2026 Pro Swim Series – Westmont: Day 3 Prelims 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
• Results on Meet Mobile: “2026 TYR Pro Swim Series – Westmont”
• Live Stream
• Live Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2
• Day 3 Prelims Heat Sheet

The third day of preliminary action at the 2026 Pro Swim Series in Westmont will be relatively light with only three events on the docket, and two of them will have semi-finals tonight, meaning we’ll only see a battle for top eight spots in the 200 free this morning.

Things will kick off with the women’s 100 fly, where world record holder and reigning world champion Gretchen Walsh will make her meet debut after only entering this event and tomorrow’s 50 free in Westmont.

The men’s 100 fly will also feature the world record holder, that being Caeleb Dressel, but it’s a fairly deep field beyond the 2021 Olympic champion, with nine men seeded under 52 seconds. That includes 2025 U.S. National champion Shaine Casas, Australian Matt Temple, who was 5th at the 2025 World Championships, and Dare Rose, the 2023 World Championship bronze medalist.

• Day 3 Prelims Heat Sheet

The women’s 200 free field is absolutely loaded despite Katie Ledecky scratching out, with Summer McIntosh owning the top seed and having expressed her excitement to race the event for the first time in a long time after winning the 200 fly last night. Americans Anna Peplowski, Simone Manuel, Rylee Erisman and Regan Smith will also be in the mix to make it an elite domestic field, while Brazilian Maria Fernanda Costa, a semi-finalist in the event at the 2025 Worlds, will also be a factor.

The men’s 200 free is highlighted by U.S. Open Record holder and 2025 World Championship silver medalist Luke Hobson, while four other members of the 2025 U.S. National ‘A’ final will also be competing: Gabriel Jett, Carson Foster, Kieran Smith and Chris Guiliano.

Lurking down on the psych sheets as the 16th seed is Leon Marchand, who completed an impressive double by winning the 200 back and 200 breast on Wednesday but opted out of racing the 100 breast on Thursday.

Closing out the session in the 100 back, 2025 World Championship bronze medalist Katharine Berkoff comes in as the top seed, while Isabelle Stadden will be the key name to watch after her breakthrough performances in the 50 and 200 back earlier in the meet.

Canadian Blake Tierney tops the entry lists in the men’s 100 back, coming off his runner-up finish in the 200 back behind Marchand on Wednesday. Casas will also be dangerous, though given this is the second half of a double, he may opt out if he advances to the ‘A’ final of the 100 fly.

WOMEN’S 100 FLY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 54.60, Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 2025
• American Record: 54.60, Gretchen Walsh – 2025
• U.S. Open Record: 54.60, Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 2025
• Pro Swim Record: 54.60, Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 2025

Semi-Final Qualifiers:

1. Gretchen Walsh (NYAC), 55.59
2. Lily Price (AUS), 58.66
3. Tessa Giele (BAMA), 59.90
4. Celia Pulido (MEX), 1:00.52
5. Kelsey Zhang (UN), 1:00.83
6. Natalie Kan (FAST), 1:00.98
7. Samantha Banos (LDB), 1:01.01
8. Maya Hetland (PASA), 1:01.31
9. Caroline Mallard (MAC), 1:01.73
10. Lindsay Looney (TXLA), 1:01.74
11. Andrea Sansores (MEX), 1:01.76
12. Jessica Calderbank (MAST), 1:01.86
13. Isabelle Odgers (MVN), 1:02.13
14. Nathalia Almeida (MVN), 1:02.26
15. Laura Sofia Melo (LDB), 1:02.50
16. Kennedy Gilbertson (UN), 1:02.57

Gretchen Walsh looked phenomenal in her meet debut as the fastest woman in history recorded one of the quickest swims ever in the 100 fly.

Walsh went out like a rocket, turning in 25.87 before coming home sub-30 (29.72) to finish in a time of 55.59, the ninth-fastest performance of her career and tied for the 12th-fastest swim in history.

The swim also chips one one-hundredth off her season-best time set at the U.S. Open (55.60), which already ranks her #1 in the world.

Australian Lily Price had a strong showing in the first circle-seeded heat, splitting 26.81/31.85 en route to a time of 58.66 to advance 2nd into tonight’s semis. The 23-year-old set a personal best of 57.55 in December at the Queensland Championships.

Claiming the penultimate heat was Alabama freshman and Dutch native Tessa Giele, who snuck under 1:00 in 59.90 to advance 3rd into the semis. The 23-year-old had her best swim of the meet thus far last night in the 50 back, placing 4th.

Mexico’s Celia Pulido put up a new personal best of 1:00.52 to qualify in 4th, lowering her previous best of 1:00.98 set last April.

MEN’S 100 FLY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 49.45, Caeleb Dressel (USA) – 2021
• American Record: 49.45, Caeleb Dressel – 2021
• U.S. Open Record: 49.76, Caeleb Dressel (USA) – 2021
• Pro Swim Record: 50.42, Ilya Kharun (CAN) – 2025

Semi-Final Qualifiers:

1. Sean Niewold (BAMA), 51.83
2. Dare Rose (SCAR), 52.47
3. Ethan Heasley (HEAT), 52.82
4. Matt Temple (AUS), 53.05
5. Trenton Julian (MVN), 53.22
6. Santiago Grassi (FAST), 53.47
7. Shaine Casas (TXLA), 53.49
8. Jack Brown (CAL), 53.67
9. John Thumann (CAL), 53.73
10. Finn Brooks (ISC) / Sohib Khaled (AU), 53.81
11. –
12. Grant Sanders (UN) / Robin Yeboah (MAAC), 53.89
13. –
14. Jamie Ingram (MAST), 53.94
15. Caleb Carlisle (UN), 54.02
16. Harrison Turner (AUS), 54.11

Alabama freshman Sean Niewold continued his strong showing here in Westmont with another standout swim in the heats of the men’s 100 fly, claiming the top seed for the semis by over six-tenths.

The Dutchman went out with a sizzling 23.53 opening 50, and then came back in 28.30 for a final time of 51.83, improving on his previous best of 52.00 set in 2024. He was the runner-up in the 50 fly on Wednesday.

Niewold won the fifth and final heat over Scarlet Aquatics’ Dare Rose and Hillsboro Swim Team’s Ethan Heasley. Rose bounced back after missing the 200 fly ‘A’ final with a solid 52.47 clocking for 2nd overall, while Heasley set a big best time of 52.82 to qualify 3rd in what was his first time under 53 seconds.

Rose owns a season-best of 51.60, set at the U.S. Open in December.

Also scheduled to race in that heat was Caeleb Dressel, who no-showed the heat.

Australian veteran Matt Temple won the first circle-seeded heat in a time of 53.05, while Trenton Julian (53.22) edged out Shaine Casas (53.49) to claim Heat 4.

Indiana’s Finn Brooks and Auburn’s Sohib Khaled, who had to swim off for the last spot in the 50 fly ‘A’ final two days ago after tying for 8th in the prelims, were deadlocked again this morning in the 100-meter distance, producing matching 53.81s.

WOMEN’S 200 FREE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 1:52.23, Ariarne Titmus (AUS) – 2024
• American Record: 1:53.61, Allison Schmitt – 2012
• U.S. Open Record: 1:54.13, Summer McIntosh (CAN) – 2023
• Pro Swim Record: 1:54.13, Summer McIntosh (CAN) – 2023

‘A’ Final Qualifiers: 

1. Summer McIntosh (TXLA), 1:56.87
2. Maria Fernanda Costa (BRA), 1:57.54
3. Regan Smith (TXLA), 1:58.38
4. Rylee Erisman (LAKR), 1:58.55
5. Anna Peplowski (ISC), 1:58.68
6. Brooklyn Douthwright (CAN), 1:59.55
7. Simone Manuel (TXLA), 2:00.40
8. Abby Carlson (WISC), 2:00.44

In her first time racing the event in nearly a year, Summer McIntosh looked controlled in the heats of the women’s 200 free as the 19-year-old claimed the top seed for tonight’s final by nearly seven-tenths of a second.

McIntosh opened up a big lead from the get-go in Heat 5, splitting 26.82/29.06 to turn in 55.88 at the 100, and then she cruised home with a pair of 30-point splits to finish in a time of 1:56.87, tying her for 8th in the world this season.

Her fastest time in 2025 was the 1:56.17 she produced at the Fort Lauderdale Pro Swim in late April.

The only other swimmer who advanced to the ‘A’ final from the last heat was McIntosh’s Longhorn Aquatics teammate Simone Manuel, who clocked 2:00.40 after fading a tad on the last 50 (31.70 split).

The #2 and #3 seeds from the morning session go to Brazilian Maria Fernanda Costa and American Regan Smith, who went head-to-head in the first circle-seeded heat. Costa opened up nearly a one-second lead over Smith by the time they got to the final turn, and then both closed quick coming in 29-highs, with Costa clocking 1:57.54 and Smith 1:58.38 to comfortably qualify for the final.

Both swimmers went faster than they did throughout all of last year, with Costa’s best 2025 showing having been 1:57.60, while Smith was 1:58.70.

In the second circle-seeded heat, Laker Swimming youngster Rylee Erisman pulled ahead of Indiana pro Anna Peplowski on the last 50 as they posted respective times of 1:58.55 and 1:58.68 to advance 4th and 5th into the ‘A’ final.

Notable names missing the ‘A’ final were Taylor Ruck (2:00.72), Agostina Hein (2:00.91), Phoebe Bacon (2:01.38) and Emma Weyant (2:01.41).

MEN’S 200 FREE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 1:42.00, Paul Biedermann (GER) – 2009
• American Record: 1:42.96, Michael Phelps – 2009
• U.S. Open Record: 1:43.73, Luke Hobson (USA) – 2025
• Pro Swim Record: 1:44.82, Sun Yang (CHN) – 2016

‘A’ Final Qualifiers: 

1. Chris Guiliano (TXLA), 1:45.38
2. Luke Hobson (TXLA), 1:46.52
3. Gabriel Jett (CAL), 1:46.88
4. Leon Marchand (TXLA), 1:47.72
5. Sam Short (AUS), 1:48.00
6. Carson Foster (NYAC), 1:48.26
7. Brooks Curry (CAL), 1:48.33
8. Lucas Henveaux (CAL) / Kieran Smith (RAC), 1:48.45*

*Swim-off required

Coming off three strong swims in the 100 free, Chris Guiliano leaned on his front-end speed to get out to a blistering start in the fourth heat of the men’s 200 free en route to claimingthe top seed for the final and tying his personal best time.

Guiliano, 22, split 23.70/26.53 on the opening 100, turning in 50.23 before closing in 55.15 (27.35/27.80) to touch in 1:45.38, matching his lifetime best set at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials.

The swim moves him into 5th this season in the world rankings.

Guilianio’s Texas training partner Luke Hobson topped the final heat in a time of 1:46.52 to qualify 2nd overall, throwing down a quick first 150 of 1:18.36 (24.85/26.60/26.91) before shutting things down coming home (28.16).

Two more of Bob Bowman‘s swimmers made the ‘A’ final, with Leon Marchand (1:47.72) and Carson Foster (1:48.26) advancing in 4th and 6th overall, respectively, after finishing 2-3 in the penultimate heat behind Cal’s Gabriel Jett.

Jett, coming off an impressive win in the 200 fly last night, led Heat 5 in a time of 1:46.88, consistently splitting 27-lows on the last three 50s.

Australian distance powerhouse Sam Short, who dominated the men’s 800 free final last night, also made his way through to the ‘A’ final in 5th, clocking 1:48.00 from Guiliano’s heat.

There was a tie for 8th between Ridgefield’s Kieran Smith and Cal’s Lucas Henveaux, as the two produced matching times of 1:48.45 to set up a swim-off for the last lane in tonight’s ‘A’ final.

Update: Tonight’s heat sheet shows that there will be a nine-swimmer ‘A’ final in the 200 free, with both Smith and Henveaux in the field. Chris Guiliano, the top seed, will race out of Lane 5 (rather than Lane 4), while Henveaux will be in Lane 1 and Smith out in Lane 9.

Destin Lasco was a notable DFS in the event, as was Jack Dahlgren.

WOMEN’S 100 BACK – PRELIMS

• World Record: 57.13, Regan Smith (USA) – 2024
• American Record: 57.13, Regan Smith – 2024
• U.S. Open Record: 57.13, Regan Smith (USA) – 2024
• Pro Swim Record: 57.46, Regan Smith (USA) – 2025

Semi-Final Qualifiers:

1. Isabelle Stadden (AQJT), 58.68
2. Katharine Berkoff (WOLF), 59.62
3. Rhyan White (WOLF), 1:00.74
4. Phoebe Bacon (WISC), 1:00.77
5. Ingrid Wilm (CAN), 1:01.01
6. Taylor Ruck (CAN), 1:01.07
7. Anna Peplowski (ISC), 1:01.11
8. Emma Harvey (BER), 1:01.90
9. Celia Pulido (MEX), 1:02.22
10. Madison Kryger (CAN), 1:02.64
11. Bridget Burton (CAN), 1:02.82
12. Jasmin Pistelli Palomino (LDB), 1:02.90
13. Olivia Musick (WILD), 1:03.22
14. Chloe Isleta (PSC), 1:03.71
15. Sydney Hardy (SYS), 1:03.73
16. Daniela Linares Danzos (MEX), 1:03.86

Isabelle Stadden‘s breakthrough meet continued on Friday morning, as the 23-year-old followed up her new personal bests in the 50 and 200 back with another in the 100-meter distance.

Stadden, who joined the University of Virginia pro group in early 2026, threw down a time of 58.68 in the 100 back to shatter her previous best time of 58.99, set nearly five years ago at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2021. Last year, her fastest swim was 59.76, set at the U.S. National Championships.

The former Cal Bear moves into #2 in the world rankings this season, overtaking Katharine Berkoff (58.71) to only trail Regan Smith (57.98) in 2025-26. Americans notably own six of the top seven spots in the world rankings, with Canadian Ingrid Wilm (59.36) sitting 5th.

After Stadden’s swim, Wisconsin’s Phoebe Bacon won the following heat in 1:00.77 to advance 4th overall into the semis, with Wilm touching 2nd in 1:01.01 to qualify in 5th.

In the fourth and final heat, Berkoff put up the second sub-1:00 swim of the morning in 59.62 to qualify in 2nd, with Wolfpack Elite training partner Rhyan White (1:00.74) next up for 3rd overall.

MEN’S 100 BACK – PRELIMS

• World Record: 51.60, Thomas Ceccon (ITA) – 2022
• American Record: 51.85, Ryan Murphy – 2016
• U.S. Open Record: 51.94, Aaron Peirsol (USA) – 2009
• Pro Swim Record: 52.40, David Plummer (USA) – 2016

Semi-Final Qualifiers:

1. Ivan Tarasov (AU), 54.19
2. Blake Tierney (CAN), 54.55
3. Sam Lorenz (SST), 55.58
4. Destin Lasco (PDR) / Raben Dommann (CAN), 55.62
5. –
6. Michael Long (WISC), 55.70
7. Jack Harvey (BER), 55.83
8. Kasper Lee (RISE), 56.05
9. Grant Bochenski (HSC), 56.11
10. Shaine Casas (TXLA), 56.26
11. Adam Maraana (ISR), 56.36
12. Anthony Rincon (SCAR), 56.41
13. Kalle Makinen (AU), 56.48
14. Guilherme Basseto (USB), 56.66
15. Yeziel Morales (MVN), 56.67
16. Diego Camacho Gonzalez (MEX), 56.94

Coming off his victory in the 50 back last night, Auburn’s Ivan Tarasov turned in an impressive swim in the prelims of the men’s 100 back this morning to claim the top seed heading into tonight’s semis.

The 19-year-old Russian freshman split 26.46/27.73 en route to posting a time of 54.19, which is less than half a second shy of his personal best of 53.70 set at the U.S. Open in December.

Tarasov topped the fifth and final heat of the session over Canadian Blake Tierney, the top seed coming in, who clocked 54.55 to advance 2nd overall as they were the only two men under 55 seconds.

Tierney currently ranks 3rd in the world this season after posting a time of 53.52 at the U.S. Open in December. He set a PB of 52.95 last summer.

UW-Milwaukee sophomore Sam Lorenz won the penultimate heat in 55.58 to qualify 3rd overall for the semis, while Destin Lasco, after no-showing the 200 free, topped the first circle-seeded heat in 55.62 to tie Canadian Raben Dommann for 4th overall.

Longhorn Aquatics’ Shaine Casas notably advanced 10th overall into the semis in a time of 56.26 after qualifying for the 100 fly semis earlier in the session.

Auburn’s Kalle Makinen, who was 3rd in the 100 back last night, had the fastest opening 50 in the entire field at 26.18, but faded coming home (30.30) to only qualify 13th into the semis.