2024 Pro Swim Series – Westmont: Day 4 Finals Live Recap

2024 PRO SWIM SERIES – WESTMONT

• March 6-9, 2024
• FMC Natatorium – Westmont, Illinois
• LCM (50 meters)
• Start Times
  • All Prelims: 9 a.m. (Central Time)
  • Thurs.-Sat. Finals: 6 p.m. (Central Time)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• How To Watch
• Live Results
• Results also available via Meet Mobile: “2024 TYR Pro Swim Series – Westmont”
• 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 Live Recap

Pro Swim Series action in Westmont concludes on Saturday night with just three individual events slated for the last session: the women’s 1500 freestyle, 200 IM, 200 backstroke, and 100 free.

Leah Hayes was the top women’s 200 IM qualifier this morning by more than two seconds with a 2:13.15 in prelims while Grant House led the men’s 200 IM heats (2:01.70) ahead of Hugo Gonzalez (2:02.58) and Kieran Smith (2:02.70).

The 200 backstroke should see some fun battles between Leah Shackley (2:12.91) and Regan Smith (2:13.24) on the women’s side and Cal training partners Destin Lasco (2:02.60) and Ryan Murphy (2:03.72) on the men’s side.

The meet will come to an end with the 100 freestyle, where Simone Manuel (54.01) and Jack Alexy (48.38) were the top qualifiers on the women’s and men’s sides, respectively. Caeleb Dressel (49.11) is eyeing his third title of the week after already winning the 100 fly and 50 free in Westmont.

WOMEN’S 1500 FREESTYLE — TIMED FINALS

• World Record: 15:20.48 — Katie Ledecky, USA (2018)
• World Junior Record: 15:28.36 — Katie Ledecky, USA (2014)
• American Record: 15:20.48 — Katie Ledecky, USA (2018)
• U.S. Open Record: 15:20.48 — Katie Ledecky, USA (2018)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 15:20.48 — Katie Ledecky, USA (2018)

Top 8:

1. Paige Madden (NYAC) – 16:09.93
2. Beatriz Dizotti (BRA) – 16:30.86
3. Leticia Fassina Romao (MTC) – 16:39.03
4. Clarke Neace (MAC-NC) – 17:07.76
5. Maya White (UN-CO) – 17:30.20
6. Luci Gutierrez (WESTMR) – 17:24.44
7. Kylie Ney (CSUB) – 17:28.78
8. Claire Parsons (UN-IN) – 18:02.16

Paige Madden knocked more than a second off her lifetime best en route to the women’s 1500 free victory. She touched almost 11 seconds ahead of Brazil’s Beatriz Dizotti (16:30.86) with a winning time of 16:09.93.

Before today, Madden’s best time stood at 16:11.26 from December’s U.S. Open, where she placed 2nd about 25 seconds behind Katie Ledecky. Dizotti has been as fast as 16:01.95 at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, where she ultimately placed 7th in the final (16:03.70).

Fellow Brazilian Leticia Fassina Romao was the only other swimmer under 17 minutes at 16:39.03 on her way to 3rd place ahead of Clarke Neace (17:07.76) and Maya White (17:30.20).

MEN’S 1500 FREESTYLE – TIMED FINALS

• World Record: 14.31.02 — Sun Yang, CHN (2012)
• World Junior Record: 14:46.09 — Franko Grgic, CRO (2019)
• American Record: 14:31.59 — Bobby Finke, USA (2023)
• U.S. Open Record: 14:42.81 — Bobby Finke, USA (2023)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 14:53.12 — Jordan Wilimovsky, USA (2016)

Top 8:

1. Michael Brinegar (TST-CA) – 15:09.72
2. Luke Whitlock (FASTIN) – 15:12.46
3. David Johnston (TST-CA) – 15:20.59
4. Isaac Fleig (FASTIN) – 15:24.87
5. Dylan Porges Avila (TST-CA) – 15:33.89
6. Diego Dulieu (AZFL) – 15:45.60
7. Timothe Barbeau (TQ) – 16:01.28
8. Sati Alzate (MAC-NC) – 16:02.49

California’s The Swim Team (TST) and Indiana’s Fishers Area Swimming Tigers (FAST) swept the top 5 spots in the men’s 1500 free to stake their claim as two of the top distance programs in the country.

Tokyo Olympian Michael Brinegar, 24, held off Luke Whitlock (15:12.46) by two seconds for the 1500 free win in 15:09.72. Brinegar is one of 16 American men who have ever been under 15 minutes in this event with his personal-best 14:59.54 from last summer.

Florid commit Luke Whitlock, 17, was close behind Brinegar with his runner-up effort in 15:12.46. He was just four seconds off his lifetime best from December (15:08.09) and more than eight seconds clear of 3rd-place finisher David Johnston. 

Isaac Fleig, currently taking a gap year before he plans to join Arizona State in the fall, placed 5th in 15:24.87. He was within five seconds of his personal-best 15:19.90 from last summer’s Junior Nationals victory.

23-year-old Mexican Dylan Porges Avila rounded out the top 5 with a time of 15:33.89, not far off his best time (15:28.53) from Pan Ams last October.

WOMEN’S 200 IM – FINAL

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

Top 8:

1. Torri Huske (AAC) – 2:08.83
2. Leah Hayes (TIDEIL) – 2:10.62
3. Beata Nelson (WISC) – 2:12.49
4. Bailey Andison (TQ) – 2:15.55
5. Isabelle Odgers (TROJ) – 2:15.94
6. McKenna Debever (TNAQ) – 2:15.99
7. Kelsey Zhang (UN-PC) – 2:17.99
8. Nathalia Siqueira Almeida (BRA) – 2:18.42

Torri Huske took down top qualifier Leah Hayes (2:10.62) with a personal-best 200 IM time of 2:08.83 — her third lifetime best of the meet after lowering her own career marks in the 50 free (24.31) and 100 back (1:00.19).

Huske’s best time before today stood at 2:09.10 from the U.S. Open, where she placed 3rd behind Alex Walsh (2:08.96) and Kate Douglass (2:08.46).

Hayes, a Virginia commit, reached the wall within a couple seconds of her best time (2:08.91) from her 3rd-place finish at the 2022 World Championships.

Beata Nelson took 3rd place in 2:12.49, within a second of her lifetime best from 2021 (2:11.55).

Bailey Andison (2:15.55), Isabelle Odgers (2:15.94), and McKenna Debever (2:15.99) were separated by less than half a second in the battle for 4th place.

MEN’S 200 IM – FINAL

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

Top 8:

1. TIE: Hugo Gonzalez (CAL) / Chase Kalisz (SUN) – 1:57.76
2. –
3. Kieran Smith (RAC) – 1:59.52
4. Grant House (SUN) – 2:00.13
5. Gabriel Jett (UN-PC) – 2:01.32
6. Mark Szaranek (GSC-FL) – 2:03.28
7. Vini Lanza (MTC) – 2:03.47
8. Noah Cakir (TS) – 2:07.72

Hugo Gonzalez and Chase Kalisz tied for the 200 IM crown with identical times of 1:57.76 in the final. Gonzalez trailed by more than half a second heading into the final stroke, but he posted a 28.05 freestyle split to catch Kalisz (28.69 free split) at the finish.

Gonzalez touched about a second shy of his best time from 2021 (1:56.31) while Kalisz has been as fast as 1:55.40 at the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships.

Kieran Smith was the only other swimmer under two minutes in the final with a 3rd-place finish in 1:59.52, a couple seconds off his personal-best 1:57.23 from the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Arizona State graduate Grant House was close behind in 2:00.13, within a couple seconds of his best time (1:58.21) from last summer.

WOMEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – FINAL

• World Record: 2:03.14, Kaylee McKeown (2023)
• American Record: 2:03.35, Regan Smith (2019)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 2:04.76, Regan Smith (2023)
• U.S Open Record: 2:03.80, Regan Smith (2023)

Top 8:

1. Regan Smith (SUN) – 2:03.99
2. Rhyan White (WOLF) – 2:07.38
3. Leah Shackley (BRY) – 2:08.87
4. Justine Murdock (UN-IL) – 2:12.96
5. Vera Conic (PPD) – 2:14.89
6. Lauren Bernardo (MAC-NC) – 2:18.04
7. Lea Nugent (TQ) – 2:18.84
8. Callie Dickinson (ABSC) – 2:23.12

Regan Smith continued her red-hot week with her third sub-2:04 200 back of her career to take home the win in 2:03.99. She was just about half a second shy of her personal-best 2:03.35 from 2019, and more than three seconds ahead of runner-up finisher Rhyan White (2:07.38). In the process, Smith erased her own Pro Swim Series record of 2:04.76 from last year by almost a second.

White has been as fast as 2:05.13 back in 2022. Top prelims qualifier Leah Shackley was the only other swimmer sub-2:10 with her 3rd-place showing in 2:08.87. The 17-year-old NC State commit was within half a second of her personal-best 2:08.42 from last May.

Northwestern junior Justine Murdock placed 4th in 2:12.96, only about a second off her lifetime best from 2022 (2:11.73).

Vera Conic clocked a new best time en route to 5th place in 2:14.89, shaving about a tenth off her previous-best 2:15.03 from last August.

MEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – FINAL

• World Record: 1:51.92, Aaron Peirsol (2009)
• American Record: 1:51.92, Aaron Peirsol (2009)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 1:55.04, Xu Jiayu (2017)
• U.S Open Record: 1:53.08, Aaron Peirsol (2009)

Top 8:

1. Ryan Murphy (CAL) – 1:58.34
2. Yeziel Morales (MVN) – 1:58.93
3. Jay Litherland (SUN) – 1:59.64
4. Joe Hayburn (LOYO) – 2:00.94
5. Destin Lasco (UN-PC) – 2:01.81
6. Sam Wesley (ARMY) – 2:02.07
7. Chris Thames (MAAC) – 2:02.75
8. Jack Dahlgren (TRI) – 2:06.24

After sneaking into the A-final with an 8th-place effort (2:03.72) in prelims this morning, Ryan Murphy pulled out the victory tonight with a time of 1:58.34. It marked his fastest swim in the event since his runner-up finish at the 2023 World Championships (1:54.83).

Top prelims qualifier Yeziel Morales also dipped under 1:59 with his 2nd-place showing in 1:58.93. The 28-year-old Puerto Rican was just a couple tenths behind his personal-best 1:58.73 from last April. Morales barely missed the 200 back semifinals at Worlds last month with a 17th-place finish in 1:59.38.

Jay Litherland placed 3rd in 1:59.64, his fastest time in almost six years since the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships. His lifetime best stands at 1:59.30 from 2o16.

No other swimmers broke the two-minute barrier, but Loyola University Maryland freshman Joe Hayburn did register a big personal best with his 4th-place finish in 2:00.94. He shaved more than a second off his previous-best 2:02.29 from December.

WOMEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• World Record: 51.71 – Sarah Sjostrom (2017)
• American Record: 52.04 – Simone Manuel (2019)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 53.12 – Sarah Sjostrom (2016)
• US Open Record: 52.54 – Simone Manuel (2018)

Top 8:

1. Simone Manuel (SUN) – 53.35
2. Torri Huske (AAC) – 53.39
3. Abbey Weitzeil (CAL) – 53.95
4. Catie Deloof (NYAC) – 54.29
5. Taylor Ruck (SUN) – 53.94
6. Olivia Smoliga (SUN) – 54.99
7. Andi Murez (CAL) – 55.34
8. Erika Connolly (TNAQ) – 55.78

2016 Rio Olympic champion Simone Manuel held off a late charge from Torri Huske (53.39) by just four hundredths of a second to clinch the 100 free title in 53.35 — her fastest time since 2020. Manuel owns the American record at 52.04 from the 2019 World Championships.

After already winning the 200 IM (2:08.83) earlier in the session, Huske was still within half fa second of her personal-best 52.92 from the 2022 World Championships.

Abbey Weitzeil was the only other swimmer under 54 seconds at 53.95, about a second off her personal-best 52.92 from last summer.

MEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• World Record: 46.80 – Pan Zhanle (2024)
• American Record: 46.96 – Caeleb Dressel (2019)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 48.00 – Nathan Adrian (2016)
• US Open Record: 47.39 – Caeleb Dressel / Ryan Held

Top 8:

1. Jack Alexy (UN-PC) – 48.37
2. Caeleb Dressel (GSC-FL) – 48.57
3. Ryan Held (NYAC) – 48.66
4. Andrej Barna (CARD) – 48.68
5. Drew Kibler (NYAC) – 48.73
6. Blake Pieroni (ISC) – 48.80
7. Santo Condorelli (DM) – 48.92
8. Gabriel Jett (UN-PC) – 49.54

After being out-touched by Caeleb Dressel in the 50 free on Friday night, Jack Alexy got revenge with a 100 free victory in 48.37. Alexy, a junior at Cal, was only about a second off his personal-best 47.31 that won him silver at Worlds last year.

Dressel touched two-tenths of a second behind Alexy in 48.57, more than a second off his American record of 46.96 from the 2019 World Championships.

Ryan Held (48.66), Andrej Barna (48.68), and Drew Kibler (48.73) were separated by less than a tenth of a second in the battle for 3rd place.

Santo Condorelli flew out like a lightning bolt, touching first at the midway point (22.86). However, Mr. International faded down the stretch, finishing 7th (48.92) behind Blake Pieroni (48.80).