2026 PRO SWIM SERIES – AUSTIN
- January 14-17, 2026
- Austin, Texas
- Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center
- LCM (50 meters)
- Psych Sheet (updated)
- How to Watch
- Live Results
- Live Recaps:
- Prelims: Day 1
Day 1 Finals Heat Sheet
The first night of big racing for USA Swimming in 2026 is imminent, but it does not come without a handful of top scratches.
The most glaring set of scratches came from the women’s 1500 free final. The #2-4 seeds in that event all opted out of their entry in swimming’s longest race.
Olympian Claire Weinstein was the #2 seed who scratched, thus foregoing the opportunity to swim every freestyle race, as she was originally entered to do. The Cal freshman, who did swim the short course mile in near-best time fashion last month, is now only taking to the blocks in the 50 free semi tonight.
The next two scratches were TAC Titan distance veteran teammates: Ashley Twichell and Caroline Pennington. Both women were not entered in any other events today.
*update: Ashley Twichell has confirmed she won’t be swimming this weekend via a comment on USA Swimming’s Instagram
Top seed Katie Ledecky was sure to dominate, but she will now likely dominate even more given the top scratches. She will now race next to Junior Open Water World Champion Brinkleigh Hansen and Brooke Travis, a third TAC Titans veteran.
Apart from the mile, only a handful of scratches were registered on the first day. Junior star Charlotte Crush curtailed her 50 free campaign, choosing instead to focus on the 100 back final. Likewise, Crush’s Lakeside teammate Wilson York is going all-in on backstroke, scratching his 200 IM spot to do so.
Finally, Maren Byrne’s removal from the 10-person 100 breast field means that Caprie Moreno will swim in the B final alone.
Full Scratch Report:
Women’s 1500 free
- #2 Claire Weinstein (UN-CA)
- #3 Ashley Twichell (TAC)
- #4 Caroline Pennington (TAC)
Men’s 1500 free
- No scratches
Women’s 50 Free (semifinal)
- #11 Charlotte Crush (LAK)
Men’s 50 free (semifinal)
- No scratches
Women’s 100 breast
- #8 Maren Byrne (ALTO)
Men’s 100 breast
- No scratches
Women’s 200 IM
- No scratches
Men’s 200 IM
- #8 Wilson York (LAK)
Women’s 100 back
- No scratches
Men’s 100 back
- No scratches
no way KL about to go 2nd fastest all time
I wonder if Twichell is scratching from rest of meet? The mile is kinda her event so I am a bit shocked to see her scratch.
Accordingto her comment on USA Swimming’s IG she won’t be making it to Austin this time, so probably yes.
🤦🏾♂️
The mile sounds fun when entering it, fear starts creeping in day before, cold sweat during the night, can barely eat breakfast. “Hey coach I’m not feeling too good might be better for my meet if I scratch the mile” …
Coach: ok I guess
Hallelujah, hallelujah, ha la le lu YA
used to do this for the 4 IM :/
Got a text today from a coach musing about what’s going to happen to 200 events globally now that athletes have the option of a stroke 50 and it being an Olympic event.
This feels relevant lol.
They are going to get thinner and thinner before they eventually go the route of the open water 25k
For me I’d be like ok during the day, terribly nervous couple hours before, have an awesome time swimming it, and then feel amazing and awful at the same time after. Still was my favorite event
The two hours of full-on dread anf questioning all life choices before the swim are very real.