2024 Pro Swim Series – Westmont: Day 1 Finals Live Recap

2024 PRO SWIM SERIES – WESTMONT

• March 6-9, 2024
• FMC Natatorium – Westmont, Illinois
• LCM (50 meters)
• Start Times
  • All Prelims: 9am (Central Time)
  • Wednesday Timed Finals: 5pm (Central Time)
  • Thurs-Sat Finals: 6pm (Central Time)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Livestream (USA Swimming Network)
• Live Results
• Results also available via Meet Mobile: “2024 TYR Pro Swim Series – Westmont”

Wednesday Finals Scratch Report

Wednesday Timed Finals Heat Sheet

USA Swimming Livestream:

The 2024 Westmont Pro Swim Series stop will kick off this evening, with only one event on the schedule. The 800 freestyle is that event, and will be contested as timed finals, which will be swum fastest to slowest, alternating heats of women and men.

Sandpiper teammates Claire Weinstein and Katie Grimes are the top two seeds in the women’s 800 free. Grimes’ entry time of 8:21.87 comes from last May, when she clocked her fastest 800 free since the Tokyo Olympics. Grimes has been as fast as 8:17.05 in the event, and Weinstein is seeded with her best time (8:21.00) from the 2023 U.S. World Championship Trials. Paige Madden is another name to watch for, as she won gold in the event at the Pan American Games in October.

The Swim Team has the top three seeds in the men’s distance, with Will Gallant (7:50.75) leading the way ahead of training partners David Johnston (7:51.70) and Michael Brinegar (7:54.52). The top three seeds have scratched the race, including Olympic champions Ahmed Hafnaoui and Bobby Finke.

Action will continue through Saturday, with preliminary heats of the 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 butterfly, and 400 IM set for tomorrow at 9am (Central Time).

WOMEN’S 800M FREESTYLE — TIMED FINAL

• World Record: Katie Ledecky (USA) – 8:04.79 (2016)
• American Record: Katie Ledecky (USA) – 8:04.79 (2016)
• U.S Open Record: Katie Ledecky (USA) – 8:06.68 (2016)
• Pro Swim Series Record: Katie Ledecky (USA) – 8:06.68 (2016)
• U.S. Olympic Trials Cut – 8:45.79

Top 8:

1. Claire Weinstein (SAND) – 8:23.73
2. Katie Grimes (SAND) – 8:24.84
3. Paige Madden (NYAC) – 8:31.70
4. Leticia Fassina (MTC) – 8:39.15
5. Aline Rodrigues (MTC) – 8:42.35
6. Beatrix Pimentel Dizotti (BRA) – 8:44.61
7. Rebecca Diaconescu (SAND) – 8:54.45
8. Clarke Neace (MAC) – 8:54.94

Top seed Claire Weinstein, who represents the Sandpipers of Nevada, posted her 2nd fastest 800 freestyle ever tonight in Westmont. She touched in 8:23.73 for the win, clearing the field by just over a second. Weinstein showcased a significant negative split, opening in 4:14.02 through the first 400 before closing in 4:09.71. The Cal commit owns a best time of 8:21.00, which she set en route to a 3rd place finish at the 2023 U.S. National Championships.

Her training partner, Katie Grimes, also negative split the race. Grimes opened in 4:13.15 and closed in 4:11.69, finishing with a final time of 8:24.84. Grimes was the only swimmer to break 30 seconds on the final 50 tonight, closing in a swift 29.97.

Paige Madden, who trains with the ASU pro group, stuck with Weinstein and Grimes through the first 500 meters. She ultimately finished 3rd in 8:31.70, just over 4 seconds shy of her best time from January (8:27.64).

Minas Tennis Club’s Leticia Fassina was 4th tonight, posting the only other sub-8:40 performance with a time of 8:39.15. Her teammate, Aline Rodrigues, checked-in at 8:42.35 for 4th overall.

MEN’S 800M FREESTYLE — TIMED FINAL

• World Record: Zhang Lin (CHN) – 7:32.12 (2009)
• American Record: Bobby Finke (USA) – 7:38.67  (2023)
• U.S Open Record: Bobby Finke (USA) – 7:40.34 (2023)
• Pro Swim Series Record: Ahmed Hafnaoui (TUN) – 7:48.50 (2023)
• U.S. Olympic Trials Cut – 8:09.69

Top 8:

1. David Johnston (TST) – 7:57.00
2. Michael Brinegar (TST) – 7:57.11
3. Luke Whitlock (FAST) – 7:58.20
4. Eduardo Oliveira De Moraes (MTC) – 8:01.81
5. Gabriel Manteufel (SAND) – 8:04.13
6. Dylan Porges Avila (TST) – 8:04.16
7. Isaac Fleig (FAST) – 8:05.23
8. Luke Ellis (SAND) – 8:05.72

It was a 1-2 finish for The Swim Team in the men’s 800 free, with David Johnston (7:57.00) touching just 0.11 ahead of Michael Brinegar (7:57.11). Johnston was leading with 50 to go, but Brinegar split 27.29 over the final 50 to nearly close the gap. Johnston was 27.89 over the final 50, doing enough to hold on for victory.

Of note, top seed Will Gallant touched in 8:14.83 for 11th overall. Gallant’s best time in the event is 7:50.75, which he put on the books at the 2023 U.S. National Championships in June. Both Johnston and Gallant are taking Olympic redshirts this year, with plans to return to their respective universities in the fall. Johnston swims collegiately for the University of Texas, while Gallant represents the NC State Wolfpack.

Four of the top eight came from the 2nd heat tonight, with the 1st heat featuring the eight fastest entrants. Minas Tennis Club’s Eduardo Oliveira De Moraes led the way in heat 2, touching in 8:01.81 for the heat win. Gabriel Manteufel (8:04.13), Dylan Porges Avila (8:04.16), and Isaac Fleig (8:05.23) placed 2nd through 4th in the heat. The time from Eduardo Oliveira De Moraes held up for 4th overall, with Manteufel taking 5th, Porges Avila claiming 6th, and Fleig checking-in at 7th.