2026 Pros Swim Series – Indianapolis: Day 3 Prelims Live Recap

2026 Indianapolis Pro Series

• June 17-20, 2026
• Indianapolis, IN
• LCM (50 meters)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Live Stream: USA Swimming Network (Downloadable App)
• Live Recap:
  • Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2

Good morning swim fans! Welcome back for the third day of racing at the Indianapolis stop of the 2026 Pros Swim Tour. It’s been two days of great racing already, and the action continues this morning with heats of the 200 butterfly, 50 freestyle, 200 backstroke, and 400 freestyle.

Women’s 200 Butterfly — Prelims

• World Record: 2:01.82 — Zige Liu, China (2009)
• American Record: 2:03.84 — Regan Smith (2024)
• U.S. Open Record: 2:02.62 — Summer McIntosh, Canada (2025)
• Pro Series Record: 2:04.00 — Summer McIntosh, Canada (2025)

Top 8:

1. Alex Shackell (CSC), 2:08.00
2. Tess Howley (LIAC), 2:09.56
3. Audrey Derivaux (JW), 2:10.20
4. Caroline Bricker (ALTO), 2:11.53
5. Ellie Clarke (CSC), 2:12.02
6. Alex Walsh (NYAC), 2:13.29
7. Bailey Hartman (CA-Y), 2:13.37
8. Carli Cronk (IA), 2:13.47

Without the American record holder Regan Smith in the water for this event, the top of the women’s 200 butterfly in Indianapolis is a showcase of the young talent wave in the event.

19-year-old Olympian Alex Shackell leads the way into tonight’s final. She swam a season-best 2:08.00 from heat three, the first circle-seeded heat. She dominated that heat, winning by just over four seconds. Her time held up to give her a healthy advantage over the rest of the championship final’s prelims times; Virginia’s Tess Howley (swimming for her club team) qualified second by winning the final heat in 2:09.56.

They were the only two swimmers under 2:10 this morning. Audrey Derivaux made a push on the back half of the race to clock 2:10.20. She finished second to Howley in the final heat of the morning, good for third overall. Derivaux swam 2:07.41 at the AP Race in London, which puts her 7th in the world this season.

Caroline Bricker, the 2025 national champion, qualified for the final in 2:11.53. She won this event at the Sacramento stop of the tour last month with a 2:08.38.

Should no one scratch, this will be a Cavalier-heavy field. In addition to Howley, Alex Walsh qualified sixth by winning heat two in a 2:13.29. She logged a 2:12.57 in Ft. Lauderdale earlier this year. Bailey Hartman also qualified for the championship final with a 2:13.37.

Men’s 200 Butterfly — Prelims 

• World Record: 1:50.34 — Kristof Milan, Hungary (2022)
• American Record: 1:51.51 — Michael Phelps (2009)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:52.20 — Michael Phelps, USA (2008)
• Pro Series Record: 1:52.37 — Luca Urlando, USA (2025)

Top 8:

1. Enzo Solitario (WISC), 1:57.47
2. Dominik Mark Torok (WISC), 1:58.53
3. Ilya Kharun (SUN), 1:58.76
4. Henry McFadden (JW), 1:59.02
5. Raekwon Noel (IU), 1:59.59
6. Dare Rose (SCAR), 1:59.64
7. Dawson Walters (SST), 2:00.06
8. Thomas Heilman (CA-Y), 2:00.47

The Wisconsin Badgers made a statement in the men’s 200 butterfly prelims, taking the top two spots heading into the championship final this evening. Enzo Solitario swam a lifetime best 1:57.47 to qualify first overall. The 19-year-old undercut his previous lifetime best, a 1:57.54 from last year’s Junior Nationals, by .07 seconds.

Solitario leads the field by over a second. His college teammate, Dominik Mark Torok, won heat five with a 1:58.53 that stood for second-place overall. Torok represents Hugnary internationally and holds a 1:58.14 lifetime best.

Ilya Kharun was controlled this morning in the final heat, qualifying third with a 1:58.76. Kharun had an excellent 100 butterfly yesterday, posting 50.61 for the win over Kaii Winkler and Dare Rose. He’s the strong favorite to win this event and was leading his heat by 1.3 seconds at the halfway point this morning.

Henry McFadden (1:59.02), Raekwon Noel (1:59.59), and Rose(1:59.64)rounded out the group of swimmers that got under the 2:00 barrier this morning. Meanwhile, Thomas Heilman snuck into the final with a 2:00.47 and will swim out of lane eight this evening.

Rose and Kharun are sitting at 20th and 21st in the world this season currently. Rose swam 1:55.64 at the Bergen Swim Festival and Kharun a 1:55.71 at the 2025 U.S. Open.

Women’s 50 Freestyle — Prelims

• World Record: 23.61 — Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden (2023)
• American Record: 23.91 — Kate Douglass/Gretchen Walsh (2024/2025)
• U.S. Open Record: 23.91 — Gretchen Walsh, USA (2025)
• Pro Series Record: 24.17 — Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden (2016)

Top 8:

1. Kate Douglass (NYAC), 24.26
2. Anna Moesch (GS), 24.54
3. Gretchen Walsh (NYAC), 24.63
4. Kasia Wasick (UN), 24.64
5. Cadence Vincent (BAMA), 24.69
6. Torri Huske (NYAC), 24.83
7. Liberty Clark (IU), 24.88
8. Kristina Paegle (IU), 24.93

The Virginia women kept their foot on the gas this morning, taking the top three spots in the women’s 50 freestyle. Co-American record holder Kate Douglass grabbed the top spot with her heat six win, clocking 24.26. The swim was just six-hundredths off her season best of 24.20 from the 2025 U.S. Open that ranks second-fastest in the world this season (Meg Harris leads with her 24.08 from last week).

Anna Moesch is also in the global top five already this season, courtesy of her 24.27 from her breakthrough meet in London. She logged a 24.54 for her heat win over Torri Huske this morning and leads a pack of 24-mids. Fellow Hoo Gretchen Walsh checked in this morning with a 24.63, less than a tenth off Moesch’s time. Walsh battled with Kasia Wasick all the way to the wall in the final heat and came away with the win by .01.

Alabama sprinter Cadence Vincent swam a lifetime best 24.69 to make it back for the championship final. Her 24.69 betters the 24.80 she posted in May last year. Indiana’s sprinters will hold it down in the outside lanes for the final. NCAA breakout Liberty Clark hit a 24.88 this morning and Kristina Paegle rounded out the top 8 in 24.93.

Olivia Smoliga qualified for the ‘B’ final with a 25.08, finishing 10th overall. The ‘B’ final is packed with familiar names including Olympians Claire Curzan (25.18) and Anna Peplowski (25.49) along with young sprinters like Annam Olasewere (25.03) and Rylee Erisman (25.15).

Men’s 50 Freestyle — Prelims

• World Record: 20.88 — Cameron McEvoy, Australia (2026)
• American Record: 21.04 — Caeleb Dressel (2019/2021)
• U.S. Open Record: 21.04 — Caeleb Dressel, USA (2021)
• Pro Series Record: 21.43 — Chris Giuliano, USA (2026)

Top 8:

1. Quintin McCarty (NCSU), 21.81
2. Van Mathias (ISC), 21.83
3. Michael Andrew (MASA), 22.13
4. Nikita Sheremet (LOU), 22.15
5. Santo Condorelli (FAST), 22.22
6. Patrick Sammon (NYAC), 22.24
7. Lamar Taylor (BAH), 22.25
8. Kaii Winkler (NCSU), 22.30

Quintin McCarty and Chris Guiliano are tied as the fastest Americans in the 50 freestyle this season at 21.43 for third in the global rankings. McCarty brought that energy to Indianapolis, fighting his way to the top of the pack in Indianapolis this morning with a 21.81.

This should be a competitive final; 50 breaststroke American record holder Van Mathias fired off a 81.83 in the 50 freestyle heats this morning to qualify second. That puts him less than a tenths from his 21.76 lifetime best that he swam last month.

The pair were the only two men to break 22 seconds this morning. Michael Andrew earned the third overall spot with a 22.13 heat win. Nikita Sheremet is two-hundredths behind him. He had an excellent first year at Louisville this past NCAA season, quickly becoming a key part of their roster with the amount of time he dropped in his sprint events. In March, he logged his current lifetime best in this event — a 21.62.

It took a 22.30 to make it back this morning. Winkler, McCarty’s Wolfpack teammate, was the final swimmer in. That left some big names on the outside looking in, including American record holder Caeleb Dressel. The 29-year-old is in a three-way tie for 15th with Maximus Williamson and Grant House. All three posted 22.48 this morning, which sets the stage for a swim-off if all three want a second swim. Adam Chaney (22.49), Matt King (22.52), and Brooks Curry (22.54) all qualified for the ‘C’ final.

Update: Dressel, Williamson, and House all entered the swim-off. Dressel won in a 21.84, using his skills off the blocks to establish a lead over Williamson and House. In this third swim of the morning, Williamson touched second in 22.27, earning the second spot on offer in the ‘B’ final. All three men were faster than they were in prelims. Dressel’s 21.84 would’ve qualified third for the championship final. This is Dressel’s fastest 50 freestyle since the Paris Olympics. 

Women’s 200 Backstroke — Prelims

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

Top 8:

1. Isabelle Stadden (AQUA), 2:07.51
2. Maggie Wanezek (WISC), 2:08.20
3. Rylee Erisman (LAKR), 2:08.32
4. Rhyan White (WOLF), 2:09.11
5. Leah Shackley (NCSU), 2:09.33
6. Claire Curzan (TAC), 2:10.68
7. Phoebe Bacon (WISC), 2:10.82
8. Teagan O’Dell (UN), 2:10.91

Isabelle Stadden is already one of the major breakout storylines for the U.S national team this season. Just focusing on this event, her 2:04.37 from May was a major drop that has her ranked second in the world this season, sandwiched between Kaylee McKeown and Regan Smith, long-time rivals that have dominated this event for the better part of the decade.

Stadden did what she needed to do this morning, rising through the chaotic circle-seeded heats to the top time in 2:07.51. She was the only woman under 2:08 this morning and is a half-second clear of the second-fastest qualifier Maggie Wanezek. Wanezek’s swim was a big lifetime best for her; per SwimCloud, this is her first sub-2:09 outing, bettering the 2:09.75 she swam last July. Her 2:08.20 marks a 1.55 second drop for her, with the final still to come. Her swim continues a strong morning for the Badgers, who will have two swimmers in this final like in the men’s 200 butterfly as Olympian Phoebe Bacon made it back in 7th (2:10.82).

17-year-old Rylee Erisman pulled off a 2:08.32 in heat seven, beating Claire Curzan (2:10.68), Audrey Derivaux (2:12.13), and Katie Grimes (2:12.34) on the back half of her 50 freestyle/200 backstroke double.

NC State’s Rhyan White (2:09.11) and Leah Shackley (2:09.33) give another university a pair of swimmers in this final but with Stadden, Curzan, and Teagan O’Dell (2:10.91) in the top eight, it’s still Virginia that reigns.

Men’s 200 Backstroke — Prelims

• World Record: 1:51.92 — Aaron Piersol, USA (2009)
• American Record: 1:51.92 — Aaron Piersol, USA (2009)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:53.08 — Aaron Piersol, USA
• Pro Series Record: 1:55.04 — Xu Jiayu, China (2017)

Top 8:

1. Cornelius Jahn (OSU), 1:58.04
2. Keaton Jones (CAL), 1:58.59
3. JT Ewing (SUN), 1:58.78
4. Gavin Keogh (NCSU), 1:58.81
5. Tommy Hagar (BAMA), 1:58.96
6. David King (CA-Y), 1:59.66
7. Michael Long (WISC), 1:59.68
8. Owen McDonald (IU), 2:00.11

Ohio State’s Cornelius Jahn led the way through the men’s 200 back prelims this morning. His 1:58.04 from heat seven secured him lane four for tonight’s final. Jahn posted a lifetime best 1:56.63 at April’s German Championships. Keaton Jones will swim next to him in lane five after posting a 1:58.59 to win heat eight, while JT Ewing‘s 1:58.78 for second in heat seven behind Jahn is good for third overall.

The championship final is filled with NCAA swimmers though only David King and Tommy Hagar raced in the final. Hagar qualified fifth overall this morning in 1:58.96, with King sitting just behind him in sixth (1:59.66). Almost the entire championship final was under 2:00 this morning; Owen McDonald snuck in eighth with a 2:00.11 ; Louisville’s Filip Kosinski touched 9th in 2:00.41.

Women’s 400 Freestyle — Prelims

• World Record: 3:54.18 — Summer McIntosh, Canada (2025)
• American Record: 3:56.46 — Katie Ledecky (2016)
• U.S. Open Record: 3:55.37 — Summer McIntosh, Canada (2025)
• Pro Series Record: 3:56.81 — Katie Ledecky, USA (2025)

Top 8:

1. Katie Ledecky (GSC), 4:02.48
2. Kennedi Dobson (EEX), 4:09.05
3. Erin Gemmell (TXLA), 4:09.44
4. Mila Nikanorov (OSU), 4:10.15
5. Cavan Gormsen (LIAC), 4:10.70
6. Madi Mintenko (CA-Y), 4:11.99
7. Katie Grimes (CA-Y), 4:12.01
8. Emma Weyant (GSC), 4:12.73

Prelims for the women’s and men’s 400 freestyle will look different from the rest of the session. Like the 400 IM yesterday, the event’s prelims are flighted due to the large number of entries.

Here’s the order of events: the second-fastest heat and the fastest heat of women hit the water, then the same thing will happen for the men. From there, the remaining heats will be swum fastest to slowest, alternating women’s and men’s heats.

Katie Ledecky unsurprisingly locked up the top spot in the women’s 400 freestyle prelims this morning. She sailed to a 4:02.48, steadily building out her lead in the second heat of women’s 400 freestyle heats. She holds an over five second lead on the rest of the field with Kennedi Dobson swimming 4:09.08 and currently occupying the second-fastest qualifying spot.

Not many Longhorns made the trip to Indianapolis this weekend, but Erin Gemmell made her presence known here. She’s sitting third overall in the event after a 4:09.44, rounding out the sub-4:10 performances so far this morning.

After two heats there were three Virginia swimmers sitting in the top eight: Gormsen (4:10.70), Madi Mintenko (4:11.99), and Grimes (4:12.01).

Men’s 400 Freestyle — Prelims

• World Record: 3:39.96 — Lukas Martens, Germany (2025)
• American Record: 3:43.78 — Larsen Jensen (2008)
• U.S. Open Record: 3:43.33 — Rex Maurer, USA (2025)
• Pro Series Record: 3:43.49 — Samuel Short, Australia (2026)

Top 8:

1. Aaron Shackell (CSC), 3:51.24
2. William Mulgrew (SAC), 3:52.97
3. Max Carlsen (NCSU), 3:54.08
4. Kieran Smith (RAC), 3:54.41
5. Bobby Finke (SPA), 3:54.55
6. Carson Hick (KYA), 3:55.25
7. Trent Allen (CSC), 3:55.41
8. Ellis Crisci (TST), 3:55.44

After the fastest two heats of swimmers, this is how the top eight stands. Kieran Smith swam 3:54.41 to win the first heat (filled with the 9th-16th place entries). That time got eclipsed when the fastest heat hit the water.

Aaron Shackell was a DNS in the 200 butterfly to start the session. But he showed up for the 400 freestyle and posted 3:51.24 to win his heat. William Mulgrew touched second in the heat with a 3:52.97, slightly off the 3:51.28 lifetime best he posted in April immediately following an excellent freshman campaign at Harvard.

Fresh off a breakout first year in college of his own, the Wolfpack’s Max Carlsen logged a 3:54.08, getting the better of Bobby Finke for third by about a half-second. Like Mulgrew, Carlsen already reset his 400 freestyle best earlier this long-course season, swimming 3:52.48 last week.