2026 Fort Lauderdale Open: Day 3 Prelims Live Recap

2026 Speedo Fort Lauderdale Open

• Wednesday, April 29 – Saturday, May 2, 2026
• Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center
• LCM (50 meters)
• All the Links
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheet
• Live Results: “Fort Lauderdale Open” on Meet Mobile
• Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 2
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2

Day 3 Prelims Heat Sheet

Everybody get ready for some more exciting action in south Florida as the 3rd day of the Speedo Fort Lauderdale open is about to get underway.

First thing, a humongous, ginormous, cyclopean thanks to everybody’s 2nd favorite SwimSwam Staff Member Coleman Hodges(I’m operating under the assumption, that all of you are here for me and not the swim meet), who has graciously set up a livestream of audio and of the scoreboard for this morning’s prelims, so that we can all listen along to the meet as we work and more importantly see results instead of having to rely upon other means.

Scoreboard Live Steam and Audio

While we had to wait yesterday until the penultimate event to see Katie Ledecky and Summer McIntosh swim, this morning starts off with a bang as the pair are the top two seeds and will occupy lane 5 in heats 10 and 11 in prelims of the 200 free. The pair had a thrilling encounter last night in the 400 free, and each will be looking to set up another encounter in the final tonight. While they won’t be competing against one another directly this morning, each will have some competition in their heats as McIntosh is flanked by a pair of teammates in Regan Smith and Nikolett Padar, while Ledecky will look to get to the wall before the like of Simone Manuel and Madi Mintenko. The first of the circle-seeded heats is no slouch either as Erin Gemmell squares off against Rylee Erisman, Anna Moesch, and Gretchen Walsh, who is trying her hand at the long course version of the event.

Walsh has a quick turnaround as only the 50 breaststroke separates the 200 free from the 50 fly where she is the top seed. The American record holder, Walsh will have a little more rest between events than her teammate Kate Douglass, who in addition to be the 2nd seed in the 50 fly, is the top seed in the 50 breaststroke. In the sprint breaststroke event, Douglass is set to clash against some familiar foes as she looks to edge out Mona McSharry, Eleni Jefimova, Emma Weber, and Gretchen’s sister Alex Walsh.

Like Douglass and Gretchen, Alex Walsh is scheduled to swim multiple events, as the Olympian is entered in the 200 free, 50 breaststroke and the last event of the morning the 400 IM, where she runs into the likes of the Katie Grimes and Emma Weyant. She will have a little break between the breaststroke and IM as the 200 back is situated between them,

Walsh’s teammates Claire Curzan and Grimes are the top seeds in the first of the circle seeded heats in the 200 back, and each will be looking to put up times that stand up against the liked of Phoebe Bacon and Isabelle Stadden in heat 6 and against the American Record Holder Regan Smith and teen phenom, Audrey Derivaux, who have been seeded to swim next to one another in the final heat.

In the men’s events it’s very a similar story with Olympians and NCAA champions littering the heat sheets. Luke Hobson leads the 200 free but will be under pressure from training partners Chris Guiliano and Alex Enyeart as well as a strong Florida contingent as Kieran Smith, Josh Liendo and Aiden Norman have all be seeded into the same heat.

Perhaps one of the events of the meet on the men’s side, the 50 fly seed Caeleb Dressel as the top seed. The American Record holder will look to make the A-final after missing it yesterday in the 100 free but will not have an easy time of it as Shaine Casas, Josh Liendo, Ilya Kharun, Dylan Carter all lurk in the circle seeded heats.

The fastest man ever in the 200 yard back, Hubert Kos, is the top seed in the 200 back with an entry time of 1:53.19. The NCAA champion for Texas, likely won’t be firing on all cylinders this morning, as there are just six swimmers seeded under 2:00.

The men’s events conclude with the 400 IM, where the last heat could see some excitement as Leon Marchand, the top seed squares off against Bobby Finke. While the pair and Carson Foster, the #2 seed, are 11 seconds clear of the rest of the field, each will be looking to ensure a spot in the middle of the pool for the final tonight.

Women’s 200 Freestyle

• World Record – 1:52.23 – Ariarne Titmus, AUS (2024)
• American Record – 1:53.61 – Allison Schmitt (2012)
• U.S. Open Record – 1:53.80 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2026)

Top 8:

1. Katie Ledecky (GSC) – 1:56.57
2. Summer McIntosh (TXLA) – 1:56.85
3. Erin Gemmell (TXLA) – 1:56.88
4. Regan Smith (TXLA) – 1:57.97
5. Rylee Erisman (LAKR) – 1:58.01
6. Nikolett Padar (TXLA) – 1:58.42
7. Simone Manuel (TXLA) – 1:58.46
8. Anna Moesch (GSCY) – 1:59.05

With three swimmers under 1:57, tonight’s final looks to be a good one as Katie Ledecky and her 1:56.57 will take lane 4 in the final tonight. Last night’s 400 free runner-up, was out in 57.07 and closed in 59.50 to win the 2nd of the circle seeded heats ahead of Simone Manuel, who touched 2nd in the heat in 1:58.46, the 7th fastest time of the morning.

In the final, taking lane 5 tonight will be Summer McIntosh, who set the US Open record two months ago at the Westmont Pro Swim Series. The Canadian was faster than her prelim time from March by .02, going 1:56.85 this morning. Expect McIntosh to be faster tonight, as she was out fast in 56.17 before shutting things down on the back half coming home in 1:00.68. Two of McIntosh’s teammates at Texas also advanced from her heat as Regan Smith, touched 2nd in 1:57.97, just a little over a second off her PB from March, and Nikolett Padar finished 3rd and 6th overall with a time of 1:58.42.

The third swimmer under 1:57 this morning was Erin Gemmell, making it five Texas based swimmers in the final. Gemmell, who split 56.73 and 1:00.15 was trailing at the 100 in her heat as Gretchen Walsh was out quick, flipping in the 100 at 56.19, but the sprint star started to fade on the last 100, closing in 1:02.92 to finish 9th overall and just .06 out of 8th. Walsh, one of the fastest swimmers in Short Course Yards, hasn’t swam this event many times, last recording a result in 2023 and while she missed the A-final, she did cut 2 seconds off her PB to break the 2:00 barrier for the first time

Men’s 200 Freestyle

• World Record – 1:42.00 – Paul Biedermann, GER (2009)
• American Record – 1:42.96 – Michael Phelps (2008)
• U.S. Open Record – 1:43.76 – Luke Hobson, USA (2025)

Top 8:

1. Chris Guiliano (TXLA) – 1:47.96
2. Tomas Navikonis (OSU) – 1:48.04
3. Patrick Sammon (NYAC) – 1:48.39
4. Hubert Kos (TXLA) – 1:48.40
5. Luke Hobson (TXLA) – 1:49.13
6. Mitchell Schott (PRIN) – 1:49.25
7. Ruslan Gaziev (OSU) – 1:50.44
8. Grant Sanders (SPA) – 1:50.66

It wasn’t as dominant a performance for Texas men as it was for the women in the previous heat, but they did advance three swimmers into the final with last night’s 100 free winner Chris Guiliano leading the way.  The 3rd overall seed was over two seconds off his seed, but still managed to nab lane 5 for tonight, splitting 52.31/55.65 to post the lone sub 1:48 time of the morning.

His training partners Hubert Kos and Luke Hobson posted the 4th and 5th fastest times of the morning going 1:48.40 and 1:49.13 respectively. If you’re surprised by Kos’s performance, I’d say shame on you as we already mentioned in the NCAA recaps, that nothing he does should be surprising. The NCAA champion in the 100 and 200 back, Kos was entered with a seed of 1:57.52 and swam in the 4th of nine heats. Out in 52.07, faster than Guiliano, Kos closed in 56.33 to stop the clock in a new personal best of 1:48.40, slicing over a second off his time from the 2021 Hungarian Junior National Championships. Hobson, the top seed and reigning World silver medalist, was more than five seconds off his seed as he opened in 53.26 and closed in 55.87 to stop the clock at 1:49.13.

Of note, Kieran Smith and Josh Liendo were both Declared False Starts. Smith is the 3rd seed in the 200 back and Liendo is the 2nd seed in the 50 fly.

Women’s 50 Breaststroke

• World Record – 29.16 – Ruta Meilutyte, LTU (2023)
• American Record – 29.40 – Lilly King (2017)
• U.S. Open Record – 29.62 – Lilly King, USA (2018)

Top 8:

1. Eneli Jefimova (NCS) – 30.64
2. Emma Weber (CA-Y) – 30.98
3. Kate Douglass (NYAC) – 31.04
4. Mona McSharry (TNAQ) – 31.28
5. Hannah Bach (OSU) – 31.83
6. Skylar Zulegar (TYDE) – 32.40
7. Gabrielle Rose (BCA) – 32.42
8. Maya McCarney (NCAP) – 32.86

Recent NCAA champion in the 100 breast, Eneli Jefimova posted the top time in the women’s 50 breaststroke posting the fastest time of the morning, hitting the wall in 30.64. The NC State first-year was just one of two swimmers under 31.00 as she was joined there by ACC rival Emma Weber. Weber, the 4th seed out touched her training partner and the top seed Kate Douglass in the last heat by .06 going 30.98 to Douglass’s 31.04.

The second seed entering the event, Mona McSharry took 4th overall with a time of 31.28. The recent Irish Open champion has been as fast as 30.36 this season, so look for the Tennessee Volunteer to be faster tonight.

Slipping into the final in 8th is NCAP’s Maya McCarney, who at 15 cut nearly half a second off her PB from the Austin Pro Swim Series to record a new best of 32.86. Set to be seeded on the opposite side of the pool from her is the 48 year old Gabrielle Rose, who posted the 7th fastest time of the morning with her 32.42.

Men’s 50 Breaststroke

• World Record – 25.95 – Adam Peaty, GBR (2017)
• American Record – 26.39 – Van Mathias (2026)
• U.S. Open Record – 26.52 – Michael Andrew, USA (2022)

Top 8:

1. Jack Kelly (NYAC) – 27.21
2. Ian Call (NAC) – 27.37
3. Pavel Romanov (UN-06) – 27.75
4. Uros Zivanovic (UN-20) – 27.80
5. Keian Lam (PRIN) – 28.59
6. Spencer Kinsey (BSS) – 28.77
7. Reef McMeeking (LAKR) – 28.85
8. Louis Joos (BSS) – 29.04

Last night’s 100 breaststroke winner, Jack Kelly got things done this morning as he posted the fastest time of 27.21. While three other swimmers were under 28.oo, he and Ian Call will be the pair to watch tonight. Kelly, who swam collegiately for Brown University, trains in Texas and is represent Ireland internationally, has been as fast as 26.84 this season, having done so last month at the Irish Open.

Looking to chase him down tonight will be Call, a junior in high school, who has committed to swim at Texas in two years time. The 17 year-old was 27.37 this morning, much faster than his 28.04 from Westmont and faster than his former personal best od 27.45 from last summer’s Junior World Championships, where he placed 8th in the final.

The other two swimmers under 28 this morning were 32-year-old Pavel Romanov, who was 27.75, and Uros Zivanovic, who swims collegiately for Auburn and was 27.80 this morning.

Women’s 50 Butterfly

• World Record – 24.43 – Sarah Sjöström, SWE (2014)
• American Record – 24.66 – Gretchen Walsh (2025)
• U.S. Open Record – 24.66 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2025)

Top 8:

1. Gretchen Walsh (NYAC) – 25.16
2. Kate Douglass (NYAC) – 25.50
3. Lismar Lyon (SOFL) – 26.59
4. Elizaveta Klevanovich (UN-20) – 26.65
5. Phoebe Bacon (WISC) – 26.74
6. Emma Harvey (BER) – 26.91
7. Kennedi Southern (LAC) – 27.17
8. Hanne Peeters (NTRO) – 27.33

Both Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglass navigated their quick turnarounds with aplomb as the pair of the top seeds remained atop the leaderboard. Walsh, the American and US Open Record holder, has a season best and World leading time of 25.12 from the China Open and was just off that results as she hit the wall in 25.16.

Walsh will occupy lane 5 tonight and will have her teammate and training partner Kate Douglass to one side as she touched 2nd fastest in 25.50, not far off her 25.34 from the China Open. Douglass had just come from the prelims of the 50 breaststroke where she posted the 3rd fastest time of the morning. Quick turnarounds are nothing new for Douglass as she won both the 100 free and 100 breaststroke last night.

After the pair of Cavaliers its a big jump back to the rest of the field. Leading the charge is Lismar Lyon and Elizaveta Klevanovich who were 26.59 and 26.65 this morning, the 3rd and 4th fastest times.

Men’s 50 Butterfly

• World Record – 22.27 – Andriy Govorov, UKR (2018)
• American Record – 22.35 – Caeleb Dressel (2019)
• U.S. Open Record – 22.80 – Maxime Grousset, FRA (2022)

Top 8:

1. Ilya Kharun (SUN) – 23.06
2. Dylan Carter (AZFL) – 23.49
3. Josh Liendo (FLOR) – 23.50
4. Ralf Tribuntsov (EST) – 23.72
5. Daniel Zaitsev (EST) – 23.81
6. Albert Smelzer (GSA) – 24.06
7. Shaine Casas (TXLA)/Caeleb Dressel (SJAC) – 24.13

Both Shaine Casas and Caeleb Dressel successfully put up times that earned them an A-final berth, but it was a close call as the pair tied for 7th this morning with time of 24.13. The two Americans will have a lot of work to this evening if they wish to contest for the win, but they will be aided by some empty water as they will be seeded into the outside lanes.

Over a full second ahead of them this morning, was the Ilya Kharun, the 3rd seed. The ASU junior, who is transitioning his sporting nationality to the United States was the star of the morning, as he posted a time of 23.06. The time would rank him 13th in the world this season if he hadn’t been already 22.98 at December’s U.S. Open. Surrounding him tonight in the final will be Dylan Carter and Josh Liendo. Carter, a native of Trinidad and Tobago, was in Liendo heat, finishing .43 back at 23.49.

Liendo, the 2nd seed, dropped the 200 free this morning in order to focus on this event and safely advanced with the 3rd fastest time of the morning, posting a result of 23.50. Liendo hasn’t posted any meters results this season, with much of his focus concentrated on his final NCAA season, which culminated with three wins at the men’s NCAA championships including a PB and new NCAA record in the 100 fly.

Women’s 200 Backstroke

• World Record – 2:03.14 – Kaylee McKeown, AUS (2023)
• American Record – 2:03.35 – Regan Smith (2019)
• U.S. Open Record – 2:03.80 – Regan Smith, USA (2023)

Top 8:

1. Isabelle Stadden (AQJT) – 2:08.81
2. Rylee Erisman (LAKR) – 2:09.75
3. Sadie Buckley (NCAP) – 2:09.95
4. Audrey Derivaux (JW) – 2:10.89
5. Regan Smith (TXLA) – 2:10.96
6. Phoebe Bacon (WISC) – 2:11.92
7. Erika Pelaez (NCS) – 2:12.54
8. Catie Choate (GSC) – 2:12.96

Regan Smith, the top seed and American record holder put forth a solid morning swim, going 2:10.96, but in one of the deepest events on the women’s side, her time clock in just as the 5th fastest time of the morning. Out in 1:03.37 and back in 1:07.59, Smith trailed for much of the last heat  as the teenaged pair of Rylee Erisman and Audrey Derivaux touched ahead of her.

Erisman, 17, did not compete in this event as last year’s Nationals, and her time this morning appears to be her first swim since the 2024 Olympic Trials. Touching in 2:09.75, Erisman sliced over two seconds off her sed to break into the sub-2:10 club for the first time. One year younger, Derivaux is the reigning Junior World Champion, owns a PB of 2:06.68. She touched this morning in 2:10.89 but has been as fast as 2:08.61 this year, winning the event at the Indianapolis Sectional meet in March.

Earning the top seed tonight is Isabelle Stadden. A product of Cal, but training out of the University of Virginia, Stadden has been on fire this year. She placed 2nd to Smith at the Westmont PSS in this event, going a new PB of 2:05.91 and currently ranks 3rd in the world this season. In Westmont, Stadden was 2:09.65 in prelims, so could be on track for a new PB tonight as she was 2:08.81 in the penultimate heat, splitting 1:02.57 and 1:06.24.

Such is the depth of this event, that several notably swimmers missed the A-final cut. Virginia teammates, Katie Grimes and Claire Curzan were well off their seeds finishing 9th and 10th overall with times of 2:13.14 and 2:13.16 respectively.

In looking at the results, you may see that Katharine Berkoff DNF’ed the race. Thanks to Coleman and his livestream, we know that Berkoff was out in 29.75 and flipped at the 100 in a swift 1:01.3 and continued to lead the last heat through the 150, where she was on pace for a sub-2:10 pace, until she stopped at the 150 wall. Based on the commentary on the live stream, the stop seemed planned and was not a result of an injury.

Men’s 200 Backstroke

• World Record – 1:51.92 – Aaron Peirsol, USA (2009)
• American Record – 1:51.92 – Aaron Peirsol (2009)
• U.S. Open Record – 1:53.08 – Aaron Peirsol, USA (2009)

Top 8:

1. Hubert Kos (TXLA) – 1:58.05
2. Kieran Smith (RAC) – 2:01.67
3. Jack Aikins (UN-11) – 2:03.04
4. Joey Eaddy (REV) – 2:03.06
5. Ethan Bathala (BSS) – 2:03.22
6. Aiden Norman (FLOR) – 2:03.27
7. Brayden Capen (ACAD) – 2:03.55
8. Caleb Maldari (GSC) – 2:03.78

I can’t say Hubert Kos looked smooth and in control of the race, as there is no video evidence of the race currently available to me, but based on the audio from the livestream and in looking at the splits, the Hungarian’s 200 back looked to be a nice walk in the park.

The Texas based swimmer opened in 27.25 before closing in 29.74, 30.30 and 30.76 to post the lone sub-2:00 time of the session, with the Olympic Champion hitting the wall in 1:58.05. It’ll be his second A-final of the evening, but he should have sufficient time between the 200 free and this to get near his 1:54.81 World leading time from the US Open in December.

Tonight he will be surrounded by a pair of Americans with Kieran Smith and Jack Aikins posting the next two fastest times from the morning. Smith, more known as a freestyler, scratched the 200 free this session and earned the 2nd seed tonight thanks to his 2:01.67 from this morning. Aikins, the reigning national champion was well off his seed, but safely made the final as the 3rd seed with his 2:03.04.

With no American currently ranked in the World’s top 25, this event is wide open and three teenagers made the most of the chance as Joey Eaddy, Ethan Bathala and Brayden Capen all made the A-final. Eaddy, the youngest of the three at 15, cut 1.32 off his seed time to stop the clock at 2:03.06.

Women’s 400 IM

• World Record – 4:23.65 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2025)
• American Record – 4:31.12 – Katie Hoff (2008)
• U.S. Open Record – 4:26.98 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2025)

Top 8:

1. Emma Weyant (GSC) – 4:40.47
2. Sadie Buckley (NCAP) – 4:41.79
3. Emerson Callis (QSTS) – 4:44.06
4. Katie Grimes (CA-Y) – 4:44.59
5. Alex Walsh (NYAC) – 4:47.70
6. Sydney Hardy (SYS) – 4:48.04
7. Eleanor Sun (PRIN) – 4:49.88
8. Sophia Umstead (UN-10) – 4:52.05

Two time Olympic medalist Emma Weyant earned the top seed in the 400 IM this morning thanks to a strong prelims swim of 4:40.47. The Florida based swimmer has been as fast as 4:39.24 this season, taking 3rd in the event at the Westmont PSS. She was 4:43.19 in prelims there, so she could be faster tonight. Weyant won the event last year at this meet in 4:33.95.

She’ll have some new competition surrounding her tonight as NCAP’s Sadie Buckley and QSTS’s Emerson Callis placed 2nd and 3rd this morning. The pair of teenagers, 16 and 17 respectively, were 4:41.79 and 4:44.06, with Buckley’s time especially impressive. The high school junior and Texas commit, previously had a best of 4:45.21 dating back the Greensboro Futures meet held last July. She now sits 19th in the 15-16 age group and less than a second outside of the season’s top 25 (25th currently is a 4:40.91).

Sitting 4th and 5th in the rankings are a pair of Olympic medalists as Katie Grimes and Alex Walsh hit the wall in 4:44.59 and 4:47.80 respectively. The pair both had some tough doubles, as Grimes finished 9th in the 200 back, one event prior, and Walsh was 11th in the 200 free to start the session, before DFSing the 50 breast.

Men’s 400 IM

• World Record – 4:02.50 – Leon Marchand, FRA (2023)
• American Record – 4:03.84 – Michael Phelps (2008)
• U.S. Open Record – 4:05.25 – Michael Phelps, USA (2008)

Top 8:

1. Leon Marchand (TXLA) – 4:13.50
2. Carson Foster (NYAC) – 4:18.62
3. Bobby Finke (SPA) – 4:21.16
4. Grant Sanders (SPA) – 4:25.64
5. Devyn Caples (PRIN) – 4:31.27
6. Brayden Capen (ACAD) – 4:32.75
7. Colt Chaires (NCAC) – 4:32.85
8. Trey Chesney (JDST) – 4:34.41

World Record holder Leon Marchand jumped out to a quick lead in the last heat of the men’s 400 IM opening in 56.13. The Bob Bowman trained swimmer never looked back from their as he went 1:05.56, 1:10.93 and 1:00.88 over the next three 100s to stop the clock at 4:13.50, the fastest time of the morning and just a little off his season best of 4:13.21 from the Austin Pro Swim Series in January.

The seeding for tonight, at least for the middle lanes, fell according to expectations as the Frenchman will be flanked by Carson Foster and Bobby Finke. Foster currently ranks 2nd in the world this season, thanks to his 4:07.02 from December’s U.S. Open, and was well off that this morning, going 4:18.62. He joined Marchand in opening the IM with a sub-57 fly split (56.87), but really faded on the breaststroke, splitting 1:13.80 before closing in 1:01.66. Finke, the come from behind winner in the 400 free last night, was out slower (57.87) and closed in 1:02.02, so expect him to have held something in return for tonight.