 breast, Leon Marchand vs. Nic Fink in the men’s 200 breast, and Michael Andrew vs. Shaine Casas in the men’s 50 fly. Meanwhile, Regan Smith will attempt to pull off a tough double as the top seed in both the women’s 200 fly and 100 back.
Stay tuned below for live updates:
WOMEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – FINAL
- World Record: 2:01.81 – Zige Liu (2009)
- American Record: 2:04.14 – Mary Descenza (2009)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 2:05.05 – Summer McIntosh (2023)
- US Open Record: 2:05.05 – Summer McIntosh (2023)
Top 8:
- Regan Smith – 2:07.92
- Lindsay Looney – 2:10.19
- Emma Sticklen – 2:11.22
- Lea Polonsky – 2:13.90
- Leah Gingrich – 2:14.91
- Campbell Stoll – 2:15.06
- Caroline Bricker – 2:15.19
- Annemarie Vlaic – 2:15.38
Regan Smith dominated this race from start to finish, shaving two seconds off her prelims swim to win the title with a 2:07.92, a couple seconds ahead of Arizona State’s Lindsay Looney.
Smith’s time is her best this year and just off her season-best 2:07.30 from last December, which ranks fourth in the world this season.
Smith has been training with ASU head coach Bob Bowman‘s pro group in Tempe since last August. She spoke after the victory about how the new environment has been paying off for her.
“I love the heat,” Smith said of her new home in Arizona. “I lived in the cold long enough and I wanted to get away from it. It’s fun to swim in it. It’s a challenge, and I just really enjoy it.
“I love it so much. It’s a great fit for me. I’m a lot happier now — loving swimming and loving life.”
MEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – FINAL
- World Record: 1:50.34 – Kristof Milak (2022)
- American Record: 1:51.51 – Michael Phelps (2009)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 1:53.84 – Luca Urlando (2019)
- US Open Record: 1:52.20 – Michael Phelps (2008)
Top 8:
- Leon Marchand – 1:55.58
- Carson Foster – 1:56.04
- Chase Kalisz – 1:56.53
- Kregor Zirk – 1:56.54
- Thomas Heilman – 1:57.63
- Connor Lamastra – 1:57.88
- Zach Harting – 1:58.15
- Nicolas Albiero – 1:58.42
Leon Marchand is inevitable.
Top-seeded Texas standout Carson Foster held the lead after the first three turns, but five-time NCAA champion from Arizona State chased him down on the final length of the pool to pull out the victory in 1:55.58. Marchand reached the wall about half a second ahead of Foster’s 1:56.04.
Marchand went more than three seconds faster than his third-seeded prelims swim of 1:58.69, still finishing a couple seconds off his personal-best 1:53.37 from last year’s World Championships, where he won silver.
After his win, Marchand admitted butterfly is his least favorite stroke right now.
“This is my least favorite I think — very painful,” Marchand said. “But this one was so much fun. I had so much fun in this one.”
Chase Kalisz (1:56.53) held off Kregor Zirk (1:56.54) by just .01 seconds for third place. Fifth-place finisher Thomas Heilman, just 16 years old, was about a second slower than his lifetime best from last year’s Junior Pan Pacs (1:56.52).
WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – FINAL
- World Record: 23.67 – Sarah Sjostrom (2017)
- American Record: 23.97 – Simone Manuel (2017)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 24.17- Sarah Sjostrom (2016)
- US Open Record: 24.08 – Pernille Blume (2019)
Top 8:
- Abbey Weitzeil – 24.50
- Erika Brown – 24.99
- Gabi Albiero – 25.05
- Annam Olasewere – 25.29
- Kristina Paegle – 25.33
- Caroline Larsen – 25.35
- Teresa Ivan – 25.51
- Natalie Hinds – 25.55
26-year-old Abbey Weitzeil cruised to a victory in the 50 free with a 24.50, nearly half a second over Erika Brown (24.99). The pair of Olympians were the only swimmers who finished under 25 seconds in the final, with Louisville standout Gabi Albiero not far behind in 25.05.
Weitzeil’s best time in the event still stands at 24.19 from the Tokyo 2021 Olympic semifinal.
A pair of teenagers hung with the big names in this final. 15-year-old Annam Olasewere (25.29) and 16-year-old Louisville commit Caroline Larsen (25.35) both dropped a couple tenths off their lifetime bests.
MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – FINAL
- World Record: 20.91 – Cesar Cielo (2009)
- American Record: 21.04 – Caeleb Dressel (2019/2021)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 21.51 – Caeleb Dressel (2020)
- US Open Record: 21.04 – Caeleb Dressel (2021)
Top 8:
- Jack Alexy – 22.09
- Jokubas Keblys – 22.23
- Bjorn Seeliger – 22.26
- Gui Caribe – 22.28
- Michael Andrew – 22.30
- Matthew King – 22.42
- Matej Dusa – 22.49
- Marcelo Chierighini – 22.57
Cal sophomore Jack Alexy took the men’s 50 free crown with a new personal-best 22.09. The 6-foot-7, 215-pounder dropped .04 seconds off his previous best from last year’s International Team Trials.
Alexy finished more than a tenth ahead of Lithuania’s Jokubas Keblys, who shaved a few tenths off his previous best from the Pro Swim Series stop in San Antonio last year. Alexy’s Cal teammate, Bjorn Seeliger, placed third with a 22.26 while Tennessee freshman Gui Caribe (22.28) edged Olympian Michael Andrew (22.30) for fourth place. Caribe was .06 seconds faster than his previous best from last November while Seeliger and Andrew were both off their sub-22 lifetime bests.
WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – FINAL
- World Record: 57.45 – Kaylee McKeown (2021)
- American Record: 57.57 – Regan Smith (2019)
Pro Swim Series Record: 57.92 – Regan Smith (2023)- US Open Record: 57.76 – Regan Smith (2022)
Top 8:
- Regan Smith – 57.90
- Isabelle Stadden – 59.38
- Anna Peplowski – 1:00.59
- Simona Kubova – 1:00.68
- Maggie Wanezek – 1:00.99
- Phoebe Bacon – 1:01.08
- Beata Nelson – 1:01.12
- Morgan Scott – 1:01.21
Just about half an hour after her 200 fly victory, Regan Smith returned to the pool with another dominant win in the 100 back. She took down her own Pro Swim Series record with a winning time of 57.90, slightly faster than her 57.92 from the Fort Lauderdale stop last month. It’s tied for the 12th-fastest performance of all time.
Smith sits just .06 seconds behind Kaylee McKeown‘s world-leading mark of 57.84 this year. Her lifetime best still stands at 57.57 from July of 2019.
Even on the back half of a double, Smith still had enough energy left in the tank to blaze home in 29.77, the fastest split in the field by nearly a second over runner-up finisher Isabelle Stadden (59.38, 30.63 split on final 50). Smith and Stadden were the only swimmers in the field to break the minute barrier, with Anna Peplowski (1:00.59) outdueling Simona Kubova (1:00.68) for third place.
MEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – FINAL
- World Record: 51.60 – Thomas Ceccon (2022)
- American Record: 51.85 – Ryan Murphy (2016)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 52.40 – David Plummer (2016)
- US Open Record: 51.94 – Aaron Peirsol (2009)
Top 8:
- Hunter Armstrong – 52.59
- Ryan Murphy – 52.90
- Shaine Casas – 53.65
- Hubert Kos – 53.83
- Justin Ress – 54.16
- Destin Lasco – 54.77
- Hunter Tapp – 55.50
- Bjoern Kammann – 55.52
For the third Pro Swim Series stop in a row, Hunter Armstrong (52.59) held off Cal training partner Ryan Murphy (52.90) for the 100 back title.
Armstrong’s winning time of 52.59 lowers his own world-leading mark of 52.68 from the Pro Swim Series stop in Knoxville. That time was the second-fastest ever in the month of January. Murphy now ranks as the fourth-fastest performer this season behind Armstrong, Pieter Coetze (52.78), and Ksawery Masiuk (52.81).
The field was stacked behind Armstrong and Murphy, with Shaine Casas (53.65) reaching the wall just ahead of Hubert Kos (53.83), Justin Ress (54.16), and Destin Lasco (54.77).
WOMEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL
- World Record: 2:18.95 – Tatjana Schoenmaker (2021)
- American Record: 2:19.59 – Rebecca Soni (2012)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 2:20.77 – Annie Lazor (2022)
- US Open Record: 2:20.38 – Rebecca Soni (2009)
Top 8:
- Lilly King – 2:23.68
- Anna Elendt – 2:24.74
- Annie Lazor – 2:25.71
- Gabrielle Assis de Silva – 2:26.38
- Lydia Jacoby – 2:26.57
- Anastasya Gorbenko – 2:29.19
- Alexis Yager – 2:30.48
- Letitia Sim – 2:30.64
Lilly King, the reigning Olympic silver medalist, led from wire to wire to triumph with a time of 2:23.68, more than a second ahead of Texas junior Anna Elendt. King, 26, was a few tenths off her season-best 2:23.33 from last month, which ranks fifth in the world this season.
Annie Lazor got off to a slow start, sitting back in seventh place at the midway point and fifth place heading into the final turn before flying home in 37.00 to finish in third place with a 2:25.71. Lydia Jacoby was out quick in third place at the halfway point before fading to fifth place with a 2:26.57 behind fourth-place finisher Gabrielle Assis de Silva (2:26.38). Assis de Silva took over a second off the former Brazilian national record of 2:27.42 that Carolina Mussi set back in 2009.
MEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL
- World Record: 2:05.95 – Zac Stubblety-Cook (2022)
- American Record: 2:07.17 – Josh Prenot (2016)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 2:08.95 – Andrew Wilson (2018)
- US Open Record: 2:07.17 – Josh Prenot (2016)
Top 8:
- Leon Marchand – 2:10.52
- Will Licon – 2:10.80
- Lyubomir Epitropov – 2:10.89
- Nic Fink – 2:11.68
- Denis Petrashov – 2:11.75
- Jassen Yep – 2:13.05
- Amro Al-Wir – 2:13.40
- Max Reich – 2:13.48
Leon Marchand‘s second victory of the night also came in comeback fashion, but this one was even more of a nail-biter.
The 20-year-old Frenchman looked like he was in trouble when he turned in fourth place heading into the final length of the pool, but Marchand fired off a 32.90 split on the last lap — the fastest in the field by over a second — to secure his third win of the week. His winning time of 2:10.52 ranks him as the fourth-fastest in the world so far this year, still nearly two seconds slower than his personal-best 1:08.76 from last summer.
Marchand hasn’t lost a race since last June’s World Championships, when Kristof Milak beat him in the 200 fly en route to a new world record in the event.
Will Licon (2:10.80) joined Lyubomir Epitropov (2:10.89) under 2:11 to round out the podium ahead of fifth-place finisher Nic Fink (2:11.68).
WOMEN’S 50 BUTTERFLY – FINAL
- World Record: 24.43 – Sarah Sjostrom (2014)
- American Record: 25.38 – Torri Huske (2022)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 25.65 – Farida Osman (2019)
- US Open Record: 25.46 – Rikako Idee (2017)
Top 8:
- Beata Nelson – 26.30
- Katherine Zenick – 26.41
- Abbey Weitzeil – 26.55
- Gabi Albiero – 26.57
- Erika Brown – 26.83
- Natalie Hinds – 26.83
- Clarissa Rodrigues – 26.91
- Anna Boemer – 27.29
Beata Nelson clocked a new lifetime best of 26.30 to claim the 50 fly title just about a tenth ahead of Ohio State’s Katherine “Kit Kat” Zenick (26.41). Nelson shaved .23 seconds off her previous best from last April’s International Team Trials, where she placed eighth in the A-final.
The runner-up finish was Zenick’s first time under the 27-second barrier, dropping over half a second off her previous-best 27.04 from July of 2021.
Fresh off her 50 free victory, Abbey Weitzeil took third place in the 50 fly with a 26.55, just .02 seconds ahead of Louisville standout Gabi Albiero (26.57), who was also on the back end of a sprint double.
MEN’S 50 BUTTERFLY – FINAL
- World Record: 22.27 – Andri Govorov (2018)
- American Record: 22.35 – Caeleb Dressel (2019)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 23.11 – Matt Targett (2012)
- US Open Record: 22.84 – Caeleb Dressel (2022)
Top 8:
- Shaine Casas – 23.46
- Finn Brooks – 23.50
- Michael Andrew – 23.53
- Tomer Frankel – 23.60
- Marius Kusch – 23.65
- Tyler Sesvold – 23.77
- Matthew King – 23.88
- Clement Secchi – 23.89
After finishing third in the 100 back behind Hunter Armstrong and Ryan Murphy, Shaine Casas bounced back with a 50 fly victory in 23.46. Casas was just .15 seconds off his personal-best 23.31 from last July.
Indiana sophomore Finn Brooks had a huge drop to edge 23-year-old Olympian Michael Andrew for second place. Brooks posted his first sub-24 time during prelims with a 23.90 to sneak into the A-final as the eighth seed, then dropped another four-tenths of a second to earn a runner-up finish with a 23.50. Andrew reached the wall just a few hundredths behind in 23.53.
Indiana junior Tomer Frankel took fourth place in 23.60, shaving .19 seconds off his previous best from July of 2018.
WOMEN’S 400 FREESTYLE – FINAL
- World Record: 3:56.08 – Summer McIntosh (2023)
- American Record: 3:56.46 – Katie Ledecky (2016)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 3:57.94 – Katie Ledecky (2018)
- US Open Record: 3:57.94 – Katie Ledecky (2018)
Top 8:
- Leah Smith – 4:07.95
- Erin Gemmell – 4:11.83
- Madi Mintenko – 4:11.85
- Beatriz Dizotti – 4:12.78
- Chase Travis – 4:13.58
- Julia Mrozinski – 4:15.39
- Sierra Schmidt – 4:16.41
- Deniz Ertan – 4:17.90
Leah Smith claimed the 400 free crown with a 4:07.95, more than a second slower than her winning time from last month’s Pro Swim Series stop in Fort Lauderdale.
The battle for second place turned out to be more interesting than the showdown for first place as 18-year-old Texas commit Erin Gemmell (4:11.83) edged 15-year-old Madi Mintenko (4:11.85). Before today, Mintenko’s lifetime best was a 4:16.91 from last July, marking a five-second in one day. She qualified fourth in this morning’s prelims with a 4:14.30.
MEN’S 400 FREESTYLE – FINAL
- World Record: 3:40.07 – Paul Biedermann (2009)
- American Record: 3:42.78 – Larsen Jensen (2008)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 3:43.55 – Sun Yang (2016)
- US Open Record: 3:43.53 – Larsen Jensen (2008)
Top 8:
- Kieran Smith – 3:50.25
- Luke Hobson – 3:51.71
- Baturalp Unlu – 3:51.76
- Carson Foster – 3:52.50
- Charlie Clark – 3:53.81
- Jay Litherland – 3:54.34
- Tommylee Camblong – 3:55.24
- Bathuhan Filiz – 4:02.26
Kieran Smith cruised to a 400 free victory in 3:50.25, a couple seconds slower than his season-best 3:48.02 from his win at last month’s Pro Swim Series stop in Fort Lauderdale. The 22-year-old Olympic bronze medalist reached the wall more than a second ahead of runner-up Luke Hobson (3:51.71).
Turkey’s Baturalp Unlu placed third just .05 seconds behind Hobson with a 3:51.76. The 20-year-old dropped over a second off his previous-best 3:53.15 from 2020. On the back end of a tough 200 fly / 400 free double, Texas standout Carson Foster placed fourth with a 3:52.50.
Never seen Michael Andrew so down at a meet. It looked like he didn`t want to be there. Those weights have upset the balance-Coach!
I’m sure I’m not the only one asking….who else has pulled off a 200 fly/breast double in one session?
As they say in French….Thats nuts
Tracy Caulkins I believe would have been able to at some time. I’m not sure anyone else had that much versatility for those two events.
it’s interesting that I can see Douglass doing the 100 fly/200 breast, but not the 200 fly/200 breast, even though the former two events *should* be more different than the latter
Winning 2Fl got really tough after Mary T went that 2:05… In 1981! Still an elite time.
Chase swam both also last night, but didn’t win them!
Gabriele Silva new brazilian Record, expect her ti break SA record and sub 2:24 soon
Very slow in men’s 200 & 400 free
Not as slow as the women’s 400 meter freestyle.
No kidding. One woman below 4:11 high in a pro series meet. At least Rowdy had plenty of time to talk.
It’s a Pro Series in April, were you expecting 1:45s and 3:45s?
I do remember a certain 18 year old breaking a world record at the Austin Pro Swim Series meet in the month of January.
Yes, look up results from Sweden Open this weekend! And it was NOT a Trials for any of those swimmers!
“Foster is coming off that tough double…400 IM 400 Free”
Who wants to tell him?
“will you review the race footage”
“probably not”
LOL
Does Leah Smith have any shot at all at winning an individual medal at Worlds this summer?
No. The 400 is locked up with McIntosh, Titmus, and Ledecky.
Erika fairweather has a competitive time but has not proven she can get it done on the big stage she flopped in Tokyo after a great prelim and comm games and worlds last year was sub par as well
Did Misty Hyman have a chance going into the 2Fl final in 2000? Nope… Yet she is a Gold Medalist forever
Trying to compare a 21 year old Misty Hyman to a 28 year old Leah Smith? Oh, please!
In addition, it’s the greatest upset in women’s swimming at the Summer Olympics.
I agree it’s a microscopic chance. But if the podium is locked why have anyone else swim the 4Fr next year
about the same shot i have of winning the jackpot lottery
From a domestic standpoint, Leah Smith looks vulnerable in the women’s 400 meter freestyle and the women’s 800 meter freestyle. Watch out for those Sandpipers of Nevada.
Any chance she could contend for a bronze in the 400 IM?
2023 World Aquatics Championships
Women’s 400 meter individual medley
Gold – McIntosh
Silver – Grimes
Bronze – ????
Leah Smith failed to qualify domestically in the women’s 400 meter individual medley for the past two years (Weyant, Flickinger; Grimes, Weyant).
I will go out on a limb. Two time NCAA Champion Alex Walsh has the better base to work from and is potentially better than Grimes and Weyant. However, you can’t fake the 400 meter individual medley. You have to put the work in.
This year bronze 400 im: francheschi, colbert, shanahan or mihaliyvari-farkas
IF she makes the team in an individual event then clearly she will have some.
Liklihood ??? Not especially high. She has, most likely, hit her ceiling as regards best times and in her best events; the medals will be most likely be contested outside “her range” and she continues to be overtaken by newer names internationally.
I foresee Katie Grimes overtake Leah Smith in the women’s 800 meter freestyle and one of Katie Grimes, Bella Sims, Claire Weinstein overtake Leah Smith in the women’s 400 meter freestyle at the 2023 Phillips 66 National Championships (international team trials).
Weinstein 4:06 sims 4:08 today
So ……. 16 year old Claire Weinstein was faster today than 27 year old Leah Smith (4:07.95).
No post race interview for you, Michael Andrew.
Cease the hype!
Glad I’m not the only happy hater. Every time he’s racing I say, “ah, Chucklehead’s in this one.”
Yeah idk it’s weird, I don’t find myself rooting against him much anymore. I’d just rather see someone that talented actually swim as well as they could. (Or, see him so something hilarious in the 2 IM.)
And there are so many things about his family that I think are good and cool, but so many more things that I truly hate, so. He’s a conundrum, for sure.
Mad libs
Hey man! Hate is a strong word — you’re better than that. How about live and let live?
MA had 10 swims in Tokyo (I think only Dressel had more with 12), “final-ed” in 3 individual events, and finished with a WR and an Olympic gold. Plus he made the 200 IM an exciting event to watch — in a different way than Marchand that’s for sure — but still exciting. He’s got an enthusiasm for life and he seems to be enjoying himself.
It’s not as if Michael Andrew posted the fastest breaststroke split in history unlike Regan Smith’s backstroke split at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships.
As for the 200 meter individual medley, is not a matter of if but when the priceless Steinway falls on his back. A medal for Michael Andrew, …….. “not anymore”!
Oh no, the stuff they were publicly doing and saying re:Covid was legitimately awful and I’m ok in saying I absolutely hate them for that. Hard for a lot of people to “live and let live” with that stuff, given they uh, died. (In no small part due to the attitudes of folks like the Andrews.)
I can separate the athlete from their brain-dead takes enough to still find him intriguing at this point, but if anything I hope I never forget just how awful they were. (C’mon, Tina’s Breakers twitter?! That was funny, but also, still repellent.)
I always found the USRPT stuff compelling, that they stuck to it and it mostly worked is admirable. And that Peter… Read more »
You are I have very different views on how Covid was handled by our political leaders, health care leaders (CDC), and the teachers’ unions. Many of the things that were stated as “gospel truth” by them turned out to be wrong and often counterproductive. With respect to natural immunity (something MA had), most studies in the past year show that it has had more efficacy than a series of jabs. I feel especially bad for all of the students — through all grades — who lost months and even years of learning.
Millions died yet one side started out calling it a hoax, and then desperately contorted every subsequent sub topic to fit the original denial.
There were never two sides
Oh no, I agree that politicians and the CDC really bungled our Covid response. But you are right that we have different views on how they did so, because you seem to prefer more infections and dead people.
I’m sick of the hype for an individual who has never medalled in an individual 100/200 meter event at a major international competition (World Championships, Summer Olympics).
oh my gosh you guys are pathetic. The guy that swum a 58 mid on a world record, olympic gold medal winning relay.
Person that swam a 50.06 last summer on the relay on the fly leg?
The guy that has swum multiple 58s, 1.55s, 50s, and sub 21.6s? The guy with multiple global and world medals in the last 5 years? I get you don’t like Andrew but you’re just delusional if you think there shouldn’t be any hype for him or that there shouldn’t be any belief.
Men’s 4 x 100 meter medley relay
Breaststroke splits
Nic Fink – 57.86 (2022)
Michael Andrew – 58.49 (2021)
The guy who split a 58 mid on the breaststroke leg as if it’s some kind of record. Whoop-dee-doo!
You’re grasping at straws.
I think what has happened is MA is on a downward trajectory with his swimming. Hard to get excited about anything that he does in a meet. He could still reverse this if he somehow gets back on track
Tokyo Olympics
Men’s 4 x 100 meter medley relay
Breaststroke Splits
Peaty – 56.53
Martinenghi – 58.11
Zibei – 58.35
Andrew – 58.49
No mention of the fact that Ryan Murphy posted the fastest backstroke split. No mention of the fact that Caeleb Dressel posted the fastest butterfly split. No mention of the fact that Zach Apple posted the fastest freestyle split. Let’s conveniently sweep those facts under the rug.
It’s all about Michael Andrew. The Michael Andrew hype train never ceases to amaze me.
He is the American Record holder in the 100 breast. He did win the SCM 100 IM at World Championships. Oh yeah he beat Caleb Dressel at Nationals and at Pan Pacs and won Gold .
At least he didn’t quit on his teammates last summer at Worlds. Indeed, he stepped up nicely on two relays.
At least Caeleb Dressel won three individual gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics. How many individual medals did Michael Andrew win?
You forget that it was CD’s second Olympics. Caleb only gold at Rio was in the relays.
The poster you are responding to slants everything from a Covid perspective. Swimming results are not the topic. He champions Michael Andrew due to the Covid denial
Thankfully Andrew was spared from Popovicitis