2026 Pro Swim Series — Westmont: Day 1 Finals Live Recap

2026 Pro Swim Series – Westmont

• Wednesday, March 4 – Saturday, March 7, 2026
• FMC Aquatic Center, Westmont, Illinois
• Long Course Meters (50 meters)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheet
• Live Results: Also on Meet Mobile: “2026 TYR Pro Swim Series – Westmont”
• Live Stream
• Day 1 Finals Heat Sheet
• Live Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 1

Welcome to the first finals session of the 2026 Pro Swim Series — Westmont. Tonight’s session is shaping up to be incredibly exciting, as we are kicking the evening off with one of the highlight swims of the meet, the women’s 800 freestyle.

After it was the top race of the 2025 World Championships, Katie Ledecky and Summer McIntosh will have a rematch in the final heat of the women’s 800 free final. McIntosh is the only person in the last decade to beat Ledecky in the event, after she handed the GOAT her first loss since 2010 at the 2024 Southern Zone South Sectional.

The 200 backstroke events will follow the 800 freestyle. Regan Smith is the top seed on the women’s side by about two seconds over Isabelle Stadden. Yeziel Morales is the men’s top seed in 2:00.78, about three tenths ahead of Kieran Smith.

In the 50 fly, Lily Price and Sean Niewold are the respective women’s and men’s top seeds.

World Record holder Kate Douglass leads the women’s 200 breaststroke field by more than two seconds, while AJ Pouch has a little more than a second lead on the men’s side.

The meet will wrap up with the semifinals of the 100 freestyle where Simone Manuel and Rylee Erisman will be swimming in lane four in heat one and two respectively for the women.

In the men’s event, Chris Guiliano is coming off setting a new PSS record of 47.38 in the prelims to earn the top seed by more than a second over Matt King.

Women’s 800 Freestyle — Final Heat

• World Record: 8:04.12, Katie Ledecky – 2025
• American Record: 8:04.12, Katie Ledecky – 2025
• U.S. Open Record: 8:04.12, Katie Ledecky – 2025
• Pro Swim Record: 8:04.12, Katie Ledecky – 2025

Top 8 Finishers

1. Katie Ledecky (GSC) — 8:08.57
2. Summer McIntosh (TXLA) — 8:10.45
3. Maria Fernanda Costa (BRA) — 8:29.41
4. Tiana Kritzinger (AUS) — 8:32.63
5. Molly Walker (AUS) — 8:35.74
6. Kayla Han (RMDA) –8:44.28
7. Zayda Miehl (CAT) — 8:44.28
8. Alexandra Bastone (VS) — 8:48.22

While the livestream didn’t work, the race was reportedly exciting to watch. Ultimately, Ledecky came out on top, touching in 8:08.57, coming in two seconds ahead of McIntosh’s 8:10.45.

Ledecky and McIntosh were locked in a tight race over the first 400 meters, with Ledecky holding a slight lead at 4:03.68 to McIntosh’s 4:03.91. From there, Ledecky slowly started pulling away, splitting 1:01-mids before coming home in 1:00.12 to lock up the win in 8:08 as the only sub-8:10 swimmer.

McIntosh split around 1:01-highs to 1:02-lows over the final 400 with a final 100 split of 1:00.73 to touch 2nd in 8:10.45.

Brazil’s Maria Fernanda Costa won the bronze medal in 8:29.41, about half-a-second off her Brazilian Record time of 8:28.92 from May of 2024.

Here is the race video since we couldn’t watch the action live.

WOMEN’S 200 BACK – Finals

• 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
• Pro Swim Record: 2:03.99, Regan Smith (USA) – 2024

1. Regan Smith (TXLA) — 2:04.90
2. Isabelle Stadden (AQJT) — 2:05.91
3. Phoebe Bacon (WISC) — 2:08.00
4. Anna Peplowski (ISC) — 2:08.90
5. Rhyan White (WOLF) — 2:10.54
6. Madison Kryger (CAN) — 2:10.68
7. Daniela Linares Danzos (MEX) — 2:11.14
8. Celia Pulido (MEX) — 2:12.27

Regan Smith won the women’s 200 backstroke in 2:04.90, which marks only her 3rd time under 2:05 during the season.

The only other times she has been under 2:05 outside of Worlds, the Olympics, or Trials, were at the 2024 Westmont Pro swim Series, when she swam 2:03.99, at the 2023 Westmont Pro Swim Series, when she swam 2:04.76, and at the 2023 U.S. Open Championships, when she was 2:04.27.

Smith got out to an early lead over Isabelle Stadden, who had a major drop to finish 2nd overall. Stadden recently made the move to the University of Virginia, and the change is clearly working for her. She touched in 2:05.91, taking more than a second off her previous best of 2:07.28 from May of 2021.

This swim will make Stadden the 2nd fastest performer in the World this season, and it would have been 4th in the world last year.

Wisconsin’s Phoebe Bacon was 3rd in 2:08.00, about three seconds off her lifetime best 2:05.08 from April of 2022. She was 2:07.77 at the U.S. Open Championships in December.

MEN’S 200 BACK – Finals

• 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
• Pro Swim Record: 1:55.04, Xu Jiayu (CHN) – 2017

1. Leon Marchand (TXLA) — 1:57.56
2. Blake Tierney (CAN) — 1:58.61
3. Kieran Smith (RAC) — 1:59.31
4. Michael Long (WISC) — 2:01.17
5. Yeziel Morales (MVN) — 2:01.26
6. Denzo Senekal (BD) — 2:01.75
7. Jaques Harrison (CAN) — 2:02.29
8. Ivan Tarasov (AU) — 2:02.69

In the first swim of his tight double, Leon Marchand swam the top time in the men’s 200 backstroke, touching in 1:57.56 to come in just four tenths off the 1:57.14 mark he set in June of 2025 at the Indy Summer Cup.

Marchand grabbed the lead early, turning in 1st at the 50 mark. He only extended his lead from there, ultimately winning the race by more than a second.

Canada’s Blake Tierney had a strong closing 100 to move from 5th at the halfway mark to 2nd overall, touching in 1:58.61, a little more than three seconds off his lifetime best 1:55.03 from the World Championships.

Kieran Smith finished 3rd in 1:59.31, just two seconds off his lifetime best 1:57.32 from last March.

WOMEN’S 50 FLY – Finals

• World Record: 24.43, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 2014
• American Record: 24.66, Gretchen Walsh – 2025
• U.S. Open Record: 24.66, Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 2025
• Pro Swim Record: 24.93, Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 2025

1. Lily Price (AUS) — 25.84
2. Taylor Ruck (CAN) — 25.94
3. Andrea Sansores De La Fuent (MEX) — 26.51
4. Elizaveta Klevanovich (AU) — 26.66
5. Natalie Kan (FAST) — 26.67
6. Phoebe Bacon (WISC) — 26.71
7. Emma Harvey (BER) — 26.83
8. Marina Spadoni (FAST) — 27.42

Australia’s Lily Price set the top time in the 50 fly finals, stopping the clock in 25.84 to come in a tenth ahead of Canadian Taylor Ruck‘s 25.94.

Price’s lifetime best in the event stands at 25.61 from this summer’s World Championships. This was about four hundredths off the 25.80 she swam at this meet last year.

Ruck’s best time is also from the World Championships, when she swam 25.71. Her swim tonight was her 3rd fastest time in history, and her first time under 26 seconds outside of Singapore.

Mexico’s Andrea Sansores finished 3rd in 26.51.

MEN’S 50 FLY – Finals

• World Record: 22.27, Andriy Govorov (UKR) – 2018
• American Record: 22.35, Caeleb Dressel – 2022
• U.S. Open Record: 22.80, Maxime Grousset (FRA) – 2026
• Pro Swim Record: 22.80, Maxime Grousset (FRA) – 2026

1. Michael Andrew (MASA) — 23.10
2. Sean Niewold (BAMA) — 23.13
3. Shaine Casas (TXLA) — 23.19
4. Dare Rose (SCAR) — 23.52
5. Finn Brooks (ISC) — 23.56
6. Matt King (ISC) — 23.65
7. Calvyn Justus (FAST) — 23.65
8. Santiago Grassi (FAST) — 23.73

Michael Andrew swam to the win in the men’s 50 fly final, touching in 23.10. This was Andrew’s fastest time in the event since the 2024 World Championships, when he swam three 23.0 second swims and one 22.94.

His personal best time is 22.79 from June of 2022.

Alabama’s Sean Niewold finished 2nd in 23.13, one hundredth faster than the 23.14 he swam in June of last year.

Texas’ Shaine Casas took 3rd just six hundredths behind Niewold. He was only nine hundredhts off his 23.10, also from June of 2025.

WOMEN’S 200 BREAST – Finals

• World Record: 2:17.55, Evgeniia Chikunova (RUS) – 2023
• American Record: 2:18.50, Kate Douglass – 2025
• U.S. Open Record: 2:19.30, Kate Douglass (USA) – 2024
• Pro Swim Record: 2:19.30, Kate Douglass (USA) – 2024

1. Kate Douglass (NYAC) — 2:22.01
2. Sophie Angus (CAN) — 2:28.29
3. Melissa Rodriguez (MEX) — 2:31.22
4. Macarena Ceballos (ARG) — 2:31.59
5. Maddie Moreth (VSC) — 2:34.90
6. Emma Weyant (GSC) — 2:35.84
7. Isabelle Odgers (MVN) — 2:35.88
8. Stephanie Iannaccone (WCAB) — 2:35.92

The livestream is working! We still don’t have updated results, so we will be working with no splits, but at least we know the results.

Kate Douglass earned a dominant victory in the women’s 200 breaststroke, grabbing an early lead in the final. She touched in 2:22.01 to come in more than six seconds ahead of the rest of the field. This swim was six tenths faster than the 2:22.60 she swam at the Westmont stop of the PSS last year.

Canada’s Sophie Angus finished 2nd in 2:28.29, a little more than three seconds off her lifetime best 2:24.84 from the Canadian Trials in June. At this meet last year, she was 2:30.41 in the final.

MEN’S 200 BREAST – Finals

• World Record: 2:05.48, Qin Haiyang (CHN) – 2023
• American Record: 2:06.54, Matt Fallon – 2024
• U.S. Open Record: 2:06.54, Matt Fallon (USA) – 2024
• Pro Swim Record: 2:08.18, Matt Fallon (USA) – 2024

Top 8 Finishers

1. Leon Marchand (TXLA) — 2:10.06
2. Josh Matheny (ISC) — 2:10.71
3. Jack Kelly (NYAC) — 2:10.96
4. Carson Foster (NYAC) — 2:11.62
5. Denis Petrashov (CARD) — 2:12.35
6. AJ Pouch (PRVT) — 2:12.41
7. Oliver Dawson (CAN) — 2:14.74
8. Tobin Uhl (MAAC) — 2:15.57

Swimming a tough double, Leon Marchand picked up his 2nd win of the evening in the men’s 200 breaststroke in a very close rose.

New York Athletic Club’s Jack Kelly, who trains at Texas, got out to a quick lead early, turning in 1st at the 100 from lane 7.

At the 150 mark, Kelly, who recently announced his decision to represent Ireland on the international stage, turned more than a second ahead of Marchand, but the Frenchman turned on the gas over the final 50.

Marchand ultimately took the lead, touching in 2:10.06 to just miss his season best time of 2:08.72 from the PSS in Austin in January.

Indiana’s Josh Matheny also overtook Kelly on the final 50, touching in 2:10.71. His lifetime best stands at 2:08.32 from June of 2023.

Finally, Kelly touched in 2:10.96 for the bronze, which is about a second off his lifetime best 2:09.90 from the U.S. Open in December.

WOMEN’S 100 FREE – Semifinals

• World Record: 51.71, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 2017
• American Record: 52.04, Simone Manuel – 2019
• U.S. Open Record: 52.43, Torri Huske (USA) – 2025
• Pro Swim Record: 52.74, Siobhan Haughey (HKG) – 2024

Top 8 Qualifiers

1. Simone Manuel (TXLA) — 54.01
2. Rylee Erisman (LAKR) — 54.14
3. Kate Douglass (NYAC) — 54.39
4. Taylor Ruck (CAN) — 54.59
5. Kalia Antoniou (UN) — 54.82
6. Anna Peplowski (ISC) — 54.85
7. Katharine Berkoff (WOLF) — 55.53
8. Brooklyn Douthwright (CAN) — 55.64

Simone Manuel earned lane four for tomorrow’s 100 freestyle final from semifinal number one, touching in 54.01. She came in just about a tenth over 16-year-old Rylee Erisman‘s 54.14 to win the 2nd semifinal.

Manuel was out in 26.08 and came home in 27.93, outsplitting Erisman on the front 50 by four tenths. Erisman split 26.46/27.68 on her 50s.

Kate Douglass, who was coming off a very tight 200 breaststroke double, qualified 3rd from semifinal number 2 in 54.39, splitting 26.27/28.12. She came in about two tenths ahead of Canada’s Ruck, who also had two events on night one, finishing 2nd in the 50 fly earlier in the evening. Ruck was 54.59 to finish 3rd in the 2nd semifinal and 4th overall with splits of 26.40/28.19.

MEN’S 100 FREE – Semifinals

• World Record: 46.40, Pan Zhanle (CHN) – 2024
• American Record: 46.81, Jack Alexy – 2025
• U.S. Open Record: 46.99, Jack Alexy (USA) – 2025
• Pro Swim Record: 47.38, Chris Guiliano (USA) — 2026

1. Chris Guiliano (TXLA) — 47.54
2. Brooks Curry (CAL) — 48.36
3. Ruslan Gaziev (CAN) — 48.55
4. Luke Hobson (NYAC) — 48.83
5. Matt King (ISC) — 48.97
6. Lamar Taylor (UN) — 48.99
7. Matthew Temple (AUS) — 49.28
8. Charlie Hawke (AUS) — 49.72

After setting a new PSS record in the prelims, Chris Guiliano earned the top seed for the event finals, swimming 47.54 to come in almost a second ahead of the rest of the field with his 22.56/24.98 splits.

The top three seeds all came from the 2nd semifinal. Brooks Curry finished 2nd in the heat in 48.36, splitting  23.07/25.29 to come in two tenths ahead of Canada’s Ruslan Gaziev, who was 48.55 (23.19/25.36) for 3rd in the heat and 3rd overall.

Luke Hobson was the top swimmer in semifinal 1, stopping the clock in 48.83 (23.22/25.61) to come in a tenth ahead of Matt King‘s 48.97 (23.46/25.51) for 2nd in the heat and 5th overall.