2024 Pro Swim Series – San Antonio: Day 4 Prelims 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

Day 4 Prelims Heat Sheet

**10:10 ET: The livestream for today’s session is currently only available via the USA Swimming app on your device. The web version of the stream is NOT working**

We’ve reached the final prelims session on the 2024 TYR Pro Swim Series with this last morning session in San Antonio. This morning, we’ve got heats of the 100 backstroke, 200 breaststroke, 200 IM, and 50 freestyle.

There’s another stacked field in the women’s 100 backstroke. Leading the way is American record holder Regan Smith, who came within a tenth of that mark at the Westmont Pro Series with a U.S. Open Record of 57.64. She’ll be looking to pick up her third win of the week after collecting first place finishes in the 200 fly and 200 back earlier this meet. She’ll be in the final heat of the event, along with her training partner Olivia Smoliga and NCAA record holder in the 100-yard back Gretchen Walsh.

In the men’s race, 2024 World Champion Hunter Armstrong comes in as the top seed. In the penultimate heat, Hubert Kos, Shaine Casas, and Kacper Stokowski all face off as well. Kos has already put up best times in the 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly this week.

Kate Douglass kicks off her day’s double in the 200 breaststroke. She’s got the 200 breaststroke and 50 freestyle today; thanks to her performances already through the first half of the year, she’s now the American record holder in both events. She’s not the top seed in the 50 freestyle though; racing in the second to last heat, she’ll get a rematch with fellow 2024 Worlds finalist Kasia Wasick and Simone Manuel will be in the mix as well. It’s Abbey Weitzeil who’s the top seed, and she’ll race gretchen Walsh and Smoliga (on the second swim of her double) in the last heat.

In the men’s 50 freestyle, Caeleb Dressel will look to set himself up well for the final. He’s looking to make it 3-for-3 in season bests in San Antonio as he posted his fastest times since returning to the sport in the 100 free and 100 fly, earning two wins to go along with those times.

Women’s 100-Meter Backstroke — Prelims

• 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 Qualifiers:

1. Katharine Berkoff (NCS) — 59.07
2. Regan Smith (UN) — 59.69
3. Rhyan White (WOLF) — 59.80
4. Claire Curzan (UN) — 59.82
5. Kennedy Noble (NCS) — 1:00.21
6. Phoebe Bacon (WISC) — 1:00.66
7. Anastasia Gorbenko (UN) — 1:00.95
8. Ayla Spitz (UN) — 1:01.23

2024 World Champion Claire Curzan was the first swimmer to break the minute barrier this morning. In the first circle-seeded heat, Curzan swam 59.82, taking over the top time of the morning. NC State’s Kennedy Noble touched second in the heat with a 1:00.21, which put her through to the final in fifth.

In the next heat, Katharine Berkoff took over the leaderboard with a 59.07. Berkoff’s already been sub-59 this season (58.63 at the U.S. Open) but this is just off her fastest swim for 2024. She clocked 59.06 twice at the Knoxville stop of the Pro Series, and the fact that she was so close to that time here in the morning points to a strong swim loading for her in tonight’s final.

She out-touched her training partner Rhyan White for the win in the heat. White also broke 1:00 in a 59.80.

Berkoff’s time held up as the fastest time of the morning. In the final heat, Regan Smith did what she needed to do to put herself through to the final tonight. She won the heat in 59.69, putting herself in lane 5 for tonight’s final and rounding out the women under 1:00 this morning.

From heat 6–the last non circle-seeded heat, Ayla Spitz put herself into the championship final with a lifetime best of 1:01.23.

Both Gretchen Walsh and Olivia Smoliga no-showed the 100 backstroke heats, presumably to focus on the 50 freestyle at the end of the session.

Men’s 100-Meter Backstroke — Prelims

• 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 Qualifiers:

1. Hubert Kos (UN) — 53.55
2. Kacper Stokowski (NCS) — 54.37
3. Justin Ress (MVN) — 54.54
4. Jack Dolan (UN) — 54.72
5. Jack Aikins (UN) — 54.96
6. Daniel Diehl (NCS) — 55.23
7. Aidan Stoffle (AU) — 55.41
8. Hunter Armstrong (NYAC) — 55.58

Justin Ress secured the win ahead of Jack Aikins in heat 7, the first of the circle-seeded heats. Ress earned the heat win in 54.54, which is just .04 seconds off what he swam in prelims at the Westmont Pro Swim. Aikins was also faster than 55 seconds this morning, taking second in 54.96.

In the very next heat, Hubert Kos lowered the top time by about a second. Kos, last night’s co-winner of the 100 butterfly, turned on the jets on the way home. He split 27.30 on the second 50, stopping the clock at 53.55. Kos owns the Hungarian record in this event in a 53.11. He set that time in Fukuoka, and just missed it at November’s U.S. Open in 53.19.

Kacper Stokowski followed Kos in heat 8, touching further back in 54.37. Those two swims held up as the top two qualifying times. Stokowksi is joined by his new NC State teammate Daniel Diehl in the final as Diehl logged a 55.23 for 6th overall.

Jack Dolan put together a season-best 54.72 for 4th place. It’s his first time breaking 55 seconds this season, and is within a second of his personal best 54.04.

After coming in as the top seed, Hunter Armstrong made the championship final by two-tenhs in 55.58. Don’t be fooled by that prelims effort from the 2024 World Champion. At the Fukuoka Worlds where he earned a second-straight bronze medal, Armstrong consistently played with fire moving through the rounds. He made semifinals in 16th and the final in 8th. If he’s following that same strategy here, then he’s just done what he needed to do to grab a lane for tonight’s final.

Last night’s 200 backstroke champion Hunter Tapp earned a ‘C’ final berth, finishing 19th (56.35).

Notable no-shows include Shaine Casas (2nd seed, 52.51) and Ian Grum (17th seed, 54.55).

Women’s 200-Meter Breaststroke — Prelims

• World Record: Evgeniia Chikunova (RUS) – 2:17.55 (2023)
• American Record: Kate Douglass (USA) – 2:19.30 (2024)
• Pro Swim Series Record: Annie Lazor (USA) – 2:20.77 (2019)
• U.S Open Record: Rebecca Soni (USA) – 2:20.38 (2009)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Kate Douglass (NYAC) — 2:26.09
2. Kotryna Teterevkova (LTU) — 2:27.44
3. Ella Nelson (UVA) — 2:28.09
4. Lilly King (ISC) — 2:28.91
5. Kim Emely Herkle (UOFL) — 2:31.34
6. Alexis Yager (TNAQ) — 2:31.59
7. Sydney Pickrem (AGS) — 2:31.81
8. Nina Kucheran (GSC) — 2:32.56

Kotryna Teterevkova won the first circle-seeded heat in a 2:27.44, ahead of Virginia’s Ella Nelson, who finished third in the 400 IM last night. Nelson was ahead at the 100-meter mark (1:11.48), but Teterevkova made a move on the third 50. She outsplit Nelson, took over the lead by the final turn, and didn’t look back as she earned the heat win. Nelson touched in 2:28.09, moving through to the championship final in 3rd.

Lilly King touched in 2:28.91 in heat 8, easily winning the heat and slotting into third position behind the times that Teterevkova and Nelson put up in the heat prior. At the end of the event, she is the fourth fastest qualifier.

The American record holder Kate Douglass jumped on the final heat of the women’s 200 breaststroke. She pressed out to over a second lead on the first 50., turning in 1:10.00 at the 100 and extending her lead to 3.35 seconds ahead of Sydney Pickrem. She continued to extend her lead over the third 50, widening the gap to five seconds.

Douglass touched the wall in 2:26.09, emphasizing that she is the favorite for the final tonight. She’s sitting well over a second ahead of Teterevkova, the second fastest qualifier.

The top 8 are all circle-seeded swimmers. The highest qualified swimmer from a non circle-seeded heat is Aquajets’ Grace Rabb, who swam a lifetime best 2:33.79 in heat 4 to finish 12th overall and make the ‘B’ final.

Alex Walsh was a no-show in the final heat; she’s expected to race the next event, the 200 IM. Other no-shows from the top 16 include 5th seed Lydia Jacoby (who posted on Instagram yesterday that she left San Antonio), 11th seed Kaitlyn Dobler, and 15th seed Katie Christopherson.

Men’s 200-Meter Breaststroke — Prelims

• 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 Qualifiers:

1. Adam Chillingworth (HKG) — 2:12.06
2. Matt Fallon (UPN) — 2:12.20
3. Leon Marchand (UN) — 2:12.22
4. Carles Coll Marti (VT) — 2:12.35
5. Denis Petrashov (UOFL) — 2:12.84
6. Julio Horrego (SOFL) — 2:14.15
7. Lyubomir Epitropov (TNAQ) — 2:14.31
8. Noah Nichols (UVA) — 2:14.73

Hong Kong’s Adam Chillingworth set the standard at 2:12.06 in the first circle-seeded heat, which held up as the fastest qualifying time after the remaining two heats. This is Chillingworth’s first official meet since the 2024 World Championships, where he finished 14th in this event. He came just .08 seconds away from the 2:11.98 PB he set there this morning. Joining him in the final from heat 6 are Carles Coll Marti and Denis Petrashov, the 100 breast champion earleir this meet.

The final heat saw a rematch between Leon Marchand and Matt Fallon, the top two finishers in the 200-yard breaststroke at the NCAA Championships less than two weeks ago. Marchand led their heat at the halfway mark (1:03.38). Fallon turned in second at 1:03.85, a lot closer to the front than he usually is at this point in the race. Fallon took over the lead on the third 50 and though Marchand out-split him by a tenth coming home (34.68 to 34.78) Fallon had enough of a lead to get his hands on the wall .02 seconds ahead of Marchand. They’ll be in lanes 5 and 3 for tonight’s final.

Heat 7 saw a tight race between Lyubomir Epitropov, Noah Nichols, and Nic Fink. Epitropov held off the two charging swimmers for the heat win in 2:14.31, which qualified him for the final in 7th. Nichols out-touched Fink by .16 seconds, earning the last lane in the championship final.

From heat 5, Julio Horrego broke 2:15 for the first time. Horrego, who represents Honduras internationally, dropped 1.55 seconds from his best with a 2:14.15 that earned him a swim in the championship final.

No-shows included Will Licon and 400-IM/200 butterfly runner-up Chase Kalisz. 

Women’s 200-Meter Individual Medley — Prelims

• 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 Qualifiers:

1. Alex Walsh (UVA) — 2:12.93
2. Torri Huske (AAC) — 2:13.75
3. Phoebe Bacon (WISC) — 2:14.19
4. Katie Christopherson (SA) — 2:14.22
5. Sydney Pickrem (AGS) — 2:14.25
6. Beata Nelson (WISC) — 2:14.76
7. Erin Gemmell (UN) — 2:15.14
8. Lucy Bell (UN) — 2:16.01

Katie Christopherson opted for this event over the 200 breaststroke today. It paid off for the Virginia commit, who won heat 9 with a new personal bst of 2:14.22, undercutting her 2:14.38 from May 2023. Over the next two heats, her time held up for 4th overall.

Heat 10 turned into a race between Torri Huske and Alex Walsh. After rattling her 100 butterfly American record last night, Huske was unsurprisingly out fast to the 50 meter mark. Walsh, the Tokyo silver medalist in this event, took over the lead after the backstroke. Huske didn’t disappear though, flexing a breaststroke leg (38.56) that she’s continued to improve over the last 12 months.

The pair were separated by .17 at 150 turn; it was Walsh who took the heat win in 2:12.93, taking over the top time of the morning. Huske was 2nd in 2:13.75, earning her lane 5 for the final.

The top three qualfiiers all came from that heat, as Phoebe Bacon added another ‘A’ final. Bacon swam 2:14.19, to touch third in the heat and overall. Her Wisconsin teammate Beata Nelson joins her in the ‘A’ final, qualifying in 6th with a 2:14.76.

In her second swim of the session, Sydney Pickrem won the final heat of the 200 IM. She posted a 2:14.15, which qualifies her for her second ‘A’ final of the day after she earned a berth in the 200 breaststroke earlier.

Kate Douglass had the option for a triple today. She didn’t take it, no-showing the final heat of the women’s 200 IM; she’s still entered in the 50 freestyle, the last event of the morning. Regan Smith, Ella Nelson, and Alexis Yager were all no-shows as well. All three did race earlier this session.

Men’s 200-Meter Individual Medley — Prelims

• 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 Qualifiers:

1. Luca Urlando (DART) — 1:59.96
2. Kieran Smith (RAC) — 2:00.51
3. Owen McDonald (UN) — 2:00.66
4. Chase Kalisz (UN) — 2:00.69
5. Carson Foster (RAYS) — 2:00.71
6. Ron Polonsky (UN) — 2:00.82
7. Grant House (UN) — 2:01.15
8. Trenton Julian (MVN) — 2:01.61

In Heat 8, Chase Kalisz, Ron Polonsky, and Luca Urlando were at the front of the race. Kalisz made the final turn first, .08 seconds ahead of Polonsky with Urlando in third .53 seconds behind Polonsky. Urlando dug in on the final 50 meters. He split 27.73 on the way home, surging past both Polonsky and Kalisz for the win.

Urlando touched in 1:59.96, breaking 2:00 for the first time in his career and posting the fastest time this morning. It’s Urlando’s first best time in the event in almost five years; he set his previous standard of 2:00.12 at the Clovis Pro Swim in June 2019.

Kalisz extended his lead on Polonsky over the freestyle leg, touching second in the heat with a 2:00.69. Both he and Polonsky qualified for the ‘A’ final; Kalisz qualified 4th and Polonsky 6th (2:00.82).

Kieran Smith took command of the final heat with a 35.08 breaststroke split. Owen McDonald did his best to run Smith down on the freestyle leg, clocking 28.52 on the freestyle leg compared to Smith’s 28.89. McDonald ran out of runway to catch Smith though. Smith earned the heat win in 2:00.51, qualifying second for the final. McDonald made it back in 3rd, shaving .06 seconds off his personal best in 2:00.66.

Women’s 50-Meter Freestyle — Prelims

• 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 Qualifiers:

1. Abbey Weitzeil (CAL) — 24.32
2. Simone Manuel (UN) — 24.34
3. Gretchen Walsh (UVA) — 24.38
4. Kasia Wasick (DM) — 24.49
5. Torri Huske (AAC) — 24.52
6. Catie DeLoof (NYAC) — 24.56
7. Siobhan Haughey (HKG) — 24.77
8. Olivia Smoliga (UN) — 24.94

It took a sub-25 second effort to make it back for the women’s 50 freestyle championship final. Cal’s Abbey Weitzeil leads the way after winning the final heat with a 24.32. She got her hand on the wall just two-hundredths ahead of Simone Manuel‘s winning time from the previous heat.

Manuel clocked 24.34 to win heat 12. That’s her fastest performance since returning to competition, beating the 24.49 she swam in the Westmont Pro Swim final earlier this year.

Gretchen Walsh finished second to Weitzeil, hitting 24.38 for third overall this morning. That’s just .07 seconds away from her personal best of 24.31 from last summer. Walsh got similarly close to her 100 butterfly PB in prelims yeterday before blowing past it in finals to become the third-fastest American in the event. Watch to see if she repeats that feat here in the 50 free later today.

In a quick turnaround from the 200 IM, Huske won her heat in 24.52, securing a lane for the final.

Douglass, the American record holder in this event, was a no show. She was also a no-show in the 200 IM, though she did race the 200 breaststroke earlier this session. Also no-showing were Curzan and Gabby DeLoof. 

Men’s 50-Meter Freestyle — Prelims

• 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 Qualifiers: 

1. Gabe Castano (TFA) — 21.67
2. Ryan Held (NYAC) — 21.68
3. Santo Condorelli (DM) — 21.95
4. Jonny Kulow (UN) — 22.04
5. Matt King (TFA) — 22.14
6. Caeleb Dressel (GSC) — 22.16
7. Jack Dolan (UN) — 22.18
8. Michael Andrew (MASA) / Koko Bratanov (TFA) — 22.32 *Swim-Off Required*

In the final heat, Gabe Castano had a huge swim, surging to the fastest qualifying time in 21.67. Representing Texas Ford Aquatics, Castano–who swims for Mexico internationally–ripped 21.67. It’s his second personal best in the event at this meet: during time trials earlier, he went 21.81, breaking 22 seconds for the first time and resetting his Mexican national record.

He lowered the record again here; over the course of the meet he’s taken .34 seconds off the mark and still has another crack at it tonight. Before this meet his best (and record) stood at 22.01 from June 2021.

He earned lane 4 by a hundredth ahead of Ryan Held. The veteran sprinter for the U.S. turned in first sub-22 outing of the season in 21.68, which is only .18 seconds off his personal best 21.50 from June 2023. This swim ties the time he went in at the Fukuoka Worlds swim-off for a spot in the final.

Santo Condorelli clocked 21.95 for third, joining Castano and Held under 22 seconds this morning.

There will be a swim-off for lane 8 in the final, as Michael Andrew and Koko Bratanov tied in 22.32.

In the early heats, Ilya Kharun broke 23 seconds for the first time. He dropped .65 seconds, swimming 22.66. Other personal bests in the heats include Youssef Ramadan‘s 22.35 (improving from 22.39) and Patrick Sammon with a 22.41 (down from 22.80).