2023 Pan American Games: Day 4 Prelims Live Recap

2023 PAN AMERICAN GAMES

• October 21-25, 2023
• Santiago, Chile
• Meet Central
• Entries (Psych Sheet)
• Live Results
• Live Stream
  • Fubo TV (subscription required)
  • PanAm Sports Channel (USA, Canada, Jamaica)
• Day 1 Prelims Recap | Day 1 Finals Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Recap| Day 2 Finals Recap
• Day 3 Prelims Recap | Day 3 Finals Recap

We’ve reached the penultimate day of the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago. We’re at the point of the meet where the number of events in each session will begin to decrease. This morning, we have just six events on the schedule.

DAY 4 PRELIMS EVENT SCHEDULE

• Women’s 50 free
• Men’s 50 free
• Women’s 400 IM
• Men’s 400 IM
• Women’s 4×200 free relay
• Men’s 4×200 free relay

The shortest event of the schedule, the 50 free, is on the schedule today. The women’s 50 free has American Catie DeLoof entered as the top seed. DeLoof was the top seed in the 100 free yesterday and wound up winning the bronze medal last night, so she’ll be looking to for a stronger swim today in the 50. It’s fellow American Gabi Albiero who is seeded 2nd in the 50, just 0.01 seconds behind DeLoof.

Then, of course, Canadian Maggie MacNeil is the #3 seed, and at this point, is probably the favorite to win. MacNeil is now two-for-two on individual gold medals so far in the meet, having won the 100 fly and 100 free. Additionally, MacNeil cracked the Pan American Games Record in both events as well.

David Curtiss and Jonny Kulow, the two Americans in the men’s 50 free, are the top two seeds coming into the event. Kulow tied for silver in the men’s 100 free last night and put up a very fast split anchoring the U.S. mixed medley relay, so look out for him. Meanwhile, Brazil’s Gui Caribe, who won gold in the 100 free last night, is the #4 seed coming into the 50 today.

WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 23.61 – Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden (2023)
• Pan American Games Record: 24.31 – Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, United States (2015)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Catie DeLoof (United States) – 24.79
2. Gabi Albiero (United States) – 25.03
3. Maggie MacNeil (Canada) – 25.28
4. Cristina Versiani (Brazil) – 25.30
5. Stephanie Balduccini (Brazil) – 25.50
6. Sofia Revilak (Mexico) – 25.57
7. Sirena Rowe (Colombia) – 25.63
8. Andrea Berrino (Argentina) – 25.64

Top seeded Catie DeLoof was the only swimmer in the women’s 50 free to dip under 25 seconds this morning, earning the top seed for tonight’s final with a 24.79. After DeLoof was nearly a second off her personal best in the 100 free last night (where she earned the bronze medal), she looked to be in better form in the 50 this morning, coming in just 0.11 seconds off her career best of 24.68.

While DeLoof looked very good this morning, she still has her work cut out for her tonight. American teammate Gabi Albiero was 2nd this morning in 25.03, so she’ll be racing next to DeLoof tonight. Albiero’s best in the event is 24.69, which is just 0.01 seconds off DeLoof’s time.

Then, there’s Maggie MacNeil of course. MacNeil has already won gold in the 100 free and 100 fly, having broken the Pan American Games Records in both events. She was only 25.28 this morning, however, we can surely project that she’ll be considerably faster in finals tonight. For the record, the Pan American Games Record in the 50 free is 24.31, which is a tall order for any of the swimmers in this field.

The Brazilian duo of Cristina Versiani and Stephanie Balduccini could make some noise tonight as well. Versiani was 25.30 for 4th this morning, while Balduccini was 5th in 25.50. Balduccini was a bit off in the 200 free a couple days ago, but she was just 0.03 seconds off her best in the 100 last night and earned the silver medal, so it seems she may be better suited for the shorter events this week.

MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 20.91 – Cesar Cielo, Brazil (2009)
• Pan American Games Record: 21.58 – Cesar Cielo, Brazil (2011)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Jonny Kulow (United States) – 21.90
2. David Curtiss (United States) – 22.10
3. Alberto Mestre (Venezuela) – 22.20
4. Gabriel Castaño (Mexico) – 22.38
5. Victor Alcara (Brazil) – 22.46
6. Gui Caribe (Brazil) – 22.47
7. Lamar Taylor (Bahamas) – 22.48
8. Marcelo Chierighini (Brazil) – 22.57

American Jonny Kulow is having a terrific meet. After tying for the silver medal in the 100 free last night and throwing down a phenomenal anchor leg on the American mixed medley relay, Kulow was the only swimmer in the men’s 50 free to crack 22 seconds this morning. His 21.90 this morning makes him the top seed for tonight’s final by a comfortable margin.

It’s fellow American David Curtiss who was 2nd this morning, swimming a 22.10. Curtiss was the top seed coming into the meet, boasting a personal best of 21.76 in the event.

100 free champion Gui Caribe (Brazil) came in 6th this morning with a 22.47. Caribe clocked a personal best in the 100 free last night, however, so he should still be considered a top contender in this event tonight.

WOMEN’S 400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 4:25.87 – Summer McIntosh, Canada (2023)
• Pan American Games Record: 4:35.46 – Caitlin Leverenz, United States (2015)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Lucy Bell (United States) – 4:49.68
2. Julie Brousseau (Canada) – 4:49.78
3. Nathalia Almeida (Brazil) – 4:51.33
4. Gabrielle Roncatto (Brazil) – 4:51.43
5. Kristen Romano (Puerto Rico) – 4:52.48
6. Maria Alborzen (Argentina) – 4:56.18
7. Florencia Perotti (Argentina) – 4:58.83
8. Alondra Ortiz (Costa Rica) – 4:59.46

Lucy Bell (USA) and Julie Brousseau (Canada) were the only swimmers in the women’s 400 IM to go under 4:50 this morning. Broussea was the top seed coming into the event, entering with a top time of 4:42.90, while Bell was the #2 seed at 4:44.54. This morning, Bell was really strong on the breaststroke leg of the race, splitting 1:23.33 on that 100.

Puerto Rico’s Kristen Romano was out the fastest of anyone this morning, splitting 1:05.63 on fly and 1:13.07 on back, for a 2:18.70 on the opening 200m. Romano was good on breast as well, splitting 1:24.27, but it looked like she shut it down on free this morning, coming home in just 1:09.51. She ended up 5th overall this morning, clocking a 4:52.48.

The Brazilian duo of Nathalia Almeida and Gabrielle Roncatto were 3rd and 4th respectively this morning, both swimming 4:51s.

MEN’S 400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 4:02.50 – Leon Marchand, France (2023)
• Pan American Games Record: 4:11.14 – Thiago Pereira, Brazil (2007)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Jay Litherland (United States) – 4:21.48
2. Collyn Gagne (Canada) – 4:22.14
3. Ian Grum (United States) – 4:22.35
4. Brandonn Almeida (Brazil) – 4:22.46
5. Erick Gordillo (Independant) – 4:22.59
6. Benjamin Cote (Canada) – 4:23.68
7. Stephen Steverink (Brazil) – 4:24.98
8. Maximiliano Vega (Mexico) – 4:25.40

Coming in as the top seed by a huge margin, American Jay Litherland posted the top time in prelims in the men’s 400 IM, swimming a 4:21.48. It’s a relaxed swim for Litherland, who more than likely was just doing what he needed to earn the top seed for tonight. We can expect a significantly faster race out of him, and many of the other swimmers in this field, in finals tonight.

Litherland was 58.79 on fly, 1:04.68 on back, 1:15.77 on breast, and 1:02.24 on free, all of which we can expect to be improved tonight.

Canada’s Collyn Gagne was 2nd this morning, clocking a 4:22.14. Gagne was strong on breaststroke this morning, splitting 1:14.03.

The other American in the field, Ian Grum, clocked a 4:22.35 to earn the #3 seed for tonight’s final.

WOMEN’S 4×200 FREESTYLE RELAY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 7:37.50 – Australia (2023)
• Pan American Games Record: 7:54.32 – United States (2015)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Canada – 8:05.98
2. United States – 8:07.40
3. Cuba – 8:19.77
4. Brazil – 8:20.05
5. Venezuela – 8:31.53
6. Mexico – 8:31.71
7. Argentina – 8:31.88
8. Chile – 8:33.60

Canada posted the top time of the morning in the women’s 4×200 free relay, swimming an 8:05.98. Katerine Savard (2:01.00), Brooklyn Douthwright (2:01.02), Emma O’Croinin (2:01.82), and Sydney Pickrem (2:02.14) combined to post that time, winning heat 1 and putting up the fastest overall time.

The Americans were 2nd this morning and there was a large gap between the top two countries and everyone else this morning. Amy Fulmer (2:02.10), Rachel Stege (2:02.45), Olivia Bray (2:02.29), and Kelly Pash (2:01.56) teamed up to swim an 8:07.40. Of note, Canada was faster than the U.S. on all but the anchor leg this morning.

Cuba posted the 3rd-fastest time in prelims, clocking an 8:19.77. Andrea Becali was huge on the 2nd leg for Cuba, clocking a split of 2:02.34.

MEN’S 4×200 FREESTYLE RELAY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 6:58.55 – United States (2009)
• Pan American Games Record: 7:10.66 – Brazil (2019)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Brazil – 7:22.38
2. Canada – 7:25.45
3. Mexico – 7:30.47
4. United States – 7:32.57
5. Colombia – 7:45.98
6. Venezuela – 7:50.57
7. Chile – 7:58.46

There were only 7 teams that ended up competing in the prelims of the men’s 4×200 free relay this morning, so provided their team didn’t get DQ’d, the swimmers went into this event knowing they would advance to the final. Brazil led the way, clocking a 7:22.38. They dominated heat 1, seeing Luiz Lopes (1:48.32), Fernando Scheffer (1:47.85), Leonardo Coelho (1:53.11), and Felipe de Souza (1:53.10) combine to post the top time.

Canada was 2nd overall, winning the 2nd heat in 7:25.45. Adam Wu (1:51.12), Alexander Axon (1:50.50), Blake Tierney (1:51.76), and Raben Dommann (1:52.07) teamed up this morning.

Mexico finished 3rd in 7:30.47, while the U.S. posted a 7:32.57 for 4th.