2023 PRO SWIM SERIES – WESTMONT
The third night of racing at the Pro Swim Series stop in Westmont features finals of the 200 fly, 50 free, 100 back, 200 breast, 50 fly, and 400 free at the FMC Aquatic Center on Friday evening.
Some of the intriguing battles on tap for this session include Carson Foster vs. Leon Marchand in the men’s 200 fly, Abbey Weitzeil vs. Gabi Albiero in both the women’s 50 free and 50 fly, Texas teammates Lydia Jacoby and Anna Elendt vs. Annie Lazor and Lilly King in the women’s 200 breast, Leon Marchand vs. Nic Fink in the men’s 200 breast, and Michael Andrew vs. Shaine Casas in the men’s 50 fly. Meanwhile, Regan Smith will attempt to pull off a tough double as the top seed in both the women’s 200 fly and 100 back.
Stay tuned below for live updates:
WOMEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – FINAL
- World Record: 2:01.81 – Zige Liu (2009)
- American Record: 2:04.14 – Mary Descenza (2009)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 2:05.05 – Summer McIntosh (2023)
- US Open Record: 2:05.05 – Summer McIntosh (2023)
Top 8:
- Regan Smith – 2:07.92
- Lindsay Looney – 2:10.19
- Emma Sticklen – 2:11.22
- Lea Polonsky – 2:13.90
- Leah Gingrich – 2:14.91
- Campbell Stoll – 2:15.06
- Caroline Bricker – 2:15.19
- Annemarie Vlaic – 2:15.38
Regan Smith dominated this race from start to finish, shaving two seconds off her prelims swim to win the title with a 2:07.92, a couple seconds ahead of Arizona State’s Lindsay Looney.
Smith’s time is her best this year and just off her season-best 2:07.30 from last December, which ranks fourth in the world this season.
Smith has been training with ASU head coach Bob Bowman‘s pro group in Tempe since last August. She spoke after the victory about how the new environment has been paying off for her.
“I love the heat,” Smith said of her new home in Arizona. “I lived in the cold long enough and I wanted to get away from it. It’s fun to swim in it. It’s a challenge, and I just really enjoy it.
“I love it so much. It’s a great fit for me. I’m a lot happier now — loving swimming and loving life.”
MEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – FINAL
- World Record: 1:50.34 – Kristof Milak (2022)
- American Record: 1:51.51 – Michael Phelps (2009)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 1:53.84 – Luca Urlando (2019)
- US Open Record: 1:52.20 – Michael Phelps (2008)
Top 8:
- Leon Marchand – 1:55.58
- Carson Foster – 1:56.04
- Chase Kalisz – 1:56.53
- Kregor Zirk – 1:56.54
- Thomas Heilman – 1:57.63
- Connor Lamastra – 1:57.88
- Zach Harting – 1:58.15
- Nicolas Albiero – 1:58.42
Leon Marchand is inevitable.
Top-seeded Texas standout Carson Foster held the lead after the first three turns, but five-time NCAA champion from Arizona State chased him down on the final length of the pool to pull out the victory in 1:55.58. Marchand reached the wall about half a second ahead of Foster’s 1:56.04.
Marchand went more than three seconds faster than his third-seeded prelims swim of 1:58.69, still finishing a couple seconds off his personal-best 1:53.37 from last year’s World Championships, where he won silver.
After his win, Marchand admitted butterfly is his least favorite stroke right now.
“This is my least favorite I think — very painful,” Marchand said. “But this one was so much fun. I had so much fun in this one.”
Chase Kalisz (1:56.53) held off Kregor Zirk (1:56.54) by just .01 seconds for third place. Fifth-place finisher Thomas Heilman, just 16 years old, was about a second slower than his lifetime best from last year’s Junior Pan Pacs (1:56.52).
WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – FINAL
- World Record: 23.67 – Sarah Sjostrom (2017)
- American Record: 23.97 – Simone Manuel (2017)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 24.17- Sarah Sjostrom (2016)
- US Open Record: 24.08 – Pernille Blume (2019)
Top 8:
- Abbey Weitzeil – 24.50
- Erika Brown – 24.99
- Gabi Albiero – 25.05
- Annam Olasewere – 25.29
- Kristina Paegle – 25.33
- Caroline Larsen – 25.35
- Teresa Ivan – 25.51
- Natalie Hinds – 25.55
26-year-old Abbey Weitzeil cruised to a victory in the 50 free with a 24.50, nearly half a second over Erika Brown (24.99). The pair of Olympians were the only swimmers who finished under 25 seconds in the final, with Louisville standout Gabi Albiero not far behind in 25.05.
Weitzeil’s best time in the event still stands at 24.19 from the Tokyo 2021 Olympic semifinal.
A pair of teenagers hung with the big names in this final. 15-year-old Annam Olasewere (25.29) and 16-year-old Louisville commit Caroline Larsen (25.35) both dropped a couple tenths off their lifetime bests.
MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – FINAL
- World Record: 20.91 – Cesar Cielo (2009)
- American Record: 21.04 – Caeleb Dressel (2019/2021)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 21.51 – Caeleb Dressel (2020)
- US Open Record: 21.04 – Caeleb Dressel (2021)
Top 8:
- Jack Alexy – 22.09
- Jokubas Keblys – 22.23
- Bjorn Seeliger – 22.26
- Gui Caribe – 22.28
- Michael Andrew – 22.30
- Matthew King – 22.42
- Matej Dusa – 22.49
- Marcelo Chierighini – 22.57
Cal sophomore Jack Alexy took the men’s 50 free crown with a new personal-best 22.09. The 6-foot-7, 215-pounder dropped .04 seconds off his previous best from last year’s International Team Trials.
Alexy finished more than a tenth ahead of Lithuania’s Jokubas Keblys, who shaved a few tenths off his previous best from the Pro Swim Series stop in San Antonio last year. Alexy’s Cal teammate, Bjorn Seeliger, placed third with a 22.26 while Tennessee freshman Gui Caribe (22.28) edged Olympian Michael Andrew (22.30) for fourth place. Caribe was .06 seconds faster than his previous best from last November while Seeliger and Andrew were both off their sub-22 lifetime bests.
WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – FINAL
Top 8:
- Regan Smith – 57.90
- Isabelle Stadden – 59.38
- Anna Peplowski – 1:00.59
- Simona Kubova – 1:00.68
- Maggie Wanezek – 1:00.99
- Phoebe Bacon – 1:01.08
- Beata Nelson – 1:01.12
- Morgan Scott – 1:01.21
Just about half an hour after her 200 fly victory, Regan Smith returned to the pool with another dominant win in the 100 back. She took down her own Pro Swim Series record with a winning time of 57.90, slightly faster than her 57.92 from the Fort Lauderdale stop last month. Smith sits just .06 seconds behind Kaylee McKeown‘s world-leading mark of 57.84. Her lifetime best still stands at 57.57 from July of 2019.
Even on the back half of a double, Smith still had enough energy left in the tank to blaze home in 29.77, the fastest split in the field by nearly a second over runner-up finisher Isabelle Stadden (59.38, 30.63 split on final 50). Smith and Stadden were the only swimmers in the field to break the minute barrier, with Anna Peplowski (1:00.59) outdueling Simona Kubova (1:00.68) for third place.
MEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – FINAL
- World Record: 51.60 – Thomas Ceccon (2022)
- American Record: 51.85 – Ryan Murphy (2016)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 52.40 – David Plummer (2016)
- US Open Record: 51.94 – Aaron Peirsol (2009)
Top 8:
- Hunter Armstrong – 52.59
- Ryan Murphy – 52.90
- Shaine Casas – 53.65
- Hubert Kos – 53.83
- Justin Ress – 54.16
- Destin Lasco – 54.77
- Hunter Tapp – 55.50
- Bjoern Kammann – 55.52
For the third Pro Swim Series stop in a row, Hunter Armstrong (52.59) held off Cal training partner Ryan Murphy (52.90) for the 100 back title.
Armstrong’s winning time of 52.59 lowers his own world-leading mark of 52.68 from the Pro Swim Series stop in Knoxville. That time was the second-fastest ever in the month of January. Murphy now ranks as the fourth-fastest performer this season behind Armstrong, Pieter Coetze (52.78), and Ksawery Masiuk (52.81).
The field was stacked behind Armstrong and Murphy, with Shaine Casas (53.65) reaching the wall just ahead of Hubert Kos (53.83), Justin Ress (54.16), and Destin Lasco (54.77).
WOMEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL
- World Record: 2:18.95 – Tatjana Schoenmaker (2021)
- American Record: 2:19.59 – Rebecca Soni (2012)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 2:20.77 – Annie Lazor (2022)
- US Open Record: 2:20.38 – Rebecca Soni (2009)
Top 8:
- Lilly King – 2:23.68
- Anna Elendt – 2:24.74
- Annie Lazor – 2:25.71
- Gabrielle Assis de Silva – 2:26.38
- Lydia Jacoby – 2:26.57
- Anastasya Gorbenko – 2:29.19
- Alexis Yager – 2:30.48
- Letitia Sim – 2:30.64
Lilly King, the reigning Olympic silver medalist, led from wire to wire to triumph with a time of 2:23.68, more than a second ahead of Texas junior Anna Elendt. King, 26, was a few tenths off her season-best 2:23.33 from last month.
Annie Lazor got off to a slow start, sitting back in seventh place at the midway point and fifth place heading into the final turn before flying home in 37.00 to finish in third place with a 2:25.71. Lydia Jacoby was out quick in third place at the halfway point before fading to fifth place with a 2:26.57 behind fourth-place finisher Gabrielle Assis de Silva (2:26.38).
MEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL
- World Record: 2:05.95 – Zac Stubblety-Cook (2022)
- American Record: 2:07.17 – Josh Prenot (2016)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 2:08.95 – Andrew Wilson (2018)
- US Open Record: 2:07.17 – Josh Prenot (2016)
Top 8:
- Leon Marchand – 2:10.52
- Will Licon – 2:10.80
- Lyubomir Epitropov – 2:10.89
- Nic Fink – 2:11.68
- Denis Petrashov – 2:11.75
- Jassen Yep – 2:13.05
- Amro Al-Wir – 2:13.40
- Max Reich – 2:13.48
Leon Marchand‘s second victory of the night also came in comeback fashion, but this one was even more of a nail-biter.
The 20-year-old Frenchman looked like he was in trouble when he turned in fourth place heading into the final length of the pool, but Marchand fired off a 32.90 split on the last lap — the fastest in the field by over a second — to secure his third win of the week. His winning time of 2:10.52 ranks him as the fourth-fastest in the world so far this year, still nearly two seconds slower than his personal-best 1:08.76 from last summer.
Marchand hasn’t lost a race since last June’s World Championships, when Kristof Milak beat him in the 200 fly en route to a new world record in the event.
Will Licon (2:10.80) joined Lyubomir Epitropov (2:10.89) under 2:11 to round out the podium ahead of fifth-place finisher Nic Fink (2:11.68).
WOMEN’S 50 BUTTERFLY – FINAL
- World Record: 24.43 – Sarah Sjostrom (2014)
- American Record: 25.38 – Torri Huske (2022)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 25.65 – Farida Osman (2019)
- US Open Record: 25.46 – Rikako Idee (2017)
Top 8:
- Beata Nelson – 26.30
- Katherine Zenick – 26.41
- Abbey Weitzeil – 26.55
- Gabi Albiero – 26.57
- Erika Brown – 26.83
- Natalie Hinds – 26.83
- Clarissa Rodrigues – 26.91
- Anna Boemer – 27.29
Beata Nelson clocked a new lifetime best of 26.30 to claim the 50 fly title just about a tenth ahead of Ohio State’s Katherine “Kit Kat” Zenick (26.41). Nelson shaved .23 seconds off her previous best from last April’s International Team Trials, where she placed eighth in the A-final.
The runner-up finish was Zenick’s first time under the 27-second barrier, dropping over half a second off her previous-best 27.04 from July of 2021.
Fresh off her 50 free victory, Abbey Weitzeil took third place in the 50 fly with a 26.55, just .02 seconds ahead of Louisville standout Gabi Albiero (26.57), who was also on the back end of a sprint double.
MEN’S 50 BUTTERFLY – FINAL
- World Record: 22.27 – Andri Govorov (2018)
- American Record: 22.35 – Caeleb Dressel (2019)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 23.11 – Matt Targett (2012)
- US Open Record: 22.84 – Caeleb Dressel (2022)
Top 8:
- Shaine Casas – 23.46
- Finn Brooks – 23.50
- Michael Andrew – 23.53
- Tomer Frankel – 23.60
- Marius Kusch – 23.65
- Tyler Sesvold – 23.77
- Matthew King – 23.88
- Clement Secchi – 23.89
After finishing third in the 100 back behind Hunter Armstrong and Ryan Murphy, Shaine Casas bounced back with a 50 fly victory in 23.46. Casas was just .15 seconds off his personal-best 23.31 from last July.
Indiana sophomore Finn Brooks had a huge drop to edge 23-year-old Olympian Michael Andrew for second place. Brooks posted his first sub-24 time during prelims with a 23.90 to sneak into the A-final as the eighth seed, then dropped another four-tenths of a second to earn a runner-up finish with a 23.50. Andrew reached the wall just a few hundredths behind in 23.53.
Indiana junior Tomer Frankel took fourth place in 23.60, shaving .19 seconds off his previous best from July of 2018.
WOMEN’S 400 FREESTYLE – FINAL
- World Record: 3:56.08 – Summer McIntosh (2023)
- American Record: 3:56.46 – Katie Ledecky (2016)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 3:57.94 – Katie Ledecky (2018)
- US Open Record: 3:57.94 – Katie Ledecky (2018)
Top 8:
- Leah Smith – 4:07.95
- Erin Gemmell – 4:11.83
- Madi Mintenko – 4:11.85
- Beatriz Dizotti – 4:12.78
- Chase Travis – 4:13.58
- Julia Mrozinski – 4:15.39
- Sierra Schmidt – 4:16.41
- Deniz Ertan – 4:17.90
Leah Smith claimed the 400 free crown with a 4:07.95, more than a second slower than her winning time from last month’s Pro Swim Series stop in Fort Lauderdale.
The battle for second place turned out to be more interesting than the showdown for first place as 18-year-old Texas commit Erin Gemmell (4:11.83) edged 15-year-old Madi Mintenko (4:11.85). Before today, Mintenko’s lifetime best was a 4:16.91 from last July, marking a five-second in one day. She qualified fourth in this morning’s prelims with a 4:14.30.
MEN’S 400 FREESTYLE – FINAL
- World Record: 3:40.07 – Paul Biedermann (2009)
- American Record: 3:42.78 – Larsen Jensen (2008)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 3:43.55 – Sun Yang (2016)
- US Open Record: 3:43.53 – Larsen Jensen (2008)
Top 8:
- Kieran Smith – 3:50.25
- Luke Hobson – 3:51.71
- Baturalp Unlu – 3:51.76
- Carson Foster – 3:52.50
- Charlie Clark – 3:53.81
- Jay Litherland – 3:54.34
- Tommylee Camblong – 3:55.24
- Bathuhan Filiz – 4:02.26
