WATCH: Ryan Murphy and Daniel Diehl Battle in 100 Backstroke (PSS Sacramento Day 1 Race Videos)

2026 Sacramento Pro Series

• May 20-23, 2026
• Sacramento, CA
• LCM (50 meters)
• Psych Sheets
• Meet Central
• Live Results also Available on Meet Mobile
• Live Stream: USA Swimming Network
• Recaps:
  • Prelims: Day 1
  • Finals: Day 1

Day one of the 2026 Pro Swim Series in Sacramento saw a number of fast swims including the return of Olympic gold medalist Ryan Murphy from his nearly two year hiatus from competition. Murphy raced Daniel Diehl for the top time in the men’s 100 backstroke, with Diehl ultimately coming out victorious.

All videos are courtesy of USA Swimming

Men’s 1500 Free – Timed Final

• World Record: Bobby Finke – 14:30.67 (2024)
• American Record: Bobby Finke – 14:30.67 (2024)
• US Open Record: Bobby Finke – 14:40.28 (2024)
• Pro Series Record: Sam Short – 14:52.33 (2026)

Top 8 Finishers

1. Luka Mijatovic (PLS) — 14:59.27
2. Juan Vallmitjana (SOFL) — 15:24.07
3. Ellis Crisci (TST) — 15:32.32
4. Julien Rousseau (CAL) — 15;48.10
5. Luke Brennan (UOFM) — 15:48.93
6. Darwin Anderson (COUG) — 15:49.29
7. Aiden Kirk (CAN) — 15:53.14
8. Deacon Gutshall (TST) — 15:54.33

Luka Mijatovic, who turned 17 less than a month ago, won the men’s 1500 freestyle in 14:59.27. This swim was a new best time by 16 seconds from the 15:15.95 mark he set in August of 2024 at Junior Pan Pacs.

Mijatovic will move up to #4 American in the 17-18 age group in the event, jumping Luke Ellis, who swam 15:00.24 at the same meet in August of 2024. The NAG record is Larsen Jensen’s 14:45.29 from the 2004 Olympic Games. He will also become the top American in the world this season, jumping Bobby Finke‘s 15:02.81 from the Austin stop of the Pro Swim Series.

Juan Vallmitjana, another 17-year-old, finished 2nd in 15:24.07, This was a slight add from the 15:16.61 he swam at the Pro Swim Series in Westmont. He is committed to Virginia for the class of 2027.

Ellis Crisci, who is also 17, finished 3rd in 15:32.32. He added 12 seconds from his best of 15:20.93, which he swam last June. Crisci and Mijatovic are future Texas teammates for the class of 2027.

Women’s 200 IM – Finals

• World Record: Summer McIntosh – 2:05.70 (2025)
• American Record: Ariana Kukors – 2:06.15 (2009)
• US Open Record: 2:06.79 – Kate Douglass (2024)
• Pro Series Record: Summer McIntosh – 2:06.82 (2025)

Top 8 Finishers

1. Torri Huske (UN) — 2:11.34
2. Katie Christopherson (SA) — 2:13.15
3. Lauren Lonsdale (DART) — 2:14.27
4. Mikayla Tan (SRVA) — 2:14.92
5. Alexa McDevitt (CAL) — 2:15.12
6. Marie Landreneau (COLA) — 2:15.13
7. Emma Hussein (CANY) — 2:16.06
8. Ieva Maluka (ABSC) — 2:16.34

The women’s 200 IM went to Torri Huske in dominant fashion. She grabbed the lead on the first 50 and held the top spot through the entire race, touching in 2:11.34 to stop the clock nearly two seconds ahead of the rest of the field.

Huske split 27.79/33.50/38.84/31.21 to have the fastest butterfly and backstroke legs in the field with her opening 100 of 1:01.29. Her lifetime best in the event stands at 2:08.47, which she swam in April of 2024.

Swim Atlanta’s Katie Christopherson, who swims collegiately for the University of Virginia, finished 2nd in 2:13.15, a seven tenth drop from the 2:13.83 best time she swam in July of 2024. Christopherson split 28.41/35.46/37.78/31.50 to overtake 3rd place finisher, Lauren Lonsdale, on the breaststroke.

Lonsdale, who is 14 and swims for DART Swimming, finished 3rd in 2:14.27. This was a full second drop from the 2:15.79 mark she set last July. It will also move her up to #4 American all-time in the 13-14 age group. The NAG Record is 2:12.53, set by Teagan O’Dell in August of 2021. Lonsdale split 29.14/33.66/39.80/31.66.

Men’s 200 IM – Finals

• World Record: Leon Marchand – 1:52.69 (2025)
• American Record: Ryan Lochte – 1:54.00
• US Open Record: Ryan Lochte – 1:54.43
• Pro Series Record: 1:55.68 – Leon Marchand (2023)

Top 8 Finishers

1. Finlay Knox (CAN) — 1:59.27
2. Grant House (SUN) — 2:00.61
3. Grant Sanders (SPA) — 2:01.01
4. Jacob Turner (UN) — 2:03.15
5. Xavier Ruiz (PUR) — 2:03.27
6. Munzy Kabbara (LEB) — 2:03.48
7. Jackson Hartzler (CFSC) — 2:04.60
8. Jack Madden (FCST) — 2:06.12

Finlay Knox was the only swimmer in the men’s 200 IM to touch under 2:00 in the event, swimming 1:59.27 to come in more than a second ahead of Grant House‘s 2:00.61 in 2nd place.

Knox split 25.02/30.70/34.89/28.66 to be the fastest swimmer on the butterfly, backstroke, and freestyle 50s. His lifetime best is 1:56.07 from the 2024 Canadian Trials. He was also just off his season best of 1:58.74, which he swam at the U.S. Open Championships in December.

Grant House came in 2nd at 2:00.61 after splitting 25.27/30.98/35.33/29.03. His lifetime best stands at 1:58.07 from last June.

Grant Sanders, a 28-year-old from Saint Petersburg Aquatics Club swam 2:01.01 to finish 3rd. He split 26.13/31.30/34.61/28.97 as he tried to chase down House on the back half. His personal best is 2:00.14 from August of 2019.

Women’s 50 Breast – Finals

• World Record: Ruta Meilutyte – 29.16 (2023)
• American Record: Lilly King – 29.40 (2017)
• US Open Record: Lilly King – 29.62 (2018)
• Pro Series Record: Lilly King – 29.62 (2018)

Top 8 Finishers

1. Frida Loebersli (GPA) — 30.91
2. Silje Slyngstadli (CAL) — 31.04
3. Mikayla Tan (SRVA) — 31.14
4. Lucy Thomas (ALTO) — 31.28
5. Aliz Kalmar (FRES) — 31.33
6. Caroline Larsen (UOFL) — 31.36
7. Jenna Pulkkinen (FRES) — 31.48
8. Sophia Sileo-Magliari (UDAC) — 32.05

The women’s 50 breaststroke went to Golden Panther Aquatics’ Frida Loebersli in 30.91 as the only swimmer under 31 seconds. She took about a tenth off her best of 31.58 from April of last year.

Silje Slyngstaldi finished 2nd in 31.04, about half-a-second off her best of 30.48 from last year’s World Championships.

In her 2nd event of the night, San Ramon Valley 16-year-old Mikayla Tan swam 31.14 to finish 3rd. This was a three tenth drop from her previous best of 31.41, which she swam in July of last year.

Men’s 50 Breast – Finals

• World Record: Adam Peaty – 25.95 (2017)
• American Record: Van Mathias – 26.39 (2026)
• US Open Record: Michael Andrew – 26.52 (2022)
• Pro Series Record: Van Mathias – 26.57 (2026)

Top 8 Finishers

1. Michael Andrew (MASA) –26.96
2. Yamato Okadome (CAL) — 27.03
3. Mitch Mason (TFA) — 27.10
4. Mikel Schreuders (MASA)– 27.29
5. Tom Higdon (CART) — 27.74
6. Koko Bratanov (TFA) — 27.82
7. Andrew Eubanks (TDPS) — 27.91
8. Pavel Romanov (UN) — 28.19

Michael Andrew picked up his 2nd sub-27 swim of the meet in the men’s 50 breaststroke final, swimming 26.96 to win the event and drop a hundredth from his prelims time of 26.97.

Andrew’s lifetime best is 26.52 from April of 2022, but he these swims mark his first time under 27 seconds this season. He will move up to 12th in the world this season ahead of China’s Zhang Yinghao, who swam 26.97 in November.

Yamato Okadome finished 2nd in 27.03, taking two tenths off the 27.38 mark he set in June of 2025 at the French Championships.

Mitch Mason, from Texas Ford Aquatics, finished 3rd in 27.10, which was a two tenth drop from the 27.32 he set in January.

Women’s 100 Back – Finals

• World Record: Regan Smith – 57.13 (2024)
• American Record: Regan Smith – 57.13 (2024)
• US Open Record: Regan Smith – 57.13 (2024)
• Pro Series Record: Regan Smith – 57.46 (2025)

Top 8 Finishers

1. Katharine Berkoff (WOLF) — 58.88
2. Mary-Ambre Moluh (CAL) — 59.41
3. Rhyan White (WOLF) — 1:00.93
4. Kennedi Dobson (EEX) — 1:01.98
5. Kaitlyn Owens (TAMU) — 1:02.37
6. Maddie Thornton (BEND) — 1:03.57
7. Bridget Burton (CAN) — 1:03.83
8. Chloe Isleta (PSC) — 1:04.40

Katharine Berkoff swam the top time in the women’s 100 backstroke of 58.88, touching more htan half-a-second ahead of Mary-Ambre Moluh‘s 59.41 for Cal in 2nd.

Berkoff’s season best of 58.71, which she swam at the U.S. Open Championships in December currently ranks 5th in the world for this season. Her lifetime best is 57.83 from the 2024 Olympic Trials.

Moluh will move up to 9th in the world this year, jumping Leah Shackley‘s 59.42 from the U.S. Open. Moluh will be the highest ranked European swimmer passing French teammate Pauline Mahieu’s 59.44 from March.

Rhyan White, from the Wolfpack Elite, swam 1:00.93 to finish 3rd, coming in about a second off the 1:00.09 season best mark she set at the stop in Westmont. Her lifetime best is 58.43 from May of 2021

Men’s 100 Back – Finals

• World Record: Thomas Ceccon – 51.60 (2022)
• American Record: Ryan Murphy – 51.85 (2016)
• US Open Record: Aaron Peirsol – 51.94 (2009)
• Pro Series Record: David Plummer – 52.40 (2016)

Top 8 Finishers

1. Daniel Diehl (NCST) — 53.74
2. Ryan Murphy (CAL) — 53.91
3. Blake Tierney (CAN) — 54.59
4. Gavin Keogh (NCST) — 55.21
5. Ethan Ekk (ALTO) — 55.35
6. Tommy Hagar (BAMA) — 55.41
7. Raben Dommann (CAN) — 55.78
8. Utkarsh Patil (ISC) — 56.30

The men’s 100 backstroke was exciting. Ultimately, NC State’s Daniel Diehl came out on top in 53.74, just under two tenths ahead of Olympic gold medalist Ryan Murphy.

Ryan Murphy got out to a quick lead, splitting 25.00 on the opening 50 to sit two tenths ahead of Diehl’s 26.20 in 2nd place.

The 2nd 50 saw Diehl split 27.54, almost half-a-second faster than Murphy’s 27.91 to pass him for the lead. Diehl’s time was about eight tenths off the 52.94 he swam in July of last summer at the World University Games.

Murphy touched 2nd in 53.91, racing his first final since the Olympic Games in 2024.

Canada’s Blake Tierney took 3rd in 54.59, splitting 26.47/28.12 to maintain the 3rd place position throughout the whole race. This was about a second off his season best of 53.52 from the U.S. Open, but is still more than a second faster than anyone in Canada has been this season.