2025 Pro Swim Series – Sacramento: Day 4 Prelims Live Recap

2025 Pro Swim Series — Sacramento

• April 2-5, 2025
• North Natomas Aquatic Center, Sacramento, CA
• LCM (50 Meters)
• Start Times
  • Wednesday Distance: 8 pm (ET)
  • All Prelims: 12 pm (ET)
  • Thurs-Sat Finals: 8 pm (ET)
• Livestream Information
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Day 4 Prelims Heat Sheet

We’ve reached the final preliminary session of the 2025 Pro Swim Series in Sacramento. Today’s events include the heats of the 200 IM, 200 backstroke, 50 breaststroke, and 100 freestyle.

Stay tuned for live updates.

Women’s 200 IM – Prelims

• World Record: 2:06.12 — Katinka Hosszu, Hungary (2015)
• World Junior Record: 2:06.56 — Summer McIntosh, Canada (2024)
• American Record: 2:06.15 — Ariana Kukors, United States (2009)
• U.S. Open Record: 2:06.79 — Kate Douglass, United States (2024)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 2:07.16 — Summer McIntosh, Canada (2024)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Lea Polonsky (CAL) – 2:14.08
2. Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR) – 2:14.60
3. Alexa McDevitt (UN) – 2:16.55
4. Lisa Nystrand (NCS) – 2:16.98
5. Justina Kozan (UN) – 2:17.06
6. Diana Petkova (BAMA) – 2:17.78
7. Tess Cieplucha (TNAQ) – 2:19.08
8. Mikayla Tan (UN) – 2:19.40

California Golden Bear Lea Polonsky was the fastest in the women’s 200 IM this morning, posting a time of 2:14.08 to rank 1st, leading the rest of the field by over half a second.

As expected, Israel’s Anastasia Gorbenko was not far behind. The two-time Olympian touched the wall in 2:14.60, moving through to tonight’s final ranked 2nd. While it was well off her best time of 2:08.55, it’s just the prelims, of course.

Earlier in the meet, Gorbenko placed 5th in the 200 free with a clocking of 2:00.27, having gone faster in prelims with a 1:59.87. She earned a 3rd place finish in the 100 breast in 1:09.10, again posting a quicker time in prelims at 1:08.61. In the 100 back, she touched 4th with a time of 1:00.42. She is well known for winning the silver medal in the 400 IM at the 2024 World Championships in Doha, though she did not compete in that event here in Sacramento.

18-year-old Lisa Nystrand, who represents NC State at the collegiate level, posted a 2:16.98 this morning to rank 4th overall. She won the 400 IM on Thursday with a personal best of 4:45.02, shaving just 0.06 seconds off her previous record of 4:45.08. She also finished 4th in the 200 breast last night with a time of 2:30.98.

USC’s Justina Kozan made her presence known this morning, posting a 2:17.06 for 5th overall. She has been as fast as 2:11.55 in her career, which she put on the books at the 2019 World Junior Championships, where she claimed gold. Kozan took 1st place in the 200 free (1:59.31) earlier this week in Sacramento, in addition to finishing 2nd in the 200 fly (2:15.87) and 4th in the 400 IM (4:46.85).

17-year-old Alexa McDevitt qualified 3rd for tonight’s final with a time of 2:16.55, just off her entry time of 2:15.85. She is committed to swim at Cal this fall.

Men’s 200 IM – Prelims

• World Record: 1:54.00 — Ryan Lochte, United States (2011)
• World Junior Record: 1:56.99 — Hubert Kos, Hungary (2021)
• American Record: 1:54.00 — Ryan Lochte, United States (2011)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:54.43 — Ryan Lochte, United States (2010)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 1:55.68 — Leon Marchand, France (2023)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Grant House (SUN) – 2:01.88
2. Grant Sanders (FAST) – 2:03.42
3. Kristaps Mikelsons (LAT) – 2:04.74
4. Jordan Ragland (UN) – 2:07.12
5. Finn Kemp (UN) – 2:07.56
6. Michael Hochwalt (UN) – 2:07.68
7. Shareef Elaydi (UN) – 2:09.10
8. Brandon Ha (UN) – 2:09.26

Grant House, trained by Herbie Behm, was the fastest in the men’s 200 IM this morning. The Sun Devil professional came out strong in the fly leg, splitting 25.04 at the 50m turn. He maintained his lead throughout, ultimately winning the third heat in 2:01.88 to advance in 1st place to the final.

House’s best finish so far this week was 4th in the 200 free, where he clocked in at 1:47.75.

House’s training partner, 2020 4×100 medley relay Olympic champion Michael Andrew, chose to skip this event, as did 2023 World Junior Champion and Virginia commit Maximus Williamson.

Andrew tied for 1st in the 50 free last night with France’s Maxime Grousset, and was 2nd in the 50 fly with a time of 23.65. He also touched 2nd in the 100 breast on Thursday, checking in at 1:00.54.

Another Sun Devil, 19-year-old Michael Hochwalt, lurks in 6th place with his prelim time of 2:07.68. He has been as quick as 2:00.92 in his career, and he won the 400 IM on Thursday with a massive personal best of 4:16.88, so he’ll be one to watch in tonight’s ‘A’ final.

Women’s 200 Backstroke — Prelims

• World Record: 2:03.14 — Kaylee McKeown, Australia (2023)
• World Junior Record: 2:03.35 — Regan Smith, United States (2019)
• American Record: 2:03.35 — Regan Smith (2019)
• U.S. Open Record: 2:03.80 — Regan Smith, United States (2023)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 2:03.99 — Regan Smith, United States (2024)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Rhyan White (WOLF) – 2:13.47
2. Leah Shackley (NCS) – 2:13.91
3. Vivien Jackl (HUN) – 2:17.29
4. Savannah-Eve Martin (CSC) – 2:19.30
5. Erica Jaffe (UN) – 2:19.64
6. Georgia Wimberly (LAC) – 2:19.99
7. Amber George (CSC) – 2:21.05
8. Ella Busquets (DA) – 2:22.02

The NC State women delivered another impressive performance in a backstroke event here in Sacramento, claiming the top two 200 back spots heading into the finals. Rhyan White leads the way, ahead of Leah Shackley, and they will swim side by side in tonight’s championship final.

After winning last night’s 100 back in 59.68 and finishing 2nd in the 50 back on Thursday with a 27.91, White — a Tokyo 2020 Olympian — clocked a time of 2:13.47 to win her 200 back prelim heat. She earned a silver medal at those Olympics by swimming the backstroke leg in the prelims of the women’s 4×100 medley relay, which went on to finish second in the final. White later claimed an individual bronze medal in the 200 back at the 2022 World Championships, placed 6th at the 2023 Worlds, and narrowly missed making the U.S. team for the Paris Olympics. Her personal best in the event is 2:05.13, set at the 2022 U.S. International Team Trials.

Shackley notched a similar 2:13.91 performance this morning. She is coming off the NCAA Championships just a couple of weeks ago, where her top finish came in this event (SCY) with a 4th-place showing. Her career-best in the long course 200 back is 2:08.19, set at last August’s Junior Pan Pacific Championships, where she not only won the 200 but swept all the backstroke events. Although backstroke is her specialty, she is also the reigning World Junior Champion in the 50 fly from 2023.

Katharine Berkoff, who earned a bronze in the 100 back and a gold in the 4×100 medley relay at the Olympics (in prelims, like White), opted to scratch the event this morning.

Men’s 200 Backstroke — Prelims

• World Record: 1:51.92 — Aaron Piersol, United States (2009)
• World Junior Record: 1:55.14 — Kliment Kolesnikov, Russia (2017)
• American Record: 1:51.92 — Aaron Piersol (2009)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:53.08 — Aaron Piersol, United States (2009)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 1:55.04 — Xu Jiayu, China (2017)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Levente Balogh (VT) – 2:02.28
2. Yohann Ndoye-Brouard (INSEP) – 2:03.84
3. Sam Brown (CSC) – 2:04.64
4. Michael Hochwalt (UN) – 2:05.50
5. Emi Zamudio (UN) – 2:06.58
6. Hugo Duvauchelle (INSEP) – 2:07.93
7. Luis Contreras Lopez (IM) – 2:08.46
8. Enzo Solitario (WAVE) – 2:08.94

Virginia Tech’s Levente Balogh was the fastest 200 backstroker of the morning, hitting the wall in a time of 2:02.28, making him the only swimmer under 2:03. The Hungarian native has a best time of 2:00.35 from the 2022 European Junior Championships.

French Olympic bronze medalist Yohann Ndoye-Brouard, 24, glided in at 2:03.84 to safely advance to the championship final ranked 2nd. He is the 2022 European Champion in this distance and owns a best time of 1:55.62 from that same competition.

Michael Hochwalt was back in the water after cruising into the 200 IM final. He advanced 4th here with a time of 2:05.50 and owns a personal best of 2:00.18.

17-year-old Hugo Duvauchelle made his second ‘A’ final of the meet, finishing 6th this morning. Yesterday, he shaved 0.96 seconds off his 100 back entry time in prelims, posting a 56.99 to qualify 3rd for the ‘A’ final. He improved in the final, finishing 3rd with a time of 56.85.

Women’s 50 Breaststroke — Prelims

• World Record: 29.16 — Ruta Meilutyte, Lithuania (2023)
• World Junior Record: 29.30 — Benedetta Pilato, Italy (2021)
• American Record: 29.40 — Lilly King (2017)
• U.S. Open Record: 29.62 — Lilly King, United States (2018)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 29.62 — Lilly King, United States (2018)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Jenna Pulkkinen (FRES) – 31.48
2. Aliz Kalmar (FRES) – 31.49
3. Adrianna Szwabinska (FAST) – 32.66
4. Mikayla Tan (UN) – 32.69
5. Siiri Einio (RICE) – 32.81
6. Mia Sui (UN) – 33.34
7. Rebecca Walsg (UN) – 33.70
8. Ellen Garritson (LAC) – 33.81

Fresno State was well represented in the 50 breast heats, taking the top 2 spots. Jenna Pulkkinen led the way with a time of 31.48, just 0.01 ahead of teammate Aliz Kalmar.

Kalmar claimed victory in the 100 breast on Thursday, clocking in at 1:07.91, and secured 2nd place in the 200 with a time of 2:29.13. Pulkkinen finished 5th in the 100 with a 1:09.69 and took 7th in the 200, touching at 2:34.14. The two will swim in lanes 4 and 5 tonight in what promises to be a tight race.

15-year-old Mikayla Tan continued her streak of impressive breaststroke time drops. She touched the wall in 32.69 to break the 33-second barrier for the first time, qualifying 4th for the final.

After demolishing her previous best of 1:11.45 in the 100 breast twice on Friday—notching 1:10.83 in prelims and then 1:09.98 in finals—Tan carried that momentum into yesterday’s 200 breast. In prelims of the 200, she knocked 0.09 off her best time, posting 2:31.94, marking her first-ever swim under 2:32. Then, she absolutely shattered that mark in the final, hitting the wall in 2:29.45 for 3rd place.

Men’s 50 Breaststroke — Prelims

• World Record: 25.95 — Adam Peaty, Great Britain (2017)
• World Junior Record: 26.97 — Nicolo Martinenghi, Italy (2017)
• American Record: 26.45 — Nic Fink (2022)
• U.S. Open Record: 26.52 — Michael Andrew, United States (2022)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 26.84 — Michael Andrew, United States (2023)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Denis Petrashov (UOFL) – 27.25
2. Evgenii Somov (CAL) – 27.44
3. Michael Andrew (SUN) – 27.53
4. Pavel Romanov (UN) – 27.69
5. Kristian Pitshugin (ISR) – 27.74
6. Junhao Chan (UN) – 27.80
7. Carl Ait Kaci (INSEP) – 28.28
8. Benjamin Cono (TOC) – 28.31

In what may be the deepest event of the meet, six swimmers posted times in the 27-second range during the men’s 50 breast heats.

Louisville’s Denis Petrashov led the charge with an impressive 27.25, followed closely by Evgenii Somov at 27.44 and Michael Andrew at 27.53.

Petrashov, 25, won the 100 breast on Thursday with a time of 1:00.42 and placed 3rd in yesterday’s 200 breast with a 2:12.33. Andrew, who scratched the 200 IM to focus on this race, has shown improvements from prelims to finals in his events this meet, so don’t take your eyes off the Pro Swim Series record holder in tonight’s ‘A’ final.

Somov, 26, who represents Russia internationally and swam collegiately at the University of Louisville, placed 3rd in the 100 breast earlier this week with a time of 1:00.65. He’s best known for his 58.72 in the 100 breast at last summer’s Atlantic Classic.

Women’s 100 Freestyle – Prelims

• World Record: 51.71 – Sarah Sjostrom, SWE (2017)
• World Junior Record: 52.70 – Penny Oleksiak, CAN (2016)
• American Record: 52.04 – Simone Manuel (2019)
• U.S. Open Record: 52.54 – Simone Manuel, USA (2016)
• Pro Swim Record: 52.74 – Siobhan Haughey, HKG (2024)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Beryl Gastaldello (INSEP) – 55.35
2. Albane Cachot (INSEP) – 55.54
3. Katharine Berkoff (WOLF) – 55.81
4. Julia Dennis (UOFL) – 55.82
5. Lea Polonsky (CAL) – 56.45
6. Liberty Clark (UN) – 56.73
7. Faith Larsen (UN) – 56.98
8. Dominika Kossakowska (FAST) – 57.09

In the women’s 100 freestyle prelims, Beryl Gastaldello took the top spot with a time of 55.35. The French swimmer, who won the 50 free last night in 24.75, will be the clear favorite in tonight’s final, especially considering her personal best is 53.40.

Albane Cachot, also from France, was 2nd overall this morning with a 55.54, while Katharine Berkoff, who scratched the 200 back earlier in the session to focus on the 100, qualified 3rd with a 55.81. Julia Dennis from the University of Louisville was 4th quickest with a 55.82, following her 2nd place finish in the 50 free yesterday.

Lea Polonsky, who had earlier qualified 1st for the 200 IM final, will swim in lane two tonight. She qualified 5th overall with a respectable time of 56.45.

Behind the top five, Liberty Clark (56.73), Faith Larsen (56.98), and Dominika Kossakowska (57.09) will likely be aiming to improve their times in the final.

Men’s 100 Freestyle – Prelims

• World Record: 46.40 – Pan Zhanle, CHN (2024)
• World Junior Record: 46.86 – David Popovici, ROU (2022)
• American Record: 46.96 – Caeleb Dressel (2019)
• U.S. Open Record: 47.08 – Jack Alexy, USA (2024)
• Pro Swim Record: 48.00 – Nathan Adrian, USA (2016)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Brooks Curry (CAL) – 48.37
2. Grant House (SUN) – 49.53
3. Maxime Grousset (INSEP) – 49.62
4. Maximillian Giuliani (AUS) – 49.78
5. Jack Dahlgren (AQJT) – 49.96
6. Roman Fuchs (INSEP) – 50.05
7. Ethan Dumesnil (INSEP) – 50.14
8. Maximus Williamson (LAC) – 50.39

After winning the 200 free on Thursday, Brooks Curry continued his impressive in-season form in the men’s 100 free. He touched the wall with a time of 48.37, faster than his 48.59 and 48.62 from last summer’s U.S. Olympic Trials, where he settled for 12th after entering with a best time of 47.90.

The 2023 World Champion in the 100 fly, France’s Maxime Grousset, will be aiming for his fourth individual win in Sacramento. He finished 3rd overall this morning with a 49.62, more than a second behind Curry’s time. The 100 free presents the toughest challenge for Grousset to go 4-for-4, following his victories in the 100 fly (51.30), 50 free (22.04), and 50 fly (23.12).

After scratching the 200 IM, Maximus Williamson kept his entry in the 100 free. He scraped into the ‘A’ final in 8th place with a time of 50.39. Williamson claimed the World Junior title in this event, along with the 200 IM, at the 2023 Championships. His best time of 48.38 comes from that same competition.

After qualifying 1st in the 200 IM, ASU’s Grant House posted a time of 49.53 to advance through in 2nd overall.