2023 PRO SWIM SERIES – WESTMONT
- April 12-15, 2023
- FMC Aquatic Center, Westmont, Illinois
- Long Course Meters (50 meters)
- Event Central
- Pre-Scratch timeline
- Psych Sheets
- Live Stream
- Live Results
- Day 1 Finals Live Recap
- Day 2 Prelims Live Recap
- Day 2 Finals Live Recap
- Day 3 Prelims Live Recap
- Day 3 Finals Live Recap
SATURDAY MORNING PRELIMS HEAT SHEET (PLUS 1500 FREE)
The final day of the 2023 Pro Swim Series in Westmont, IL, is here. This morning’s prelims session will feature the 200 IM, 200 back, 50 breast, and 100 free. Timed finals of the men’s and women’s 1500 freestyles will take place today as well, with the slow heats occurring this afternoon leading into the finals session, and the fast heat of men and women being swum with finals.
17-year-old Leah Hayes leads the psych sheet in the women’s 200 IM, coming in with her personal best of 2:08.91. Hayes already swam a lifetime best in the 200 free at this meet, so we’ll see how close she can get to that 2:08.91 today.
After his Pro Swim Series Record in the 400 IM on Thursday night, Leon Marchand will be in action in the men’s 200 IM today. Marchand comes in as the top seed in the event, but only by 0.02 seconds over Shaine Casas.
After dipping under 58 to win the women’s 100 back last night, Regan Smith is set to race in the women’s 200 back today as well. Smith, the American Record holder in the event, is actually the second seed today, however, coming in with a 2:05.28, which is 0.20 seconds behind top seed Phoebe Bacon‘s 2:05.08.
Today, we’ll get to see one more showdown between breaststroke stars Lilly King, Lydia Jacoby, Annie Lazor, and Anna Elendt, this time in the women’s 50 breast. King is the American Record holder and former World Record holder in the event. Jacoby won the 100 breast on Thursday, while King took the 200 breast last night.
After a strong swim in the 50 free last night, Abbey Weitzeil comes in as the top seed in the women’s 100 free today.
WOMEN’S 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – PRELIMS
- World Record: 2:06.12, Katinka Hosszu (2015)
- American Record: 2:06.15, Ariana Kukors (2009)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 2:08.08, Summer McIntosh (2023)
- US Open Record: 2:07.84, Alex Walsh (2022)
TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:
- Leah Hayes – 2:12.94
- Anastasya Gorbenko – 2:13.98
- Izzy Ivey – 2:14.09
- Leah Smith – 2:14.72
- Beata Nelson – 2:15.89
- Giulia Goerigk – 2:17.30
- Lea Polonsky – 2:17.35
- McKenna Debever – 2:17.44
Leah Hayes was in control this morning, putting up a 2:12.94 to clock the fastest time in the field by a little over a second. The other swimmers in the final tonight will have their work cut out for them, as Hayes led the field of ‘A’ final qualifiers in backstroke and breaststroke this morning. On the other hand, both Izzy Ivey and Leah Smith displayed some excellent closing speed this morning, splitting 31.12 and 31.78 respectively on the final 50.
Israel’s Anastasya Gorbenko was second this morning, swimming a 2:13.98.
MEN’S 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – PRELIMS
- World Record: 1:54.00, Ryan Lochte (2011)
- American Record: 1:54.00, Ryan Lochte (2011)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 1:56.32, Michael Phelps (2012)
- US Open Record: 1:54.56, Ryan Lochte (2009)
TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:
- Leon Marchand – 2:01.51
- Luke Barr – 2:01.83
- Grant House – 2:02.85
- Danny Schmidt – 2:03.38
- Chase Kalisz – 2:03.65
- Will Licon – 2:03.82
- Shaine Casas – 2:03.83
- Jay Litherland – 2:04.11
Unsurprisingly, Leon Marchand clocked the top time of the morning in the men’s 200 IM here in Westmont. Marchand, who broke the Pro Swim Series Record in the 400 IM on Thursday, was in control of the race in the final heat. He looked very relaxed on the final 50, while Indiana’s Luke Barr closed the gap on him rapidly. Barr finished second in the heat and second overall this morning, speeding to a new lifetime best of 2:01.83, taking over a second off his previous mark.
Outside of Marchand, the Arizona State swimmers had a very strong showing in this event, taking four of the eight finals spots. Grant House, who just concluded his NCAA career with the Sun Devils, was third this morning in 2:02.85, while Chase Kalisz and Jay Litherland, who won gold and silver in the 400 IM at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, finished fifth and eighth respectively this morning.
Shaine Casas, the second-seeded swimmer in the event, ended up cutting it pretty close this morning, taking seventh with a 2:03.83. Casas has been swimming this week, so we should be able to expect a significantly faster race out of him tonight.
WOMEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS
- World Record: 2:03.14, Kaylee McKeown (2023)
- American Record: 2:03.35, Regan Smith (2019)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 2:05.34, Regan Smith (2023)
- US Open Record: 2:05.08, Phoebe Bacon (2022)
TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:
- Regan Smith – 2:07.98
- Anna Peplowski – 2:11.26
- Phoebe Bacon – 2:12.24
- Isabelle Stadden – 2:12.60
- Aviv Barzelay – 2:13.67
- Maggie Wanezek – 2:15.32
- Elyse Heiser – 2:15.48
- Justine Murdock – 2:17.06
Regan Smith left no doubt that she would clock the top time of the morning in the women’s 200 back, roaring to a 2:07.98. In heat three, Indiana’s Anna Peplowski challenged Smith briefly, flipping ahead of her at the 100m turn. Smith then quickly took the race over on the third 50, opening up a big lead on Peplowski, which Smith would only expand through the final 50. Peplowski, the 200 free champion from Thursday, ended up finishing second in the heat and overall with a 2:11.26, which is just 0.05 seconds off her personal best.
Top seed Phoebe Bacon came in third this morning, swimming a 2:12.24. While that wasn’t a particularly fast time for Bacon, she still safely qualified for the final tonight and we can expect that she’ll be faster tonight.
Isabelle Stadden came in fourth this morning with a 2:12.60, which she swam in heat two this morning. Last night, Smith, Stadden, and Peplowski went 1-2-3 in the women’s 100 back final, with Smith breaking the PSS Record in the process.
MEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS
- World Record: 1:51.92, Aaron Peirsol (2009)
- American Record: 1:51.92, Aaron Peirsol (2009)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 1:55.04, Xu Jiayu (2017)
- US Open Record: 1:53.08, Aaron Peirsol (2009)
TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:
- Hubert Kos – 1:56.28
- Ryan Murphy – 1:56.31
- Kieran Smith – 1:59.51
- Destin Lasco – 2:00.64
- Hunter Tapp – 2:00.79
- Yeziel Morales – 2:01.27
- Carson Foster – 2:01.33
- Nicolas Albiero – 2:01.89
Hungary’s Hubert Kos, who now trains at ASU, clocked a new personal best enroute to earning the top seed for tonight’s final in the men’s 200 back. Kos swam a 1:56.28, managing to touch out Ryan Murphy by just 0.03 seconds. Murphy was out ahead of Kos this morning, splitting 56.31 on the first 50 to Kos’ 57.33. Kos then came home much faster, beginning to close the gap on the third 50, and catching Murphy on the last lap.
Kos and Murphy’s are the sec0nd and third fastest times in the world this season. In the calendar year of 2023, they are the top two performances.
Kieran Smith also had a strong swim this morning, dipping under 2:00 with a 1:59.51.
Notably, Shaine Casas DFS’d the 200 back this morning after qualifying for the ‘A’ final of the 200 IM.
WOMEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS
- World Record: 29.30, Benedetta Pilato (2021)
- American Record: 29.40, Lilly King (2017)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 29.62, Lilly King (2018)
- US Open Record: 29.62, Lilly King (2018)
TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:
- Anna Elendt – 30.64
- Lilly King – 30.69
- Lydia Jacoby – 30.84
- Jhennifer Conceicao – 31.24
- Miranda Tucker – 31.24
- Letitia Sim – 31.78 (Tie)
- Kaitlyn Dobler – 31.78 (Tie)
- Annie Lazor – 31.86
The women’s 50 breast final tonight is shaping up to be an awesome race tonight. After Lydia Jacoby, Lilly King, and Anna Elendt all went 1:06 in the 100 breast on Thursday night, the trio were once again tightly packed this morning. Jacoby was the 100 breast champion, but it was Texas teammate Elendt who clocked the top time this morning in the 50, touching in 30.64. King, who was second in the 100 and won the 200 breast last night, was just 0.05 seconds behind Elendt this morning with a 30.69. Meanwhile, Jacoby finished in 30.84.
Michigan’s Letitia Sim and USC’s Kaitlyn Dobler tied for sixth this morning, both touching in 31.78.
Annie Lazor managed to sneak into the ‘A’ final for tonight, taking eighth this morning with a 31.86.
MEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS
- World Record: 25.95, Adam Peaty (2017)
- American Record: 26.45, Nic Fink (2022)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 26.84, Michael Andrew (2023)
- US Open Record: 26.52, Michael Andrew (2022)
TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:
- Denis Petrashov – 27.40
- Joao Gomes – 27.42
- Michael Andrew – 27.47
- Nic Fink – 27.64
- Jorge Murillo – 27.74
- Tonislav Sabev – 27.77
- Josh Matheny – 28.04
- Tommy Cope – 28.19
WOMEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS
- World Record: 51.71, Sarah Sjostrom (2017)
- American Record: 52.04, Simone Manuel (2019)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 53.12, Sarah Sjostrom (2016)
- US Open Record: 52.54, Simone Manuel (2018)
TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:
- Abbey Weitzeil – 53.64
- Olivia Smoliga – 54.59
- Gabi Albiero – 54.68
- Katharine Berkoff – 54.94
- Erika Brown – 54.98
- Natalie Hinds – 55.23
- Katherine Zenick – 55.32
- Stephanie Balduccini – 55.51
Abbey Weitzeil was dominant in the women’s 100 free heats this morning, throwing down a 53.64 to finish first by nearly a full second. It was a stellar performance for Weitzeil’s whose 2023 best mark is a 53.38, which she swam at the Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale last month. Weitzeil dropped well from prelims to finals in the 50 free yesterday, which bodes well for her swim tonight.
Olivia Smoliga came in second this morning with a 54.59, touching just 0.10 seconds off her season best.
MEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS
- World Record: 46.86, David Popovici (2022)
- American Record: 46.96, Caeleb Dressel (2019)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 48.00, Nathan Adrian (2016)
- US Open Record: 47.39, Caeleb Dressel/Ryan Held
TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:
- Jorge Iga – 48.79
- Matt King – 48.95
- Jack Alexy – 48.97
- Bjorn Seeliger – 48.98
- Peter Varjasi – 49.04
- Hunter Armstrong – 49.06
- Ryan Held – 49.10
- Andrej Barna – 49.28
The men’s 100 free was speedy this morning, seeing four men swim under 49 seconds. Jorge Iga led the way, swimming a 48.79 in heat seven, which was the fastest of the non-circle-seeded heats.
Matt King was also under 49 this morning, swimming a 48.95 for second. Cal teammates Jack Alexy and Bjorn Seeliger rounded out the sub-49s this morning. Alexy was the champion in the men’s 50 free last night, so definitely keep an eye out for him in finals.
US Open Record holder (in a tie with Caeleb Dressel) Ryan Held made it through to the final tonight as well, clocking a 49.10 for seventh overall.
Also of note, Brazil’s Marcelo Chierighini swam in the final heat this morning but was disqualified for not finishing the race.
Do we think Manuel is on the team this year?
How do you know if her goal is for the team this year?
Based on these times it seems like a fairly likely no at this point
unfortunately she won’t make it this year.
Mexican record from Jorge Iga 48.79 previous was 48.87
Great to see Mexico improving despite the lack of support from the federation
Murphy doesn’t usually go that fast/hard in prelims. I wonder if he is scratching finals? M 2bk is loaded
it could be all the cal swimmers scratching like they did in Knoxville
regan nearly 2 secs faster than in prelims last month when she went 2:05.3 prelims!
oops added an extra “prelims” at the end
Also I can’t count it’s nearly 3 seconds actually damn
Kos seems to be transitioning (successfully) from an IMer to a backstroker.
Still waiting for a breakout LCM swim from Lasco.
I see Dobler in the 50 breast. I think she missed the 100?
King and Alexy will be in the thick of things for the 4×100 relay this summer.
I honestly don’t think Kos is transitioning to backstroke, the 200 just clashed with the 200IM and he choose the 200 back for this meet. I think he will qualify for worlds in the 200IM at another meet – it’s arguably his best event.
Manuel’s prospects don’t look promising for this summer and failing to qualify for the final of the 50/100 meter freestyle.
Jesus Christ
Another 🤡 post.
I guess no one can have a serious medical condition, take off 18 months and work themselves back into conditioning for ‘24.
It sucks that Casas has to choose between the 200 IM and the 200 back internationally cause of the way the schedule is. It’s also extra tough to choose, knowing he’s a minor medal contender in both but not for gold. Wonder what he will go with.
I heard martin Percinsky is capable of handling the double. Tough young man.
*Major
If we strictly go by his best time, he is a contender for gold in the 200 IM.
Lochte had the same issue, but maybe with the new format for 9 days it will change
The finals are in different sessions in Paris but the 200 back and 200IM final and semi now clash instead. Mitch Larkin dealt with the same issue in Rio and Tokyo, and had to choose one over the other.
Does Michael Andrew not see all these people scratching the 50’s and wonder ‘why am I the only one who cares about these events?’
Why should he care what everyone else is doing?