2025 U.S. Open: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

• December 3-6, 2025
• Austin, Texas
• Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center
  • Prelims: 10 a.m. EST
  • Finals: 7 p.m EST (Day 1: 5 p.m. EST)
• LCM (50 meters)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results

Day 2 Prelims Heat Sheets

Welcome to day 2 of the 2025 US Open. After kicking-off the meet with the distance events last night, the races will shift to some shorter distances this morning. This morning’s event slate will feature three of the four 50 events on the schedule, with the 50 backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle, alongside the 200 IM and 400 Freestyle.

We’ll be getting a first look at several top names this morning, including World Record holder Summer McIntosh in her signature 400 freestyle event. McIntosh will hold down heat 4, lane 4 in the event, holding the top entry time by over 10 seconds. While McIntosh won’t swim the 200 IM due to its close proximity to the 400 free, Americans Alex Walsh and Kate Douglass are both slated to compete. Walsh comes in with the top seed in 2:08.45, while Douglass is entered with an SCY time and will race in heat 1.

Douglass will also make an appearance in the 50 freestyle to close out the session, alongside Gretchen Walsh. The younger of the two Walsh sisters, Gretchen holds the top seed in a time of 23.91, while Douglass is right on her tail with a 24.04 entry time. While the two will race in separate heats this morning, they will almost certainly clash in finals.

Women’s 50 Backstroke – Prelims

• World Record: 26.86 – Kaylee McKeown, Australia (2023)
• U.S. Open Record: 26.97 – Katharine Berkoff, USA (2025)
• Meet Record: N/A

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Katharine Berkoff (WOLF) – 27.49
2. Regan Smith (TXLA) – 27.78
3. Phoebe Bacon (WISC) – 28.13
4. Erika Pelaez (NCS) – 28.21
5. Ingrid Wilm (CAN) – 28.28
6. Mary-Sophie Harvey (CAN) – 28.42
7. Leah Shackley (NCS) – 28.48
8. Kaitlyn Owens (TAMU) – 28.53

World Champion Katharine Berkoff sucessfully defended her top seed in this event, taking the top spot for the final in a time of 27.49 out of the final heat. Berkoff was about a half second shy of her American Record with her effort, but she could challenge that mark tonight in a talented finals field. She will be side-by-side with Regan Smith, the former American Record holder in this event, as Smith won her heat this morning in a time of 27.78 for the second qualifying spot.

Behind Smith and Berkoff, there are a slew of familiar faces lined up for the final, with Americans Phoebe Bacon (28.13), Erika Pelaez (28.21), and Leah Shackley (28.48) making it in, alongside Canadians Ingrid Wilm (28.28) and Mary-Sophie Harvey (28.42). NCAA finalist Kaitlyn Owens of Texas A&M rounded out this morning’s qualifiers with a 28.53.

Men’s 50 Backstroke – Prelims

• World Record: 23.55 – Kliment Kolesnikov, Russia (2023)
• U.S. Open Record: 23.71 – Hunter Armstrong, USA (2022)
• Meet Record: N/A

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Henry Allan (SVA) – 24.70
2. (Tie) Ivan Tarasov (AU)/Hubert Kos (TXLA) – 25.19
3. –
4. Shaine Casas (TXLA) – 25.22
5. Bjoern Kammann (TNAQ) – 25.24
6. (Tie) Jack Aikins (UVA)/Daniel Diehl (NCS) – 25.29
7. –
8. Sam Lorenz (UN-WI) – 25.30

The men’s 50 backstroke proved to be a very tight event, with 2 different ties within the top 8. Henry Allan led the field by nearly a half second, touching first in heat in a time of 24.70, marking a .18 second drop for the 17-year-old. Behind him, Ivan Tarasov and Hubert Kos tied for the 2nd spot in the final, swimming identical times of 25.19 ahead of American Shaine Casas (25.22).

Entering with a 100 time, Tennessee’s Bjoern Kammann won heat 1 in a time of 25.24, which held up for 5th overall in prelims. Jack Aikins and Daniel Diehl tied for 6th with 25.29, while Sam Lorenz nagged the last spot in the final .01 behind in 25.30.

Women’s 400 Freestyle – Prelims

• World Record: 3:54.18 – Summer McIntosh, Canada (2025)
• U.S. Open Record: 3:56.81 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2025)
• Meet Record: 3:59.42 – Summer McIntosh (2023)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Summer McIntosh (TXLA) – 4:00.68
2. Emma Weyant (GSC-FL) – 4:11.89
3. Alex Siegel (LIAC) – 4:13.56
4. Mila Nikanorov (OSU) – 4:13.60
5. Anna Peplowski (ISC) – 4:13.65
6. Erin Gemmell (TEX) – 4:14.41
7. Chloe Stepanek (LIAC) – 4:14.99
8. Leticia Fassina Romao (UOFL) – 4:15.77

As expected, Canadian Summer McIntosh ran away with the women’s 400 freestyle, leading prelims by over 11 seconds in route to qualifying first in a time of 4:00.68. In her first major race since pulling out of the 2025 World Cup due to illness, McIntosh looked strong from start-to-finish, coming in just off of her own meet record of 3:59.42 from 2023. While the gap back to McIntosh was large, the margin between 2nd and 8th was much smaller, with just under 4 seconds separating the rest of the field.

Olympian Emma Weyant finished 2nd in the final heat to McIntosh in 4:11.89, which held up for 2nd overall. Long Island 15-year-old Alex Siegel had a big swim to take 3rd overall, touching in 4:13.56 to slice .5 off of her personal best. After winning the 800 freestyle last night, Mila Nikanorov held on for the 4th seed this morning, just ahead of Anna Peplowski (4:13.65).

Despite spraining her ankle just a few weeks ago, Erin Gemmell elected to compete and qualified 6th in a time of 4:14.41. Chloe Stepanek (4:14.99) and Leticia Fassina Romao (4:15.77) rounded out the finals qualifiers.

Men’s 400 Freestyle – Prelims

• World Record: 3:39.96 – Lukas Martens, Germany (2025)
• U.S. Open Record: 3:43.33 – Rex Maurer, USA (2025)
• Meet Record:  3:45.63 – Zane Grothe (2016)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Luke Hobson (NYAC) – 3:47.56
2. Carson Foster (UN-MR) – 3:48.05
3. Leon Marchand (TXLA) – 3:48.13
4. Luka Mijatovic (PLS) – 3:48.30
5. Aaron Shackell (IU) – 3:49.56
6. Ilia Sibirtsev (UZB) – 3:51.60
7. Luke Whitlock (IU) – 3:51.94
8. Jordi Vilchez (OSU) – 3:52.00

The third heat of the men’s 400 freestyle proved to be the most exciting race yet this meet with Luke Hobson, Leon Marchand, and Luka Mijatovic squaring off. Though Marchand led for the first 200 meters of the race, it was at that point that Hobson took over for his Texas teammate, with the two Longhorns going stroke-for-stroke. The young star Mijatovic held his own against the two veterans, with all three swimmers touching the wall under 3:49, led by Hobson’s 3:47.56 that would go on to be the top time of the morning.

In the final heat, Carson Foster led from start-to-finish, taking control of the race early. In his home pool, Foster looked comfortable as he excelled past Indiana’s Aaron Shackell to post a time of 3:48.05, which would hold up as the 2nd-fastest time of the morning. Shackell, who will represent the US in this event at Pan Pacs next summer, threw down a solid 3:49.56 for 5th overall.

Notably, Bobby Finke missed the final here after a sluggish performance in the 1500 freestyle last night. Finke added 6 seconds to his seed time to finish 11th in 3:55.21.

Women’s 200 IM – Prelims

• World Record: 2:05.70 – Summer McIntosh, Canada (2025)
• U.S. Open Record: 2:06.79 – Kate Douglass, USA (2024)
• Meet Record: 2:08.20 – Melanie Margalis (2019)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Kate Douglass (NYAC) – 2:10.50
2. Mary-Sophie Harvey (CAN) – 2:11.35
3. Alex Walsh (NYAC) – 2:11.67
4. Tara Kinder (SVA) – 2:13.44
5. Rosie Murphy (UCLA) – 2:13.72
6. Alex Shackell (CSC-IN) – 2:13.88
7. Phoebe Bacon (WISC) – 2:14.38
8. Isabella Boyd (SVA) – 2:15.10

Swimming in heat 1, Kate Douglass easily surpassed the field to touch in a time of 2:10.50, winning the heat by over 10 seconds. Douglass, a 2-time World Champion in this event, managed to hold on to the top time throughout the remainder of the heats to take the top seed for tonight’s final. Douglass should be looking to challenge Melanie Margalis’ 2019 meet record of 2:08.20 in the final. Her UVA teammate Alex Walsh won the final heat of the event with a 2:11.67 for 3rd overall this morning, with Canadian Mary-Sophie Harvey sandwiched between the pair (2:11.35).

UCLA’s Rosie Murphy threw down a 2:13.72 to qualify 5th for tonight’s final, marking a 3-second drop for the 21-year-old. Phoebe Bacon, who was the 2nd US representative at the 2025 World Championships in this event, finished in 2:14.38 to qualify 7th.

Men’s 200 IM – Prelims

• World Record: 1:52.69 – Leon Marchand, France (2025)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:54.43 – Ryan Lochte, USA (2010)
• Meet Record: 1:56.52 – Chase Kalisz (2022)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Hubert Kos (TXLA) – 1:58.79
2. Baylor Nelson (TEX) – 1:58.99
3. Owen McDonald (IU) – 1:59.25
4. Tristan Jankovics (OSU) – 1:59.31
5. Finlay Knox (CAN) – 1:59.72
6. Noah Cakir (IU) – 2:00.04
7. Kieran Smith (RAC) – 2:00.64
8. Luke Barr (TFA) – 2:00.71

Top seed Hubert Kos held his own this morning, posting the top time of the morning out of the final heat with a 1:58.79. While Kos came in above his entry time, he will have another opportunity to chase that in finals and to potentially take down Chase Kalisz’s meet record of 1:56.52. Baylor Nelson had a very solid performance this morning, throwing down a 1:58.99 to take .3 seconds off of his seed time. 3 other swimmers broke 2:00 in prelims: Indiana’s Owen McDonald, OSU’s Tristan Jankovics, and Canadian Finlay Knox.

Indiana’s Noah Cakir had a big swim to qualify 6th, just missing the 2-minute barrier. Cakir cut over a second off of her seed time to touch in 2:00.04, making the A-final after entering the meet as the 15th-seed. Kieran Smith squeeked into the final in 7th overall after coming into the meet ranked 3rd on the psych sheets, only .2 seconds shy of being knocked out.

Women’s 50 Breaststroke – Prelims

• World Record: 29.16 – Ruta Meilutyte, Lithuania (2023)
• U.S. Open Record: 29.62 – Lilly King, USA (2018)
• Meet Record: N/A

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Mona McSharry (TNAQ) – 30.80
2. Maria Ramos Najji (OSU) – 30.91
3. Skyler Smith (NCAC) – 30.99
4. Mackenzie Lung (FRES) – 31.00
5. Aliz Kalmar (FRES) – 31.03
6. Piper Enge (TEX) – 31.16
7. Alexanne Lepage (CAN) – 31.19
8. Caroline Larsen (UOFL) – 31.33

Three swimmers broke the 31-second barrier during the 50 breaststroke prelims, setting up for a great battle in finals. The field was led by Tennessee’s Mona McSharry, who touched first in a time of 30.80. McSharry, the 2024 Olympic bronze medalist over the 100 meter distance, looked extremely controlled in her heat. OSU’s Maria Ramos Najji was close behind McSharry for second out of prelims with a 30.91, with Skyler Smith finishing 3rd overall in 30.99.

Mackenzie Lung (formerly Miller), dropped nearly a second off of her entry time to finish 4th this morning, nearly breaking the 31 barrier as well. Lung recently started training at Fresno State following 3 years at BYU, so her results this weekend should serve as a strong indicator of her progress since transferring.

Men’s 50 Breaststroke – Prelims

• World Record: 25.95 – Adam Peaty, GBR (2017)
• U.S. Open Record: 26.52 – Michael Andrew, USA (2022)
• Meet Record: N/A

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Michael Houlie (TNAQ) – 26.79
2. Van Mathias (ISC) – 26.84
3. Campbell McKean (TEX) – 27.23
4. Jack Kelly (TXLA) – 27.26
5. Josh Matheny (ISC) – 27.32
6. Nate Germonprez (TEX) – 27.58
7. Andres Puente Bustamante (TFA) – 27.61
8. Travis Gulledge (IU) – 27.69

While nobody managed to crack Michael Andrew‘s meet record in prelims, his 26.52 mark might be on borrowed time as Michael Houlie and Van Mathias were knocking on the door of it this morning. Houlie led the field with a 26.79 to slice .1 off of his seed time, whle Mathias finished just behind in 26.84, only .06 off of his best time. Texas freshman Campbell McKean was 3rd this morning in 27.23, slightly off of his best as well. Given that all three swimmers hold best times within .2 of each other, the final should be a tight race.

The aforementioned Andrew missed the final, swimming a time of 28.02 for 20th overall this morning.

Women’s 50 Freestyle – Prelims

• World Record: 23.61 – Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden (2023)
• U.S. Open Record: 23.91 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2025)
• Meet Record: 24.38 – Kate Douglass (2023)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Kate Douglass (NYAC) – 24.49
2. Gretchen Walsh (NYAC) – 24.67
3. Marie Wattel (SUN) – 24.79
4. Darcy Revitt (WSU) – 24.85
5. Simone Manuel (TXLA) – 24.86
6. Elizaveta Klevanovich (AU) – 24.99
7. Caroline Larsen (UOFL) – 25.00
8. Liberty Clark (IU) – 25.03

Virginia teammates Kate Douglass and Gretchen Walsh set themselves up for a showdown in finals, with Douglass edging Walsh this morning for the top spot in 24.49 coming off of the 200 IM. Douglass likely will contest the same double tonight as the top seed in both events. Walsh, in her first race of the meet, threw down a time of 24.67 to finish 2nd behind Douglass. Earlier this year, Walsh set the US Open record in this event.

Men’s 50 Freestyle – Prelims

• World Record: 20.91 – César Cielo, Brazil (2009)
• U.S. Open Record: 21.04 – Caeleb Dressel, USA (2021)
• Meet Record: 21.59 –Bruno Fratus, Brazil (2019)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Andrej Barna (SRB) – 21.58 CR
2. Jack Alexy (CAL) – 21.71
3. Chris Guiliano (TXLA) – 21.74
4. Jonny Kulow (UN-AZ) – 21.90
5. Remi Fabiani (UN-AZ) – 21.91
6. Tolu Young (UN-AZ) – 21.92
7. Kaii Winkler (NCS) – 21.93
8. Matt King (ISC) – 22.04

The storyline of the men’s 50 freestyle is almost more about who didn’t make it into the final than who did. Olympic Champion Caeleb Dressel, who recently switched training bases, was 11th this morning in 22.17 only .13 out of the A-final. However, much further back in 27th was Santo Condorelli, who was one of the 2 US representatives in this event at the 2025 World Championships. Michael Andrew, who had formerly represented the US at the World Championships and Olympics in this event, was even further back in a tie for 38th overall (22.95). Hunter Armstrong and Ilya Kharun were two other big names to miss the final, as they ended in a tie for 15th in 22.37.

Despite the major misses, Andrej Barna had a big swim to lead the field this morning, swimming the first meet record of the competition. Barna posted a time of 21.58, coming .01 under Bruno Fratus’ meet record from 2019. Jack Alexy nearly took down the record himself, swimming a 21.71 for 2nd overall, while Chris Guiliano was 3rd in 21.74.