2024 Pro Swim Series – San Antonio: Day 4 Finals Live Recap

2024 TYR PRO SWIM SERIES – SAN ANTONIO

• April 10-13, 2024
• Northside Swim Center, San Antonio, TX
• LCM (50m)
• Start Times
  • Wednesday Distance: 5pm (Central Time)
  • All Prelims: 9am (Central Time)
  • Thurs-Sat Finals: 6pm (Central Time)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Livestream (also available on the USA Swimming Network app)
• Day 1 Finals Live Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Live Recap | Day 2 Finals Live Recap
• Day 3 Prelims Live Recap | Day 3 Finals Live Recap

The Pro Swim Series stop in San Antonio concludes Saturday night with finals of the 800 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 200 breaststroke, 200 IM, and 50 freestyle.

American record holder Regan Smith was the No. 2 qualifier in the women’s 100 back (59.69) this morning behind Katharine Berkoff (59.07). The loaded final tonight also features Rhyan White (59.80), Claire Curzan (59.82), Kennedy Noble (1:00.21), Phoebe Bacon (1:00.66), Anastasia Gorbenko (1:00.95), and Ayla Spitz (1:01.23).

We should see another fun battle in the women’s 200 IM between Alex Walsh (2:12.93) and Torri Huske (2:13.75). World Championships medalists Kate Douglass and Hubert Kos will also be in action in the women’s 200 breast and men’s 100 back, respectively.

The evening will begin with appearances from reigning Olympic champions Katie Ledecky and Bobby Finke in the 800 free.

Stay tuned for live updates below:

WOMEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – TIMED FINAL

• World Record: 8:04.79, Katie Ledecky – 2016
• American Record: 8:04.79, Katie Ledecky – 2016
• Pro Swim Series Record: 8:06.68, Katie Ledecky – 2016
• U.S. Open Record: 8:06.68, Katie Ledecky – 2016

Top 8:

1. Katie Ledecky (GSC-FL) – 8:12.95
2. Jillian Cox (TXLA) – 8:27.95
3. Paige Madden (NYAC) – 8:31.37
4. Aurora Roghair (UN-PC) – 8:35.42
5. Agostina Hein (ARG) – 8:37.48
6. Kate Hurst (SCAR) – 8:40.49
7. Hayden Miller (TAMU) – 8:45.78
8. Daria Golovati (UN-US) – 8:50.18

Katie Ledecky started the session with a season-best time of 8:12.95 to win the 800 free by exactly 15 seconds ahead of 18-year-old Jillian Cox (8:27.95).

Ledecky has been faster than her winning time tonight a couple dozen times, but only one other swimmer in history has been under 8:13 in this event. Summer McIntosh swam 8:11.39 in February of this year, beating Ledecky head-to-head. That was Ledecky’s first loss in a final of the 800 free in over 13 years.

Ledecky had looked a little off-peak at times this year. Her prior season-best was 8:14.97 at January’s Pro Swim Series stop in Knoxville.

She owns the world record at 8:04.79 from her Rio Olympic victory in 2016.

Cox was .05 seconds faster than she was at January’s Pro Swim Series stop (8:28.00). She has been as fast as 8:19.73 at the 2023 World Championships, where she placed 6th behind Ledecky (8:08.87). Cox, who took an Olympic redshirt as a freshman at Texas, is the fifth-fastest American in the event this year.

Pan Ams champion Paige Madden held off Stanford junior Aurora Roghair (8:35.42) for 3rd place with a time of 8:31.37, a few seconds off her best time (8:27.64) from January’s Pro Swim Series stop in Knoxville. Roghair knocked more than four seconds off her previous-best 8:40.09 from last summer.

MEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – TIMED FINAL

• World Record: 7:32.12, Zhang Lin – 2009
• American Record: 7:38.67, Bobby Finke – 2023
• Pro Swim Series Record: 7:48.50, Ahmed Hafnaoui – 2023
• U.S. Open Record: 7:40.34, Bobby Finke – 2023

Top 8:

1. Alfonso Mestre (GSC-FL) – 7:52.22
2. Bobby Finke (SPA-FL) – 7:54.48
3. Ilia Sibirtsev (UOFL) – 7:54.87
4. Guilherme Costa (RKF) – 7:55.85
5. David Johnston (TST-CA) – 7:56.81
6. Felix Auboeck (AUT) – 8:03.07
7. Luka Mijatovic (UN-PC) – 8:03.94
8. Lucas Henveaux (CAL) – 8:06.12

Venezuelan record holder Alfonso Mestre pulled off the upset against defending Olympic champion Bobby Finke (7:54.48) with a winning time of 7:52.22 in the 800 free.

Mestre booked his spot at the Paris Olympics with a personal-best 7:48.66 at the 2023 World Championships, where he placed 16th. He also placed 13th in 7:48.84 at the 2024 World Championships in February.

Finke was faster than he was at January’s Pro Swim Series stop in Knoxville (7:55.85), but slower than he was at February’s Southern Zone Senior Championships (7:53.35).

Ilia Sibirtsev, an Uzbekistan native who competes collegiately for Louisville, took 3rd place (7:54.87) over Brazil’s Guilherme Costa (7:55.85) and former Texas standout David Johnston (7:56.81).

Sibirtsev owns a lifetime best of 7:48.05 from his runner-up finish at the 2019 World Junior Championships. Costa has been as fast as 7:45.48 at the 2022 World Championships, where he placed 5th, while Johnston was eight seconds off his personal-best 7:48.20 from the 2024 World Championships, where he placed 11th.

Pleasanton Seahawks 14-year-old Luka Mijatovic placed 7th in 8:03.94, about four seconds shy of his U.S. boys 13-14 national age group (NAG) record of 7:59.64.

WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE — FINAL

• World Record: Kaylee McKeown (AUS) – 57.33 (2023)
• American Record: Regan Smith (USA) – 57.57 (2019)
• Pro Swim Series Record: Regan Smith (USA) – 57.64 (2024)
• U.S Open Record: Regan Smith (USA) – 57.64 (2024)

Top 8:

1. Regan Smith (UN-AZ) – 57.74
2. Katharine Berkoff (NCS) – 58.77
3. Claire Curzan (UN-NC) – 59.16
4. Rhyan White (WOLF) – 59.20
5. Phoebe Bacon (WISC) – 1:00.38
6. Kennedy Noble (NCS) – 1:00.39
7. Carmen Weiler Sastre (VT) – 1:00.95
8. Ayla Spitz (UN-IL) – 1:01.28

After qualifying 2nd this morning behind Katharine Berkoff, Regan Smith dominated the 100 back final by more a second with a time of 57.74 — just a tenth off her Pro Swim Series record from Westmont last month. Only one other swimmer — world record holder Kaylee McKeown — has been quicker in the event so far this year (57.57).

Berkoff and reigning world champion Claire Curzan were separated by just a hundredth of a second at the midway point. Berkoff reached the wall in 58.77, a few tenths ahead of Curzan (59.16).

Berkoff posted her lifetime best of 58.01 last summer at U.S. Trials, where she also earned a runner-up finish behind Smith (57.71). Curzan clocked a personal-best 58.29 to win the 2024 world title in February.

Former Alabama star Rhyan White was the only other swimmer under the one-minute barrier with a 4th-place showing in 59.20 — her fastest time since 2022.

MEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE — FINAL

• World Record: Thomas Ceccon (ITA) – 51.60 (2022)
• American Record: Ryan Murphy (USA) – 51.85 (2016)
• Pro Swim Series Record: David Plummer (USA) – 52.40 (2016)
• U.S Open Record: Aaron Peirsol (USA) – 51.94 (2009)

Top 8:

1. Hubert Kos (UN-AZ) – 53.08
2. Justin Ress (MVN) – 54.36
3. Kacper Stokowski (MVN) – 54.70
4. Jack Aikins (UN-VA) – 54.73
5. Jack Dolan (UN-AZ) – 54.80
6. Aidan Stoffle (AU) – 54.93
7. Nico Garcia Saiz (VT) – 55.50
8. Daniel Diehl (NCS) – 55.96

Hubert Kos cruised to victory in the 100 back with a personal-best 53.08 — a few hundredths quicker than his best time from the 2023 World Championships (53.11). The Hungarian entered the NCAA transfer portal earlier this month after winning a national team title at Arizona State in March as a sophomore.

Kos touched more than a second ahead of 26-year-old American Justin Ress (54.36), who was more than a second off his personal-best 52.73 from 2022.

Polish NC State graduate Kacper Stokowski (54.70), former Virginia standout Jack Aikins (54.73), and Arizona State sprinter Jack Dolan (54.80) were separated by just a tenth of a second in the battle for 3rd place.

Virginia Tech’s Nico Garcia Saiz scratched into the final in place of Hunter Armstrong and beat out Daniel Diehl (55.96) for 7th place (55.50) behind Aidan Stoffle (54.93).

WOMEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE — FINAL

• World Record: Evgeniia Chikunova (RUS) – 2:17.55 (2023)
• American Record: Kate Douglass (USA) – 2:19.30 (2024)
• Pro Swim Series Record: Kate Douglass (USA) – 2:19.30 (2024)
• U.S Open Record: Kate Douglass (USA) – 2:19.30 (2024)

Top 8:

1. Kate Douglass (NYAC) – 2:19.89
2. Kotryna Teterevkova (LTU) – 2:24.56
3. Ella Nelson (UVA-VA) – 2:25.39
4. Lilly King (ISC) – 2:25.76
5. Virag Peter (UH) – 2:30.78
6. Kim Herkle (UOFL) – 2:30.94
7. Nina Kucheran (GSC-FL) – 2:32.13
8. Alexis Yager (TNAQ) – 2:32.43

Former Virginia star Kate Douglass dominated the 200 breast by almost five seconds with a winning time of 2:19.89, only about half a second off her American record of 2:19.30 from January’s Pro Swim Series stop in Knoxville. The 22-year-old has medaled in this event at the past three World Championships, but has yet to top the podium in the 200 breast. Douglass was faster tonight than her runner-up performance at February’s Worlds in Doha (2:20.91).

Lithuania’s Kotryna Teterevkova eked past Ella Nelson (2:25.39) and Lilly King (2:25.76) for 2nd place with a time of 2:24.56. Teterevkova owns a lifetime best of 2:22.86 from last summer.

Nelson, who just wrapped of her final season of collegiate eligibility for Virginia, was within a second of her personal-best 2:24.80 from 2021.

King has been as fast as 2:19.92 at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, when she claimed the silver medal behind South Africa’s Tatjana Schoenmaker. She was quicker at Indy Sectionals last month (2:23.27).

MEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE — FINAL

• World Record: Qin Haiyang (CHN) – 2:05.48 (2023)
• American Record: Josh Prenot (USA) – 2:07.17 (2016)
• Pro Swim Series Record: Jake Foster (USA) – 2:08.23 (2023)
• U.S Open Record: Josh Prenot (USA) – 2:07.17 (2016)

Top 8:

1. Matt Fallon (UPN) – 2:08.18
2. Leon Marchand (UN-AZ) – 2:08.40
3. Adam Chillingworth (HKG) – 2:11.16
4. Denis Petrashov (UOFL) – 2:11.19
5. Lyubomir Enitropov (TNAQ) – 2:11.22
6. Carles Coll Marti (VT) – 2:11.32
7. Noah Nichols (UVA-VA) – 2:15.23
8. Julio Horrego (SOFL) – 2:15.66

After losing to Leon Marchand in the yards version of this race at last month’s NCAA Championships, UPenn junior Matt Fallon got redemption with an upset victory over the French superstar tonight.

Fallon touched in 2:08.18, the fourth-fastest time of his career, just a couple tenths ahead of Marchand’s 2:08.40. In the process, he toppled Jake Foster‘s Pro Swim Series record of 2:08.23 from last year. Fallon has been as fast as 2:07.71 at U.S. Trials last summer.

Marchand was within a couple seconds of his personal-best 2:06.59 from last summer’s French Championships. The 21-year-old has yet to swim the event at a major international meet, instead opting for the 200 IM, 400 IM, and 200 fly.

Only a couple tenths separated Adam Chillingworth (2:11.16), Denis Petrashov (2:11.19), Lyubomir Enitropov (2:11.22), and Carles Coll Marti (2:11.32) in the fight for 3rd place.

Chillingworth shaved .15 seconds off his previous-best 2:11.31 from last April, sneaking under the Hong Kong national record of 2:11.20 set by Adam Mak in February.

WOMEN’S 200 IM — FINAL

• World Record: 2:06.12, Katinka Hosszu, Hungary (2015)
• American Record: 2:06.15, Ariana Kukors (2009)
• U.S Open Record: 2:07.09, Kate Douglass, United States (2023)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 2:07.16, Summer McIntosh, Canada (2024)

Top 8:

1. Torri Huske (AAC-PV) – 2:08.47
2. Alex Walsh (UVA-VA) – 2:08.60
3. Sydney Pickrem (AGS) – 2:11.37
4. Phoebe Bacon (WISC) – 2:12.18
5. Beata Nelson (WISC) – 2:12.90
6. Lucy Bell (UN-PC) – 2:13.64
7. Katie Christopherson (SA) – 2:14.17
8. Erin Gemmell (UN-ST) – 2:15.30

Former Stanford standout Torri Huske blasted a personal-best 2:08.47 to take the 200 IM title by just about a tenth of a second over Virginia senior Alex Walsh (2:08.60). Huske shaved almost half a second off her previous-best 2:08.83 from last month’s Pro Swim Series win in Westmont, moving up to 4th in the world this year.

Walsh has been about a second faster before (2:07.13) on her way to her 2022 world title in Budapest, Hungary. Her season-best 2:07.63 from January’s Pro Swim Series stop in Knoxville ranks 3rd in the world this year behind Summer McIntosh (2:07.16) and Kate Douglass (2:07.05).

Canada’s Sydney Pickrem placed 3rd in 2:11.37, a couple seconds off her best time (2:08.56) that earned her silver at February’s World Championships in Doha.

Wisconsin senior Phoebe Bacon faced off against former Badgers star Beata Nelson for 4th place, with Bacon coming out on top in 2:12.18. In the process, Bacon shaved almost a tenth off her best time from last summer (2:12.27). Nelson was close behind in 2:12.90, about a second off her personal-best 2:11.55 from 2021.

MEN’S 200 IM — FINAL

• World Record: 1:54.00 — Ryan Lochte, United States (2011)
• American Record: 1:54.00 — Ryan Lochte (2011)
• U.S Open Record: 1:54.46 — Ryan Lochte, United States (2009)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 1:55.68– Leon Marchand, France (2023)

Top 8:

1. Chase Kalisz (UN-AZ) – 1:57.51
2. Carson Foster (RAYS) – 1:58.31
3. Grant House (UN-AZ) – 1:58.69
4. Ron Polonsky (UN-PC) – 1:59.06
5. Kieran Smith (RAC) – 1:59.66
6. Owen McDonald (UN-AZ) – 1:59.71
7. Louis Dramm (UNC) – 2:01.28
8. Trenton Julian (MVN) – DSQ

At 30 years old, Chase Kalisz rallied from 4th to 1st place with a 33.36 breaststroke split, then held off a late charge from Carson Foster (28.23 free split vs. Kalisz’s 28.43) to clinch the 200 IM victory in 1:57.51.

Both have been under 1:56 before, with Kalisz’s best time standing at 1:55.40 from 2018 and Foster’s at 1:55.71 from 2022.

Grant House, 25, placed 3rd in 1:58.69, within half a second of his personal-best 1:58.21 from last summer.

Ron Polonsky (1:59.06), Kieran Smith (1:59.66), and Owen McDonald (1:59.71) also broke two minutes in the final. McDonald, who just finished his sophomore season at Arizona State, had never been under two minutes before as his best time stood at 2:00.72 from last summer.

WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE — FINAL

• World Record: 23.61 — Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden (2023)
• American Record: 23.91 —  Kate Douglass (2024)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 24.17 — Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden (2016)
• U.S Open Record: 24.00 — Abbey Weitzeil, United States (2023)

Top 8:

1. Kasia Wasick (DM) – 24.20
2. Abbey Weitzeil (CAL) – 24.27
3. Gretchen Walsh (UVA-VA) – 24.29
4. Simone Manuel (UN-AZ) – 24.39
5. Catie Deloof (NYAC) – 24.63
6. Olivia Smoliga (UN-AZ) – 24.96
7. Torri Huske (AAC-PV) – 25.07
8. Maxine Parker (UVA-VA) – 25.28

Polish sprinter Kasia Wasick claimed the 50 free crown in 24.20, a quarter of a second off her personal-best 23.95 that earned her a bronze medal at February’s Worlds in Doha.

Wasick was just a blink faster than Abbey Weitzeil, who tallied a season-best 24.27 to tie Shayna Jack for 4th in the world this year.

Gretchen Walsh registered a new lifetime best en route to her 3rd-place showing in 24.29. The Virginia star shaved a couple hundredths off her previous-best 24.31 from last summer.

Simone Manuel was just a tenth behind Walsh in 24.39, marking her fastest time in almost three years since she went 24.29 at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials. The 27-year-old continues to stake her claim as a strong contender to make her third Olympics this summer as she works her way back from overtraining syndrome (OTS) under coach Bob Bowman.

MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE — FINAL

• World Record: 20.91 — Cesar Cielo Filho, Brazil  (2009)
• American Record: 21.04 —  Caeleb Dressel (2019)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 21.51 —  Caeleb Dressel, United States (2020)
• U.S Open Record: 21.04 —  Caeleb Dressel, United States (2021)

Top 8:

1. Gabe Castano (TFA) – 21.70
2. Ryan Held (NYAC) – 21.79
3. Caeleb Dressel (GSC-FL) – 21.85
4. Jonny Kulow (UN-AZ) – 21.89
5. Santo Condorelli (DM) – 21.98
6. Matt King (TFA) – 22.00
7. Jack Dolan (UN-AZ) – 22.12
8. Michael Andrew (MASA) – 22.19

Gabe Castano narrowly missed his own Mexican record of 21.67 from this morning’s prelims, but he still came away with the 50 free victory in 21.70.

Ryan Held was less than a tenth behind Castano in 21.79, also slightly slower than this morning (21.68). Held has been as fast as 21.50 at U.S. Trials last summer.

Reigning Olympic champion Caeleb Dressel held off Jonny Kulow (21.89) for 3rd place with a time of 21.85, his second-fastest time since taking almost a year away from the sport. Dressel went 21.84 at last month’s Pro Swim Series stop in Westmont.

Kulow was just .02 seconds off his best time from U.S. Trials last summer (21.87).

Canadian-turned-Italian-turned-American swimmer Santo Condorelli was the only other swimmer under 22 seconds with his 5th-place finish in 21.98. His season best is 21.89 from last month’s Pro Swim Series stop in Westmont.