2024 Pro Swim Series – Westmont: Day 3 Prelims Live Recap

2024 PRO SWIM SERIES – WESTMONT

• March 6-9, 2024
• FMC Natatorium – Westmont, Illinois
• LCM (50 meters)
• Start Times
  • All Prelims: 9 a.m. (Central Time)
  • Thurs.-Sat. Finals: 6 p.m. (Central Time)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• How To Watch
• Live Results
• Results also available via Meet Mobile: “2024 TYR Pro Swim Series – Westmont”
• Day 1 Finals Live Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Live Recap | Day 2 Finals Live Recap

Friday Prelims Scratch Report

Friday Prelims Heat Sheet

USA Swimming Livestream:

It’s day three of the 2024 Westmont Pro Swim Series and we have a packed preliminary session to cover. We’ll see heats of the 200 butterfly, 50 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 200 breaststroke, and the 400 freestyle.

Regan Smith will contest the 200 fly and 100 back this morning, where she is the top seed in both events. For tonight’s finals session, the two disciplines will occur less than 30 minutes apart, with the 200 fly preceding the 100 back. She won those two events with the same tight turnaround last year, where she posted times of 2:07.92 (200 fly) and 57.90 (100 back). Smith was 2nd in Thursday’s 100 fly final here in Westmont, registering a new best time of 56.36. Thomas Heilman is ranked 1st for the men’s 200 fly, but Zach Harting and Dare Rose are in close pursuit.

Abbey Weitzeil is the top seed in both the women’s 50 free. She won the event in Westmont last year, and has been as fast as 24.57 this year already. Jack Alexy and Caeleb Dressel will be among the men’s 50 free frontrunners. Alexy posted a 21.85 in the 50 free yesterday and Dressel secured an individual win via his 1st place performance in the 100 fly.

Ryan Murphy leads the men’s backstroke contingent in Westmont, as the American record holder holds a 0.73 advantage over the nest closest competitor on today’s heat sheet. Lilly King is seeded almost six seconds ahead of everyone else in the women’s 200 breast, and will have the opportunity to double up on breast wins after winning Thursday’s 100m distance (1:06.68). Anton McKee will have the same chance to sweep the breast events, as he leads the men’s 200 breast entry list.

Katie Grimes and Claire Weinstein, who train together at the Sandpipers of Nevada, are among the 400 free contenders. Grimes was 2nd in the 800 free and 400 IM already, with Weinstein winning the 800 free on opening night. Grimes will also swim the 200 fly and 100 back today, creating a triple for herself on the day.

Paige Madden is another name to keep an eye on, as the Tokyo Olympian has been having a great season. Maria Fernanda will also be in the field, and is coming off setting multiple South American records at the Doha World Championships last month. She was 4th in the 400 free at that meet, hitting the wall in 4:02.86. The men’s 400 free will cap off the session, where we’ll see the likes of Kieran Smith, Drew Kibler, Aaron Shackell, and Fernando Scheffer.

WOMEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – HEATS

• World Record: Zige Liu — 2:01.81 (2009)
• American Record: Regan Smith — 2:03.87 (2023)
• Pro Swim Series Record: Summer McIntosh — 2:05.05 (2023)
• US Open Record: Regan Smith — 2:03.87 (2023)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Regan Smith (SUN) – 2:08.20
2. Dakota Luther (TXLA) – 2:11.09
3. Kelsey Zhang (PASA) – 2:13.22
4. Leah Shackley (BRY) – 2:14.49
5. Leah Gingrich (KA) – 2:15.07
6. Katie Grimes (SAND) – 2:15.89
7. Callie Dickinson (ABSC) – 2:16.50
8. Haley Halsall (UN-04) – 2:18.76

Leah Shackley got off to the fastest start in heat one, leading Katie Grimes after the first 50 in 30.09. They turned through the 100 within a few tenths of each other, before Shackley made another move during the third 50. Shackley turned at the 150 with a 1.24 cushion over Grimes, and would ultimately win the heat in 2:14.49. Grimes checked-in at 2:15.89 for 2nd in the heat and Lorena Jerebic recorded a time of 2:21.16 for 3rd place.

The second of three heats saw a swift start from Texas’ Dakota Luther, who turned at the 100 in 1:03.37. She built a lead of 2.74 seconds through the first 150 meters before winning the heat in 2:11.09. Luther was the Pan American Games gold medalist in this event in September, where she stopped the clock in 2:09.97. 34-year-old Leah Gingrich finished 2nd comfortably, recording a time of 2:15.07.

Regan Smith was out fast this morning, hitting the 50 meter turn in 28.00 before turning through the 100 in 1:00.70. She grabbed the final heat win in 2:08.20, which is notably just 0.28 off the time she posted en route to victory at this meet last April (2:07.92).

MEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – HEATS

• World Record: Kristof Milak — 1:50.34 (2022)
• American Record: Michael Phelps — 1:51.51 (2009)
• Pro Swim Series Record: Luca Urlando — 1:53.84 (2019)
• US Open Record: Michael Phelps — 1:52.20 (2008)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Luca Urlando (DART) – 1:57.47
2. Trenton Julian (MVN) – 1:58.01
3. Zach Harting (CARD) – 1:58.45
4. Chase Kalisz (SUN) – 1:58.75
5. Dare Rose (CAL) – 1:58.92
6. Nicolas Albiero (MTC) – 1:59.11
7. Jack Dahlgren (TRI) – 1:59.30
8. Aaron Shackell (CSC) – 1:59.84

To no one’s surprise, Mission Viejo’s Trenton Julian was out quick in the first circle-seeded heat. He opened the first lap in 25.95 before holding his lead at the 100 (55.59) and 150 (1:25.87) turns. The field began to catch him with 20 meters to go, but he held on to win the heat with a time of 1:58.01.

Cal Bear Dare Rose was out even quicker in the penultimate heat, hitting the 50 meter turn in 25.71. He was overtaken by Luca Urlando (55.51) at the 100, and was never able to regain the lead. Urlando touched for the win in 1:57.47, with Zach Harting (1:58.45) and Rose (1:58.92) posting sub-1:59 efforts for 2nd and 3rd.

The final heat was a great race between Chase Kalisz, Gabe Jett, Thomas Heilman, and Aaron Shackell. Kalisz ultimately grabbed the win in 1:58.75, with Shackell (1:59.84) making a late charge to grab 2nd ahead of Heilman (2:00.02). Jett faded to 5th in the heat, qualifying 11th overall for tonight’s B-final. Heilman just missed out on an A-final appearance, currently sitting in 9th.

WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – HEATS

• World Record: Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 23.61 (2023)
• American Record: Kate Douglass (USA) – 23.91 (2024)
• Pro Swim Series Record: Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 24.17 (2016)
• U.S Open Record: Abbey Weitzeil (USA) – 24.00 (2023)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Abbey Weitzeil (CAL) – 24.87
2. Torri Huske (AAC) – 24.90
3. Catie Deloof (NYAC) – 24.99
4. Simone Manuel (SUN) – 25.03
5. Brooke Boak (PASA) – 25.24
6. Olivia Smoliga (SUN) – 25.36
7. Erika Connolly (TNAQ) – 25.51
8. Beata Nelson (WISC) – 25.64

The women’s 50 free heats featured three sub-25 efforts, led by Abbey Weitzeil‘s 24.87 from the final heat. She advances as the top qualifiers for tonight’s final, with Torri Huske (24.90) and Catie Deloof (24.99) qualifying 2nd and 3rd. Huske won the 100 butterfly last night, recording a new Pro Swim Series record time of 56.13.

Simone Manuel earned herself lane six for tonight’s championship final, posting a time of 25.03 to place 2nd in heat six. She advances 4th overall, and will have the opportunity to build upon her victorious 200 free from Thursday.

37-year-old Brooke Boak clocked 25.24 to win the first heat, qualifying 5th overall for the final. She was entered with a yards time of 22.38. Boak was 18th in Thursday’s 100 fly, where she clocked 1:01.94.

Olivia Smoliga, Erika Connolly, and Beata Nelson all safely advanced in 6th through 8th, with Taylor Ruck (25.65) just missing out. Ruck will swim in lane four of the B-final, and she recently swam to a 5th place finish at February’s Doha World Championships (24.50).

Penny Oleksiak was 18th overall this morning, but did chop off 0.22 from her entry time. She touched 1st in heat four with a final time of 26.22.

MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – HEATS

• World Record: Cesar Cielo Filho (BRA) – 20.91 (2009)
• American Record: Caeleb Dressel (USA) – 21.04 (2019)
• Pro Swim Series Record: Caeleb Dressel (USA) – 21.51 (2020)
• U.S Open Record: Caeleb Dressel (USA) – 21.04 (2021)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Jack Alexy (CAL) – 22.28
2. Alberto Mestre (FLOR) – 22.36
3. Andrej Barna (CARD) – 22.39
4. Santo Condorelli (DM) – 22.46
5. Ryan Held (NYAC) – 22.48
6. Lucas Peixoto (MTC) – 22.63
7. Abdelrahman Elaraby (ND) – 22.64
8. Caeleb Dressel (GSC) – 22.65

Cal’s Jack Alexy won the first circle-seeded heat, placing his hand on the wall in 22.28. He was 21.85 yesterday morning, where he went for a 50m split during his 200 freestyle heat. Despite being a few tenths slower today, he still qualified 1st for tonight’s A-final.

Andrej Barna of Cardinal Aquatics stole the show in heat eight, touching 1st in 22.39. His time held up for the 3rd fastest of the morning, with Alberto Mestre‘s 22.36 from heat 9 just 0.03 faster for 2nd overall.

Santo Condorelli, who now trains under Ozzie Quevedo at SMU, was 4th this morning in 22.46. Ryan Held (22.48), Lucas Peixoto (22.63), and Abdelrahman Elaraby (22.64) will also advance, qualifying 5th, 6th, and 7th.

Caeleb Dressel will slide through to the championship final, as he finished 8th overall this morning with a marker of 22.65. Dressel won the B-final at December’s U.S. Open (21.99), so he should be in contention if he can near that clocking.

WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – HEATS

• World Record: Kaylee McKeown (AUS) – 57.33 (2023)
• American Record: Regan Smith (USA) – 57.57 (2019)
• Pro Swim Series Record: Regan Smith (USA) – 57.90 (2023)
• U.S Open Record: Regan Smith (USA) – 57.71 (2023)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Regan Smith (SUN) – 58.75
2. Leah Shackley (BRY) – 59.93
3. Rhyan White (WOLF) – 59.95
4. Torri Huske (AAC) – 1:00.60
5. Taylor Ruck (SUN) – 1:01.54
6. Justine Murdock (UN-1) – 1:01.68
7. Catie Deloof (NYAC) – 1:02.04
8. Tierney Lenahan (WILD) – 1:02.36

After qualifying 1st in the 200 fly about 45 minutes earlier, Regan Smith hit the wall in 58.75 for her 2nd top seed of the morning. She leads the field by over a second going into the championship final, with Leah Shackley (59.93) and Rhyan White (59.95) qualifying 2nd and 3rd in sub-60 efforts.

Torri Huske clocked a substantial best time to win the first heat, dropping 3.80 seconds off her entry time. She finished in 1:00.60, which demolished her previous best of 1:02.06 from January. Huske dabbled in backstroke a bit at the World Cup circuit in October, but only swam the 50m distance, clocking a best time of 28.37 at the Athens stop.

After narrowly missing the 50 free A-final, Taylor Ruck solidified a championship final appearance in the 100 back. She clocked 1:01.54 to place 2nd to White in heat four, sliding through 5th for tonight.

Justine Murdock (1:01.68) nearly dipped under her entry time of 1:01.46 in today’s prelim session, but will get another shot in tonight’s A-final, where she qualified 6th. Catie Deloof (1:02.04) and Tierney Lenahan (1:02.36) also advanced, with Deloof also qualifying in the 50 free earlier.

MEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – HEATS

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

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Justin Ress (MVN) – 54.50
2. Theodoros Andreopoulos (DREX) – 54.77
3. Ryan Murphy (CAL) – 55.12
4. Hugo Gonzalez (CAL) – 55.41
5. Gabriel Fantoni (ISC) – 55.49
6. Destin Lasco (CAL) – 55.79
7. Yeziel Morales (MVN) – 55.89
8. Joe Hayburn (LOYO) – 56.07

Mission Viejo’s Justin Ress claimed the top spot for tonight’s 100 back final. Recording a final time of 54.50, the 26-year-old split 26.21 and 28.29 on the two 50s this morning. Theodoros Andreopoulos was the only other individual in the 54-second realm, as he touched in 54.77 for runner-up status heading in the A-final.

Cal training partners, Ryan Murphy and Hugo Gonzalez, advanced in 3rd and 4th. Gonzalez won the silver medal in this backstroke distance at the World Championships last month, where he put his hand on the wall in a new best time of 52.70. Gonzalez scored gold in the 200 back at those championships, and is slated to swim that event on Saturday. Another Cal Bear will join them in the final, and that is Destin Lasco. Lasco checked-in at 55.79 this morning, which was good for 6th overall.

Gabriel Fantoni (55.49), Yeziel Morales (55.89), and Joe Hayburn (56.07) all clocked A-final worthy times, and will feature again later today.

WOMEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – HEATS

• World Record: Evgeniia Chikunova (RUS) – 2:17.55 (2023)
• American Record: Kate Douglass (USA) – 2:19.30 (2024)
• Pro Swim Series Record: Annie Lazor (USA) – 2:20.77 (2019)
• U.S Open Record: Rebecca Soni (USA) – 2:20.38 (2009)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Lilly King (ISC) – 2:29.39
2. Alexis Yager (TNAQ) – 2:30.10
3. Leah Hayes (TIDE) – 2:31.07
4. Isabelle Odgers (TROJ) – 2:32.21
5. Andrea Podmanikova (WOLF) – 2:32.39
6. Rachel Bernhardt (TEAM) – 2:33.92
7. Melissa Rodriguez (PRVT) – 2:34.23
8. Nina Kucheran (GSC) – 2:34.37

After winning the 100 breast on Thursday, Indiana’s Lilly King is seeking a sweep of the breaststrokes. She posted the fastest time of the morning in 2:29.39, the only sub-2:30 swim of the session. She opened in a swift 32.03, before shutting things down in the middle 100, splitting 39.87 and 40.16. She increased her effort during the final 50, splitting 37.33 to secure the heat win.

Alexis Yager was leading King at the 150, but ultimately finished 2nd in the heat (and 2nd overall) in 2:30.10. Leah Hayes also featured in the heat, clocking 2:31.07, advancing 3rd to the championship final.

Isabelle Odgers and Andrea Podmanikova posted times in the 2:32-sector to qualify in 4th and 5th, with Rachel Bernhardt (2:33.92), Melissa Rodriguez (2:34.23) and Nina Kucheran (2:34.37) checking-in at 6th, 7th, and 8th.

MEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – HEATS

• World Record: Qin Haiyang (CHN) – 2:05.48 (2023)
• American Record: Josh Prenot (USA) – 2:07.17 (2016)
• Pro Swim Series Record: Jake Foster (USA) – 2:08.23 (2023)
• U.S Open Record: Josh Prenot (USA) – 2:07.17 (2016)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Will Licon (TXLA) – 2:13.06
2. Jordan Willis (MAC) – 2:14.08
3. Anton McKee (ISL) – 2:15.18
4. Josh Bey (HHSC) – 2:15.23
5. Maximilian Pilger (ISC) – 2:15.66
6. Noah Cakir (TS) – 2:15.83
7. Tommy Cope (MICH) – 2:16.37
8. Xavier Ruiz (SJC) – 2:16.63

Will Licon was the fastest 200 breaststroker this morning, leading the field by over a full second heading into the final. He finished his race in 2:13.06, with Jordan Willis‘ 2:14.08 representing the nearest marker. Licon has been as swift as 2:11.77 this year, which he recorded en route to 2nd place at the Knoxville Pro Swim Series.

Licon was 3rd in Thursday’s 100 breast, where he finished with a time of 1:01.21.

Thursday’s 100 breast champion, Anton McKee, put up a time of 2:15.18 to advance through in 3rd. Josh Bey swam in the same heat, finishing just 0.05 behind McKee in 2:15.23. Bey is committed to swim at Indiana University starting in the fall of 2025.

Maximilian Pilger (2:15.66) and Noah Cakir (2:15.83) posted a pair of 2:15 swims, qualifying in 5th and 6th. Tommy Cope and Xavier Ruiz will round out the championship final tonight.

WOMEN’S 400 FREESTYLE – HEATS

• World Record: Ariarne Titmus — 3:55.38 (2023)
• American Record: Katie Ledecky — 3:56.46 (2016)
• Pro Swim Series Record: Katie Ledecky — 3:57.94 (2018)
• US Open Record: Katie Ledecky — 3:57.94 (2018)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Claire Weinstein (SAND) – 4:13.21
2. Paige Madden (NYAC) – 4:13.69
3. Maria Fernanda (BRA) – 4:14.74
4. Aline Rodrigues (MTC) – 4:16.36
5. Leticia Fassina (MTC) – 4:16.63
6. Katie Grimes (SAND) – 4:16.76
7. Jenna Campbell (FAC) – 4:20.75
8. Beatriz Pimentel Dizotti (BRA) – 4:20.98

After claiming victory in the 800 free on night one (8:23.73), where she posted her 2nd fastest ever performance, Claire Weinstein led the 400 free heats. Checking-in at 4:13.21, she leads all qualifiers into tonight’s final, with Paige Madden (4:13.69) the only other swimmer in the 4:13 range.

Brazil’s Maria Fernanda was 3rd fastest this morning, cruising to a time of 4:14.74. Fernanda is coming off a record-setting Doha World Championships, where she posted new South American records in the 200 (1:56.85) and 400 (4:02.86) freestyle distances. She was 4th in the 400 and 5th in the 200 at those World Championships.

Katie Grimes‘ 4:16.76 will advance her in 6th, wrapping up her morning triple. She qualified for the 200 fly ‘A’ final and 100 back ‘B’ final earlier in the morning.

MEN’S 400 FREESTYLE – HEATS

• World Record: Paul Biedermann — 3:40.07 (2009)
• American Record: Larsen Jensen — 3:42.78 (2008)
• Pro Swim Series Record: Sun Yang — 3:43.55 (2016)
• US Open Record: Larsen Jensen — 3:43.53 (2008)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Eduardo Oliveira De Moraes (MTC) – 3:52.33
2. Kieran Smith (RAC) – 3:53.68
3. Drew Kibler (NYAC) – 3:55.40
4. David Johnston (TST) – 3:55.46
5. Luke Whitlock (FAST) – 3:55.67
6. Wes Tate (ARMY) – 3:56.02
7. Michael Brinegar (TST) – 3:56.59
8. Jay Litherland (SUN) – 3:56.90

Eduardo Oliveira De Moraes touched in 3:52.33 to top the men’s 400 free heats. He negative split his race this morning, opening in 1:56.50 before closing in 1:55.83. He was 4th in the 800 free (8:01.81) and 7th in the 200 free (1:48.55) earlier this week.

Kieran Smith was 2nd fastest this morning, recording a time of 3:53.68. Drew Kibler (3:55.40) and David Johnston (3:55.46) posted a pair of 3:55 performances, with Kibler leading Johnston by 0.06. Kibler won the 200 free on Thursday and Johnston won the 800 free on Wednesday, so they’ll meet in the middle tonight.

Luke Whitlock (3:55.67), Wes Tate (3:56.02), Michael Brinegar (3:56.59), and Jay Litherland all eclipsed the 3:57-mark to advance to the A-final. Aaron Shackell was 9th overall, just missing out in 3:57.00.