2023 Westmont Pro Swim Series – Day 4 Finals Live Recap

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
• Day 4 Prelims Live Recap

Saturday Finals Heat Sheet

The Pro Swim Series stop in Westmont concludes Saturday night with finals in the 1500 free, 200 IM, 200 back, 50 breast, and 100 free.

Leon Marchand is seeking his fourth win of the meet in the men’s 200 IM, where he was the top seed in this morning’s prelims with a 2:01.51. Fellow world champion Regan Smith might have her eyes on another Pro Swim Series record, this time in the 200 back, where she was only a couple seconds off her own meet record of 2:05.34 in prelims with the top-seeded time of 2:07.98.

The 50 breast should feature another fun showdown between Anna Elendt, Lilly King, and Lydia Jacoby on the women’s side. On the men’s side, the top three 50 breast qualifiers were separated by just .07 seconds.

Stay tuned for live updates below:

WOMEN’S 1500 FREESTYLE — FINAL

• World Record: 15:20.48 — Katie Ledecky, USA (2018)
• American Record: 15:20.48 — Katie Ledecky, USA (2018)
• U.S Open Record: 15:20.48 — Katie Ledecky, USA (2018)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 15:20.48 — Katie Ledecky, USA (2018)

Top 8:

1. Beatriz Dizotti – 16:08.29
2. Kristel Kobrich – 16:10.48
3. Ching Hwee Gan – 16:31.48
4. Caroline Pennington – 16:35.00
5. Chase Travis – 16:36.92
6. Sierra Schmidt – 16:44.34
7. Liberty Williams – 16:58.49
8. Madi Mintenko – 17:02.15

23-year-old Brazilian Beatriz Dizotti was neck and neck with 37-year-old Chilean Kristel Kobrich for practically the entire race before finally pulling away during the last few laps for a victory in 16:08.29. Dizotti was four seconds slower than her Brazilian national record of 16:04.21 from last month, which made her the sixth-fastest performer in the world this season.

Kobrich faded toward the finish but still put up the ninth-fastest time in the world this year with her new season-best mark of 16:10.48. Last summer, Kobrich became the first swimmer ever to compete at 10 World Championships.

Behind the international battle for first place was a three-way showdown for third place between current NCAA competitors. Indiana freshman Ching Hwee Gan (16:31.48) beat out Florida freshman Caroline Pennington (16:35.00) for the final spot on the podium while Virginia Tech junior Chase Travis wasn’t far behind with a fourth-place finish in 16:36.92.

During the afternoon heats of the 1500 free, 15-year-old Madi Mintenko led the way with a 17:02.15, shaving 16 seconds off her lifetime best.

 MEN’S 1500 FREESTYLE — FINALS

• World Record: 14:31.02 — Sun Yang, CHN (2011)
• American Record: 14:36.70 — Bobby Finke, USA (2022)
• U.S. Open Record: 14:45.54 — Peter Vanderkaay, USA (2008)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 14:53.12 — Jordan Wilimovsky, USA (2016)

Top 8:

1. Bobby Finke – 15:08.51
2. Charlie Clark – 15:19.17
3. Zalan Sarkany – 15:26.63
4. Aryan Nehra – 15:29.92
5. Kilavuz Mert – 15:47.21
6. Cole Kuster – 15:47.57
7. Mason Carlton – 15:55.23
8. Eli Shoyat – 16:04.66

Bobby Finke‘s 15:08.51 was his slowest 1500 free of this year’s Pro Swim Series, but it was still good for an eight-plus second win ahead of runner-up Charlie Clark (15:19.17). Finke went 15:06.53 in Knoxville and 15:02.54 in Fort Lauderdale.

Arizona State freshman Zalan Sarkany was about six seconds off his personal best with a 15:26.63 en route to third place. Florida sophomore Aryan Nehra took fourth place with a huge new lifetime best of 15:29.92, shaving over eight seconds off his previous best from March of 2019. Nehra is now only about six seconds off the Indian national record in the event.

WOMEN’S 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – FINAL

• 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:

1. Leah Hayes – 2:10.03
2. Anastasya Gorbenko – 2:11.23
3. Izzy Ivey – 2:12.56
4. Beata Nelson – 2:12.76
5. Leah Smith – 2:13.37
6. Lea Polonsky – 2:14.21
7. Guilia Goerigk – 2:16.25
8. McKenna Debever – 2:17.01

17-year-old Virginia commit Leah Hayes won the 200 IM with a time of 2:10.03, in the process becoming the third-fastest swimmer in the girls’ 17-18 national age group (NAG) rankings behind Elizabeth Pelton (2:10.02) and Alex Walsh (2:09.01). Hayes’ lifetime best is a 2:08.91 from last summer’s World Championships, which she swam at 16 years old on her way to the bronze medal.

Second-place finisher Anastasya Gorbenko was just over a second off her Israeli national record with a 2:11.23. Izzy Ivey (2:12.56) edged Beata Nelson (2:12.76) by just two-tenth of a second for third place.

MEN’S 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – FINAL

• 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:

1. Leon Marchand – 1:55.68
2. Shaine Casas – 1:56.06
3. Chase Kalisz – 1:58.78
4. Grant House – 2:01.55
5. Will Licon – 2:01.62
6. Luke Barr – 2:02.08
7. Jay Litherland – 2:02.49
8. Danny Schmidt – 2:03.75

Leon Marchand and Shaine Casas both finished under the previous Pro Swim Series record of 1:56.32 set by Michael Phelps back in 2012, with the 20-year-old Frenchman clocking a 1:55.68 to edge Casas (1:56.06) by a few tenths. The duo posted the top two times in the world this year.

Marchand was just a few tenths off his personal-best 1:55.22 from last year’s World Championships while Casas was almost a second slower than his personal-best 1:55.24 from last year’s International Team Trials. Casas led through the midway point of the race as Marchand took over after the third turn thanks to a 32.41 breaststroke split.

400 IM Olympic champion Chase Kalisz took third place with a 1:58.78, the only other swimmer in the field who finished under the two-minute mark.

WOMEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – FINAL

• 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:

1. Regan Smith – 2:04.76
2. Isabelle Stadden – 2:09.77
3. Anna Peplowski – 2:09.82
4. Aviv Barzelay – 2:11.90
5. Phoebe Bacon – 2:11.98
6. Elyse Heiser – 2:15.34
7. Justine Murdock – 2:15.69
8. Rye Ulett – 2:18.34

21-year-old pro swimmer Regan Smith has really hit her stride this week, adding another Pro Swim Series record to her tally during this meet while also taking down the U.S. Open record with a winning time of 2:04.76.

The previous U.S. Open record belonged to Phoebe Bacon (2:05.08) from last year while the former Pro Swim Series mark was her own (2:05.34) from earlier this year. Smith was under world record pace at the midway point of the race, reaching the wall with the 10th-fastest performance of all time (tied with Missy Franklin). It’s the quickest she has been in the event in nearly four years since the 2019 World Championships.

Cal junior Isabelle Stadden took second place in 2:09.77, just .05 seconds ahead of Indiana sophomore Anna Peplowski (2:09.77). It was Peplowski’s first time going sub-2:11 in the event.

MEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – FINAL

• 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:

1. Hubert Kos – 1:55.95
2. Carson Foster – 1:56.97
3. Kieran Smith – 1:58.43
4. Destin Lasco – 1:59.94
5. Kaloyan Levterov – 2:00.23
6. Hunter Tapp – 2:00.47
7. Nicolas Albiero – 2:01.47
8. Yeziel Morales – 2:01.58

Arizona State freshman Hubert Kos lowered his world-leading time this year to 1:55.95. The Hungarian standout had never been sub-1:57 before this morning’s prelims (1:56.28). His new lifetime best would have placed him fourth at last year’s World Championships.

Texas junior Carson Foster finished a second behind Kos with a 1:56.97, still well clear of third-place finisher Kieran Smith (1:58.43). Destin Lasco (1:59.94) was the only other swimmer in the field under two minutes.

WOMEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL

• 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:

1. Lydia Jacoby – 30.29
2. Lilly King – 30.44
3. Anna Elendt – 30.68
4. Jhennifer Alves da Conceicao – 31.09
5. Annie Lazor – 31.49
6. Miranda Tucker – 31.60
7. Letitia Sim – 31.71
8. Kaitlyn Dobler – 32.05

Lydia Jacoby got her hand on the wall first in the 50 breast with a 30.29, just .15 seconds ahead of American record holder Lilly King. Jacoby was less than a tenth of a second slower than her lifetime best from last May (30.20).

King was nearly half a second slower than her 30.04 from the Pro Swim Series stop in Fort Lauderdale, which ranks as the top time in the world this year.

Jacoby’s Texas teammate, Anna Elendt, placed third with a 30.68, slightly slower than the 30.64 she clocked this morning en route to the top qualifying spot in prelims. Jhennifer Conceicao finished fourth in 31.09

MEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL

• 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:

1. Nic Fink – 27.13
2. Joao Gomes – 27.21
3. Denis Petrashov – 27.28
4. Michael Andrew – 27.32
5. Tonislav Sabev – 27.78
6. Tommy Cope – 27.84
7. Jorge Murillo – 27.88
8. Josh Matheny – 28.20

Defending champion and meet record holder Michael Andrew went out fast before being passed by a trio of competitors down the stretch. Nic Fink earned the crown with a 27.13, a little over half a second slower than his lifetime best from last year’s gold medal performance at the World Championships (26.45).

37-year-old Brazilian Joao Gomes put together an impressive swim with a runner-up finish in 27.21, less than a tenth of a second behind Fink. Louisville sophomore Denis Petrashov took third place with a 27.28. Petrashov was the top qualifier this morning with a personal-best 27.40 that he shaved another .12 seconds off of this evening.

WOMEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• 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:

1. Abbey Weitzeil – 53.36
2. Olivia Smoliga – 54.37
3. Erika Brown – 54.59
4. Gabi Albiero – 54.78
5. Natalie Hinds – 54.79
6. Simone Manuel – 55.15
7. Stephanie Balduccini – 55.27
8. Katherine Zenick – 55.54

Abbey Weitzeil continued her hot streak with a 100 free victory in 53.36, the third-fastest time in the world this year. The 26-year-old American was .02 seconds quicker than her win at the Fort Lauderdale stop of the Pro Swim Series, which marked her previous season-best time. Weitzeil’s lifetime best sits at 52.99 from the Tokyo Olympics.

Olivia Smoliga earned a runner-up finish more than a second behind Weitzeil with a 54.37. Erika Brown (54.59), Gabi Albiero (54.78), and Natalie Hinds (54.79) were the only others in the field below the 55-second barrier.

MEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• 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:

1. Hunter Armstrong – 48.79
2. Jack Alexy – 48.85
3. Matthew King – 48.86
4. Bjorn Seeliger – 49.04
5. Ryan Held – 49.09
6. Peter Varjasi – 49.12
7. Andrej Barna – 49.18
8. Jorge Iga – 49.32

Hunter Armstrong clocked a new season-best 48.79 to win a thrilling showdown against Jack Alexy (48.85) and Matthew King (48.86), all of who were separated by less than a tenth of a second. Armstrong, who went 48.95 at the Fort Lauderdale stop of the Pro Swim Series, has a lifetime best of 48.25 from last year’s International Team Trials.

Alexy was less than a couple tenths off his personal-best 48.69 from June of 2021. Three of the top four finishers currently train at Cal.

Interestingly, the fastest 100 free time of the night actually belonged to Tennessee freshman Gui Caribe, who won the B-final with a time of 48.52. His time now ranks 13th in the world this season.