2025 World Cup – Carmel: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

2025 SWIMMING WORLD CUP – CARMEL

• October 10-12, 2025
• Carmel, Indiana
• SCM (25 meters)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• All The Links
• Live Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 1
  • Finals: Day 1

Day 2 Prelims Heat Sheet 

Rise and shine, swim fans! After a night full of record-breaking swims, the stars of the 2025 Swimming World Cup are back in the water this morning for the second day of action in Carmel, Indiana.

Event Schedule: 

• Women’s 400 IM (early heats)
• Men’s 50 backstroke
• Women’s 200 freestyle
• Men’s 200 IM
• Women’s 100 backstroke
• Men’s 50 breaststroke
• Women’s 50 butterfly
• Men’s 100 freestyle
• Women’s 100 breaststroke
• Men’s 200 butterfly
• Men’s 1500 freestyle (early heats)

There was a flurry of U.S. Open Records broken last night (along with many World Cup and national records). The amount of U.S. Open records is a product of intermittent high-level international short-course meters meets in the United States over the last ten years, and you can bet that we’ll see more long-standing marks get broken today. That could potentially happen this session, as world record holders like Leon Marchand, Gretchen Walsh, and Regan Smith compete in some of their primary events for the first time on U.S. soil.

Women’s 400m IM — Early Heats

• World Record: 4:15.48 — Summer McIntosh, Canada (2024)
• World Junior Record: 4:15.48 — Summer McIntosh, Canada (2024)
• World Cup Record: 4:18.94 — Mireia Belmonte Garcia, Spain (2017)
• U.S. Open Record: 4:21.21 — Katinka Hosszu, Hungary (2015)

Results:

1. Jane Chevalier (CLB) — 4:50.20
2. Abigail Campbell (CLB) — 4:55.95
3. Dana Fairbanks (CLB) — 4:58.60
4. Leah Debosch (CLB) — 4:19.15
5. Ava Murray (CLB) — 5:02.80
6. Madelyn Yonkus (CLB) — 5:05.78

One heat, and one event done this morning. There are just two heats of timed finals for the women’s 400 IM at this stop of the World Cup. With the fastest heat swimming during the finals session this evening, that left just six club swimmers to battle it out for the “hot seat” position before the top eight entrants hit the water.

Badger Swim Club’s Jane Chevalier took the top spot comfortably this morning, swimming a 4:50.20 to lead the rest of the field by over five seconds. This looks to be Chevalier’s first time swimming the event in short-course meters; she holds Juniors cut times in both short-course yards and long-course meters.

Men’s 50m Backstroke — Prelims

• World Record: 22.11 — Kliment Kolesnikov, Russia (2022)
• World Junior Record: 22.47 — Miron Lifintsev, Russia (2024)
• World Cup Record: 22.58 — Isaac Cooper, Australia (2024)
• U.S. Open Record: 22.72 — Dylan Carter, Trinidad and Tobago (2022)

Top 8:

1. Dylan Carter (TTO)/Hubert Kos (HUN) — 22.92
2. —
3. Kacper Stokowski (CLB) — 22.99
4. Aiden Hayes (CLB) — 23.23
5. Ralf Tribuntsov (EST) — 23.27
6. Jack Alexy (CLB) — 23.52
7. Cameron Gray (NZL) — 23.72
8. Finlay Knox (CAN) — 23.72

Three men broke 23 seconds this morning, setting up for a thrilling final this evening. Kacper Stokowski was the first man to crack that mark this morning, swimming a 22.99 to win heat two. It was the fastest time of the morning to that point, but the mark didn’t last for very long. In the next heat, U.S. Open Record holder Dylan Carter put up a 22.92, edging ahead of Stokowksi’s swim by .07 seconds.

Last night’s 200 backstroke winner Hubert Kos matched Carter’s time in the last heat, meaning the two are tied heading into the final. Kos holds the fastest lifetime best of the three with a 22.64, but Stokowski’s just behind him with a 22.68 lifetime best. Both swam those times (and national records) in the 2024 Short Course World Championship final, finishing 4th and 5th. Carter’s best of 22.72 isn’t far off the pace either.

Aiden Hayes, the fastest 50-yard backstroker all-time, qualified fourth-fastest with a 23.23. Hayes returned from injury this spring, and this seems to be his first time swimming the event in short-course meters. That could mean that he has a big drop in store for this evening, though we’ll see whether it will be enough to contest for the win with the top three.

Jack Alexy is well known for his sprint freestyle ability in yards and long-course meters. We’ve often seen fellow Cal Bear Ryan Murphy take on butterfly side quests at meets; now, it’s Alexy’s turn to do that, this time in the sprint backstroke. He swam a 23.52 to land in the final as the sixth seed, between Ralf Tribuntsov (23.27) and Cameron Gray (23.72).

Women’s 200m Freestyle — Prelims

• World Record: 1:50.31 — Siobhan Haughey, Hong Kong (2021)
• World Junior Record: 1:51.62 — Claire Weinstein, United States (2024)
• World Cup Record: 1:50.43 — Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden (2017)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:51.19 — Siobhan Haughey, Hong Kong (2022)

Top 8:

1. Lani Pallister (AUS) — 1:53.58
2. Anna Peplowski (CLB) — 1:53.90
3. Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS) — 1:54.01
4. Erika Fairweather (NZL) — 1:54.29
5. Marrit Steenbergen (NED) — 1:54.49
6. Bella Sims (CLB) — 1:54.67
7. Freya Colbert (GBR) — 1:54.69
8. Mary-Sophie Harvey (CAN) — 1:54.81

Less than a second separates the top five qualifiers for the women’s 200 freestyle final, setting up for a great battle this evening. Lani Pallister will swim out of lane four after posting the morning’s top time, 1:53.58, in the penultimate heat.

It was her teammate and Olympic champion Mollie O’Callaghan‘s battle with Erika Fairweather that set the tone for the fastest three heats. The two battled it out in heat three, with O’Callaghan using her trademark closing speed to get the heat win in a lifetime best 1:54.01, destroying the top time of the morning to that point. Fairweather wasn’t too far behind her, stopping the clock in 1:54.29. She holds the New Zealand record in a 1:53.07 from 2023.

Pallister pulled away from a crowded heat four, that saw four swimmers advance to the final. She beat the likes of Marrit Steenbergen, Bella Sims, and Freya Colbert. That trio battled it out for second in the heat, with Steenbergen coming out on top in 1:54.49 ahead of Sims’ 1:54.67 and Colbert’s 1:54.69. All three qualified comfortably for the finals.

It was Anna Peplowski who won the final heat. She swam 1:53.90, becoming the lone swimmer to join Pallister under the 1:54 mark this morning. Mary-Sophie Harvey swam 1:54.81 for second in the heat, and will swim out of lane eight in the final.

Men’s 200 IM — Prelims

• World Record: 1:48.88 — Leon Marchand, France (2024)
• World Junior Record: 1:51.45 — Matthew Sates, South Africa (2021)
• World Cup Record: 1:48.88 — Leon Marchand, France (2024)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:50.76 — Daiya Seto, Japan (2019)

Top 8:

1. Shaine Casas (USA) — 1:53.54
2. Leon Marchand (FRA) — 1:54.29
3. Tomoyuki Matsushita (JPN) — 1:54.34
4. David Schlicht (AUS) — 1:54.54
5. Kieran Smith (USA) — 1:54.79
6. Finlay Knox (CAN) — 1:55.35
7. Alberto Razzetti (ITA) — 1:55.65
8. Jeremias Pock (GER) — 1:55.87

There were a couple of big no shows in the men’s 200 IM prelims as Daiya Seto was not on the blocks for heat three and Carson Foster followed suit in heat four. Still, we’re set for a great race this evening as training partners Leon Marchand and Shaine Casas will go head-to-head.

It’s Casas who will swim out of lane four tonight. He’s the American record holder in the event (1:49.51) and took the win in heat four with a 1:53.54. Marchand, the world record holder, won a close race against Tomoyuki Matsushita in the last heat to secure lane five. Marchand clocked a 1:54.29, holding off a charge from the Paris 400 IM silver medalist even as he turned off the gas on the final leg of the race. Matsushita swam a 1:54.34, within a second of his lifetime best 1:53.88 from this time last year.

David Schlicht (1:54.34) and Kieran Smith (1:54.79) were also under the 1:55 mark this morning, while Finlay Knox swam 1:55.35 to qualify sixth shortly after also qualifying for the 50 backstroke final tonight.

Women’s 100 Backstroke — Prelims

• World Record: 54.02 — Regan Smith, United States (2024)
• World Junior Record: 55.75 — Bella Sims, United States (2022)
• World Cup Record: 54.27 — Regan Smith, United States (2024)
• U.S. Open Record: 55.09 — Minna Atherton, Australia (2019)

Top 8:

1. Regan Smith (USA) — 55.59
2. Bella Sims (CLB) — 55.78
3. Kaylee McKeown (AUS) — 55.98
4. Katharine Berkoff (CLB) — 56.26
5. Charlotte Crush (CLB) — 56.36
6. Leah Shackley (CLB) — 56.79
7. Celia Pulido Ortiz (MEX) — 57.15
8. Kylie Masse (CAN) — 57.19

With both Regan Smith and Kaylee McKeown in the water, it seems like Minna Atherton‘s 55.09 U.S. Open record is on borrowed time. But, the record will stand for a couple more hours at least, as Smith’s 55.59 is the top time heading into the women’s 100 backstroke final.

It was a quick event with just three heats, so fans saw Katharine Berkoff set the standard in heat one with a 56.26, just getting the better of Charlotte Crush‘s 56.36. In heat two, Bella Sims took the heat win ahead of multi-time Olympic champion Kaylee McKeown, taking advantage of McKeown’s 14.58 split on the third 50. Sims touched in 55.78, just off her lifetime best (and world junior record) 55.75, an impressive swim considering she qualified for the 200 freestyle final (1:54.67) not 30 minutes ago. McKeown surely has more in the tank for finals after swimming a 55.98 to make it back third overall.

Berkoff’s NC State training partner Leah Shackley will have a second swim as well after posting 56.79, while Kylie Masse snuck into the final with a 57.19. That puts Belgium’s breakout star of the year, Roos Vanotterdijk, on the outside looking in. Vanotterdijk is the Belgian record holder in this event with a 56.78. But, her 57.22 in prelims put her 9th this morning.

Men’s 50 Breaststroke — Prelims

• World Record: 24.95 — Emre Sakco, Turkey (2021)
• World Junior Record: 25.66 — Chris Smith, South Africa (2024)
• World Cup Record: 25.25 — Cameron van der Burgh (2009)
• U.S. Open Record: 25.75 — Nic Fink, United States (2019)

Top 8:

1. Finn Brooks (CLB) — 25.84
2. Chris Smith (RSA) — 25.93
3. Ilya Shymanovich (NAA) — 25.98
4. Van Mathias (CLB) — 26.02
5. Capsar Corbeau (NED) — 26.10
6. Luke Barr (CLB) — 26.42
7. Melvin Imoudu (GER) — 26.46
8. Adam Peaty (GBR) — 26.48

Finn Brooks rattled Nic Fink‘s U.S. Open record in heat two of the men’s 50 breaststroke, firing off a 25.84. The swim makes him the third-fastest American in event history behind Fink’s 25.38 and Michael Andrew‘s 25.81, both swum in 2022.

Top U.S. Performers, Men’s 50 Breaststroke (SCM)

1. Nic Fink — 25.38 (2022)
2. Michael Andrew — 25.81 (2022)
3. Finn Brooks — 25.84 (2025)
4. Ian Finnerty — 25.99 (2019)
5. Caeleb Dressel — 26.01 (2020)

His time from heat two held up as the top time of the morning, with world junior record holder Chris Smith qualifying second overall in 25.93. Smith set the world junior record at 25.66 in December. Ilya Shymanovich rounded out the top three with a 25.98 and was the final swimmer to crack 26 seconds this morning. Van Mathias‘ 26.02 lifetime best puts him just outside the top five all-time U.S. performers.

Caspar Corbeau, last night’s 100 breaststroke winner, qualified fifth overall in 26.10. He’s once again surrounded by his former Indiana teammates as Luke Barr joined Brooks and Mathias in qualifying for the final.

After missing the 100 breaststroke final yesterday, Adam Peaty secured a second swim in this event. He clocked a 26.48 to qualify eighth, four-hundredths ahead of Ludovico Viberti. Meanwhile, Andrew missed out on the final with a 26.56 for tenth.

Women’s 50 Butterfly — Prelims

• World Record: 23.94 — Gretchen Walsh, United States (2024)
• World Junior Record: 24.55 — Claire Curzan, United States (2021)
• World Cup Record: 24.38 — Therese Alshammar, Sweden (2009)
• U.S. Open Record: 24.81 — Beryl Gastaldello, France (2019)

Top 8:

1. Gretchen Walsh (USA) — 24.13 *World Cup and U.S. Open Record*
2. Alexandria Perkins (AUS) — 24.79
3. Alex Shackell (CLB) — 25.51
4. Charlotte Crush (CLB) — 25.57
5. Kasia Wasick (POL) — 25.65
6. Vanessa Hazel Ouwehand (NZL) — 25.66
7. Leah Shackley (CLB) — 26.02
8. Roos Vanotterdijk (BEL) — 26.09

Alexandria Perkins cracked the U.S. Open Record first this morning, swimming a 24.79 in heat three to break Beryl Gastaldello‘s record from 2019. The time is .11 seconds off Perkins’ own Australian record in the event.

However, her U.S. Open record lasted only a few minutes as Gretchen Walsh did her thing in the very next heat. This is one of the events that Walsh simply dominated last December as she eventually became the first woman to break 24 seconds. She neared that barrier again this morning with a 24.13, which stands as the fourth-fastest time in event history. Only she’s been faster, courtesy of the 23.94, 24.01, and 23.02 she swam at the 2024 Short Course World Championships.

There were huge gaps in this event this morning, especially for a 50-meter event. Walsh and Perkins were the only two women to break 25 seconds, with Alex Shackell qualifying third in 25.51, just ahead of Crush’s 25.57 to win heat one. Last night’s 50 freestyle winner Kasia Wasick tried her hand at the butterfly sprint, qualifying fifth in 25.65.

Though Vanotterdijk missed out on the 100 backstroke final, she earned a second swim here in the 50 butterfly. The Belgian record holder in this event as well, she swam a 26.09 to qualify eighth. Taylor Ruck finished ninth in 26.47, with Olivia Wunsch tenth in 26.50.

Men’s 100 Freestyle — Prelims

• World Record: 44.84 — Kyle Chalmers, Australia (2021)
• World Junior Record: 45.64 — David Popovici, Romania (2022)
• World Cup Record: 44.84 — Kyle Chalmers, Australia (2021)
• U.S. Open Record: 45.22 — Caeleb Dressel, United States (2019)

Top 8:

1. Jack Alexy (CLB) — 45.36
2. Chris Guiliano (CLB) — 45.50
3. Kaii Winkler (CLB) — 46.26
4. Matt King (CLB) — 46.47
5. Grant House (CLB) — 46.55
6. Matt Richards (GBR) — 46.68
7. Brooks Curry (CLB) — 46.90
8. Patrick Sammon (CLB) — 46.95

After his 50 backstroke side quest to begin the session, Jack Alexy got down to business in the 100 freestyle prelims. He won the final heat in 45.36, overtaking the 45.50 that his Olympic teammate–and last night’s 50 freestyle winner–Chis Guiliano posted in the penultimate heat.

They will be the two favorites for tonight’s final after being the only swimmers this morning to swim under 46-seconds. It was an odd prelims session for the event, with some big names missing out on the top eight. Before Guiliano and Alexy dove in, it was Kaii Winkler with the top time, winning heat seven in 46.26 ahead of Matt King‘s 46.47.

Third through eighth are separated by about three-tenths, with Patrick Sammon qualifying eighth in 46.95 behind Grant House (46.55), Matt Richards (46.68), and Brooks Curry (46.90).

This left both Italian sprinters on the outside of the final as Thomas Ceccon finished 9th (47.00) and Leonardo Deplano 11th (47.08). Josh Liendo also missed the final after swimming 47.24 for 14th and Nandor Nemeth tied for 17th in 47.36.

Women’s 100 Breaststroke — Prelims

• World Record: 1:02.36 — Alia Atkinson, Jamaica/Ruta Meilutyte, Lithuania (2016/2013)
• World Junior Record: 1:02.36 — Ruta Meilutyte, Lithuania (2013)
• World Cup Record: 1:02.36 — Ruta Meilutyte, Lithuania (2013)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:02.77 — Ruta Meilutyte, Lithuania (2022)

Top 8:

1. Eneli Jefimova (EST) — 1:03.74
2. Kate Douglass (USA) — 1:03.99
3. Mona McSharry (IRL) — 1:04.49
4. Alex Walsh (CLB) — 1:04.56
5. Anna Elendt (GER) — 1:04.95
6. Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR) — 1:04.97
7. Sophie Angus (CAN) — 1:05.22
8. Rebecca Meder (RSA) — 1:05.38

Heat four saw Kate Douglass break into the top 10 all-time U.S. performers in the women’s 100 breaststroke. The 200 breaststroke world record holder popped a 1:03.99, clearing the 1:04-mark for the first time in her career. Like with long-course, Douglass hasn’t really dabbled in the short-course meter 100 breaststroke until this season.

She used a strong back half (16.70/17.03) to win her heat against Irish record holder and Olympic bronze medalist Mona McSharry (1:04.49), as well as her training partner and NCAA champion Alex Walsh (1:04.56). However, in the final heat, Jefimova put together a strong race, outsplitting Douglass’ pace on each 25 and closed in 16.90 to secure lane four for tonight. Jefimova was the only swimmer to get under 17 seconds on the final 25 meters.

Last night’s 200 breaststroke silver medalist Anna Elendt clocked a 1:04.95 for fifth heading into the final. Yesterday, Elendt broke the 200 breaststroke German record twice, bringing the mark down to 2:17.80. She already owns the 100 breaststroke national record with the 1:04.05 she swam at the 2022 World Championships.

Men’s 200 Butterfly — Prelims

• World Record: 1:46.85 — Tomoru Honda, Japan (2022)
• World Junior Record: 1:49.61 — Chen Juner, China (2022)
• World Cup Record: 1:48.56 — Chad Le Clos, South Africa (2013)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:48.77 — Daiya Seto, Japan (2019)

Top 8:

1. Trenton Julian (CLB) — 1:52.17
2. Ilya Kharun (CAN) — 1:52.36
3. Federico Burdisso (ITA) — 1:52.96
4. Gabriel Jett (CLB) — 1:53.11
5. Lewis Clareburt (NZL) — 1:53.43
6. Jan Zubik (CLB) — 1:53.48
7. Alberto Razzetti (ITA) — 1:55.04
8. Sebastian Lunak (CZE) — 1:55.73

Lorne Wigginton‘s 1:57.38 from heat one held up until heat three, when Trenton Julian clocked 1:52.17 to take over the fastest time of the morning. Julian won his heat by over a second as Clareburt, on the back half of a double, clocked 1:53.43. Both swims qualified for finals; Julian held onto first and Clareburt took fifth, with UNC’s Sebastian Lunak sneaking into the final in eighth with a 1:55.73 also from heat three.

There were two other 1:52s this morning. First, Federico Burdisso posted a 1:52.96 for the heat four win. Then, reigning short-course meters world champion Ilya Kharun swam 1:52.36 in heat four. Kharun has shown he’s on form already this fall; not only has he produced head-turning times in yards, he also knocked a hundredth off his 100 butterfly Canadian record last night.

In what looks to be his first official time competing the SCM 200 butterfly, Gabriel Jett nearly joined the top three under 1:53, swimming a 1:53.11 to place second in heat five and qualify fourth overall.

Noe Ponti was a no show in the final heat.

 Men’s 1500 Freestyle — Early Heats

• World Record: 14:06.88 — Florian Wellbrock, Germany (2021)
• World Junior Record: 14:20.64 — Kuzey Tuncelli, Turkey (2024)
• World Cup Record: 14:15.49 — Mykhailo Romanchuk, Ukraine (2016)
• U.S. Open Record: 14:19.29 — Connor Jaeger, United States (2015)

Results:

1. Brendon Smith (AUS) — 14:57.29
2. Oliver Shao (CLB) — 15:21.40
3. Jackson Cooper (CLB) — 15:37.40
4. Andrew Dubois (CLB) — 15:40.29
5. Austin Bruford (CLB) — 15:43.08
6. Nicholas Karel Subagyo (INA) — 15:52.38
7. Thomas Frost (CLB) — 15:53.36
8. Lachlan Bartholomew (CLB) — 15:55.48

Australia’s Brendon Smith easily posted the fastest time of the early heats in the men’s 1500 freestyle. He was the sole swimmer under 15 minutes this morning, clocking 14:57.29 and holds the clubhouse lead by well over 20 seconds. Smith’s lifetime best is the 14:52.02 he swam at the 2022 Australian National Championships.

Now, he waits to see where he’ll finish overall with the fastest heat still to swim in finals. That heat should include Carson Foster, who skipped the 200 IM this morning.