2024 Pro Swim Series – San Antonio: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

2024 TYR PRO SWIM SERIES – SAN ANTONIO

• April 10-13, 2024
• Northside Swim Center, San Antonio, TX
• LCM (50m)
• Start Times
  • Wednesday Distance: 5pm (Central Time)
  • All Prelims: 9am (Central Time)
  • Thurs-Sat Finals: 6pm (Central Time)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Livestream (USA Swimming Network)
• Day 1 Finals Live Recap

Thursday Prelims Heat Sheet

The first prelim session of the 2024 San Antonio Pro Swim Series will feature the 100 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, and 400 freestyle.

Session Preview:

The women’s 100 free will kick off the session and it may be the deepest field of the morning. Siobhan Haughey comes in as the top seeded entrant and has medaled in the event at every major international meet that she’s contested since the Tokyo Olympics. Reigning National Champion and Pro Swim Series record holder Kate Douglass will also be in the mix. Douglass won the Knoxville stop of the 2024 Pro Series in 53.12 before posting her season best time (53.02) at February’s World Championship meet.

American record holder Simone Manuel will line-up for the heats today as well, and she’s coming off a win at the Westmont Pro Swim Series stop (53.35). Torri Huske, Abbey Weitzeil, Gretchen Walsh, and Claire Curzan are additional names to watch for within this loaded event.

The men’s 100 free won’t be quite as deep, but there are still many athletes present that may contend for the Olympic team in a few months time. American record holder Caeleb Dressel is one of those names, and he recently clocked a time of 48.57 at the Westmont Pro Swim Series stop, his fastest performance since returning to the sport in early 2023. Sub-48 swimmers like Hunter Armstrong, Ryan Held, and Matt King will also be among the pack along with up-and-comers Maximus Williamson and Jonny Kulow.

World record holder Lilly King will be front-and-center in the women’s 100 breast, but she’ll have to fend off defending Olympic Champion Lydia Jacoby, assuming they both safely advance to tonight’s final. USC Trojan Kaitlyn Dobler (1:05.48), who had a big breakthrough at last summer’s U.S. World Championship Trials, will also be in the mix. Kate Douglass, more known for her 200 breaststroke, will also feature in the event alongside 2022 Worlds medalist Anna Elendt.

The men’s 100 breast will include the newly-minted World Champion, Nic Fink. Fink, who is training at SMU in the lead-up to Olympic Trials, will go head-to-head with American record holder Michael Andrew if both advance to the A-final. Rising contenders Noah Nichols (59.40) and Matt Fallon (59.92) may also look to make a statement.

After breaking Summer McIntosh’s Pro Swim Series record last month, Regan Smith is the clear headline of the women’s 200 butterfly. Smith, who blasted a new American record (2:03.87) in June, notched a time of 2:04.80 last month in Westmont. Behind her, 2:06-swimmers Dakota Luther and Tess Howley will have to contend with 4th seed Lindsay Looney, who represented Team USA at the Fukuoka World Championships in July. The men’s 200 fly field is led by Leon Marchand, who trains with both Smith and Looney. Marchand won gold in this event at the World Championships last July (1:52.43).

The 400 free will cap off the session, where Katie Ledecky and Guilherme Costa are the top seeds. Ledecky scratched out of Wednesday’s 1500 free but has confirmed that she is swimming the remainder of her events.

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 – Kate Douglass (2024) & Sarah Sjostrom (2016)
• US Open Record: 52.54 – Simone Manuel (2018)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Siobhan Haughey (HKG) – 53.67
2. Simone Manuel (SUN) – 53.88
3. Torri Huske (AAC) – 53.91
4. Gretchen Walsh (UVA) – 54.00
5. Kate Douglass (NYAC) – 54.08
6. Abbey Weitzeil (CAL) – 54.11
7. Catie Deloof (NYAC) – 54.82
8. Erin Gemmell (TEX) – 54.92

The fastest time from the women’s 100 freestyle heats was produced by Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey. She claimed victory in the final heat with a time of 53.67. The 26-year-old athlete, who trains under the guidance of Tom Rushton, flipped through the first 50 in 25.55 before easing up over the closing 50 (28.12). Haughey has been a mainstay on the international scene in this event over the past several years, highlighted by silver medals at the 2021 Olympics, 2023 World Championships, and 2024 World Championships. Haughey is the third-fastest swimmer in 100m freestyle history, courtesy of her 52.02 from the Berlin World Cup stop in October of 2023.

Two additional competitors joined Haughey in the sub-54 club, with American record holder Simone Manuel (53.88) leading the way ahead of Stanford’s Torri Huske (53.91) by 0.03. Manuel and Huske punched a 1-2 finish at the previous Pro Swim Series stop in Westmont, where Manuel notched a time of 53.35 and Huske checked-in at 53.39. Both Manuel and Huske didn’t break 54-seconds during their heats swim at that meet, so this morning was a promising sign.

UVA training partners Gretchen Walsh (54.00) and Kate Douglass (54.08) will also line-up for tonight’s A-final. Walsh is coming off a historic NCAA Championship (SCY) meet last month while Douglass is competing for the first time since February’s World Championship meet. At the Knoxville Pro Swim Series stop in January, Douglass turned in a time of 53.12 to equal Sarah Sjostrom’s 2016 Pro Swim Series record in this very event.

Cal-trained veteran Abbey Weitzeil was 6th overall this morning at 54.11. The 27-year-old opened in 26.11 before closing in 28.00. Tokyo Olympian Catie Deloof (54.82) and Texas-trained Erin Gemmell (54.92) all snuck into the championship final.

Claire Curzan, who swept the backstroke events at the recent Doha World Championships, was 14th this morning at 55.25. 21-year-old Maxine Parker, who trains alongside Curzan, Walsh, and Douglass, touched at 13th in 55.15. Parker made her senior debut for Team USA at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka.

Katharine Berkoff (55.55), Alex Walsh (55.60), Taylor Ruck (55.61), and Olivia Smoliga (55.70) were also in the pool this morning. They all booked tickets to tonight’s C-final.

MEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 46.80 – Pan Zhanle (2024)
• 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:

1. Rafael Miroslaw (IU) – 48.77
2. Luis Dominguez Calonge (VT) – 48.85
3. Peter Varjasi (GER) – 48.89
4. Jonny Kulow (SUN) – 48.93
5. Ryan Held (NYAC) – 48.95
6. Andrej Barna (CARD) – 49.03
7. Matt King (TFA) – 49.09
8. Caeleb Dressel (GSC) – 49.10

20-year-old Owen McDonald, who represented ASU this past season but has entered the transfer portal, scorched a big best time to win heat 6. He touched the wall in 49.28, which obliterated his previous marker of 50.65 from October. More known as a backstroke and IM specialist, this swim bodes well for McDonald’s meet, as he’s also entered in the 200 free and 200 IM.

McDonald’s training mate, 2023 200 back World Champion Hubert Kos, turned in a 9th place effort (49.19) to win heat 9. It was a big best time for the 21-year-old who never broke 50-seconds prior to today.

Indiana’s Rafael Miroslaw was the fastest qualifier though with his time of 48.77. He led a group of five sub-49 swimmers, with Luis Dominguez Calonge (48.85) touching out Peter Varjasi (48.89), Jonny Kulow (48.93), and Ryan Held (48.95).

The final three individuals that advanced to the championship final were Andrej Barna (49.03), Matt King (49.09), and Caeleb Dressel (49.10). King represented Team USA on the 4×100 free relay at both the 2023 and 2024 World Championship meets, where he walked away with bronze on both occasions. Defending Olympic champion Dressel owns a comeback-best of 48.57, which could put him in contention for the win tonight.

Also competing today: Patrick Sammon (12th — 49.32), Santo Condorelli (15th — 49.38), Justin Ress (18th — 49.51), Kaii Winkler (21st — 49.72), Drew Kibler (22nd — 49.85), Hunter Armstrong (26th — 49.93), Maximus Williamson (39th — 50.29), and Shaine Casas (40th — 50.33).

WOMEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 1:04.13 – Lilly King (2017)
• American Record: 1:04.13 – Lilly King (2017)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 1:05.32 – Lilly King (2021)
• US Open Record: 1:04.45 – Jessica Hardy (2009)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Lydia Jacoby (TEX) – 1:06.76
2. Anna Elendt (TEX) – 1:06.81
3. Kate Douglass (NYAC) – 1:07.57
4. Emma Weber (UVA) – 1:07.67
5. Kaitlyn Dobler (USC) – 1:07.88
6. Macarena Ceballos (ARG) & Lilly King (ISC) – 1:07.90
7. –
8. Sydney Pickrem (AGS) – 1:08.30

Texas teammates Lydia Jacoby (1:06.76) and Anna Elendt (1:06.81) separated themselves from the 100 breaststroke field this morning. Recording the only sub-1:07 times of the session, they will swim side-by-side in the middle lanes tonight. Both swimmers approached the race quite similarly, as both opened in 31-mid before closing in 35-low.

About 25 minutes after qualifying 5th for the 100 free final, Todd Desorbo-trained Kate Douglass produced the 3rd quickest prelim mark in the 100 breast. Douglass cruised through the first 50 in a comfortable 32.29 before increasing the pace over the closing meters. She finished in 35.28 over the final lap to touch in 1:07.57.

USC Trojan Kaitlyn Dobler, who broke through last June with her 1:05.48 clocking, situated herself 5th overall at 1:07.88. World record holder Lilly King (1:07.90) is lurking in 6th position and will feature in tonight’s A-final as well. King touched for gold at the previous two stops of the Pro Swim Series so she may be seeking a 3-for-3 sweep tonight. King hit a time of 1:05.67 at the Knoxville stop in January before hitting 1:06.68 at the Westmont meet last month.

Emma Weber (1:07.67), Macarena Ceballos (1:07.90), and Sydney Pickrem (1:08.30) also qualified for the championship final in 4th, 6th, and 8th, respectively. Pickrem is having a great season so far as she recently won two individual medals at the Doha World Championships.

MEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 56.88 – Adam Peaty (2019)
• American Record: 58.14 – Michael Andrew (2021)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 58.58 – Adam Peaty (2017)
• US Open Record: 58.14 – Michael Andrew (2021)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Michael Andrew (MASA) – 1:00.22
2. Ron Polonsky (STAN) – 1:00.39
3. Denis Petrashov (UOFL) – 1:00.49
4. Nic Fink (NYAC) – 1:00.54
5. Noah Nichols (UVA) – 1:00.58
6. Matthew Fallon (UPN) – 1:00.62
7. Lyubomir Epitropov (TNAQ) – 1:00.89
8. Tommy Cope (CW) – 1:01.28

American record holder Michael Andrew was dominant in this morning’s penultimate heat, where he stopped the clock in 1:00.22. He was out very quick through the first 50, where he checked-in at 27.87 before gliding home in 32.35. His time held up for the fastest prelim effort.

24-year-old Denis Petrashov (1:00.49) advanced 2nd through to the finals after winning the final heat. World Champion Nic Fink (1:00.54) will join him in the final along with sub-1:01 prelim athletes Noah Nichols (1:00.54), Matthew Fallon (1:00.52), and Lyubomir Epitropov (1:00.89).

Fink recently snagged the gold medal in this event at February’s World Championship meet, while Fallon broke the 1-minute barrier for the first time in December. Fallon is more known for his 200 breast capabilities as he’s an individual World Championship medalist in that distance. Nichols won silver in this 100m distance at the Pan American Games in October.

Tommy Cope (1:01.28) and Andy Dobrzanski (1:01.39) secured their spots in the championship final tonight too.Stanford’s Ron Polonsky swam a promising 1:00.39, which would have ranked 2nd overall, but was ultimately disqualified after the conclusion of the event. Polonsky’s DQ was later overturned about an hour later.

WOMEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 2:01.81 – Zige Liu (2009)
• American Record: 2:03.87 – Regan Smith (2023)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 2:04.80 – Regan Smith (2024)
• US Open Record: 2:03.87 – Regan Smith (2023)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Regan Smith (SUN) – 2:05.92
2. Dakota Luther (TXLA) – 2:09.55
3. Lindsay Looney (SUN) – 2:10.29
4. Emma Sticklen (TEX) – 2:11.45
5. Leah Gingrich (KA) – 2:11.84
6. Kelly Pash (TEX) – 2:11.95
7. Caroline Bricker (STAN) & Tess Howley (UVA) – 2:12.08

Regan Smith was out quick this morning, hitting the 50 meter turn in 27.80 before turning through the 100 in 1:00.12. She grabbed the final heat win in 2:05.92, which is notably 2.28 seconds faster than her prelim time at last month’s Westmont stop. In Westmont, Smith dropped a new Pro Swim Series record (2:04.80) en route to securing a 1st place finish. Last June, she sprinted to a new American record (2:03.87) time at a local meet in Tempe. Smith, who trains under the guidance of Bob Bowman, is coming off an altitude training block along with several other ASU pros.

Lindsay Looney, who also trains with Bowman, was 3rd this morning in 2:10.29. She represented Team USA during the World Championships last July, where she finished 7th in this event. She owns a career-quickest time of 2:07.25 from 2022.

In the first of the circle-seeded heats, Texas’ Emma Sticklen walked away victorious with her 2:11.45 performance. Her teammate Dakota Luther (2:09.55) then improved upon that mark in the penultimate heat. Kelly Pash (2:11.95) made it 3 in the championship final for the Longhorns.

34-year-old Leah Gingrich recorded an effort of 2:11.84 to slot 5th into tonight’s A-final. Gingrich opened the race in 1:04.48 before closing in a swift 1:07.36. She split 32.92 over the third 50 to ensure a ticket to tonight’s final, while also adding splits of 30.42 on the first 50, 34.06 on the second 50, and 34.44 over the final 50.

Stanford’s Caroline Bricker and UVA’s Tess Howley round out the championship final with equal 2:12.08 clockings. Howley has been as fast as 2:06.85 in the event while Bricker just missed her best time of 2:11.92.

MEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – PRELIMS

• 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 Qualifiers:

1. Chase Kalisz (SUN) – 1:57.54
2. Luca Urlando (DART) – 1:57.64
3. Leon Marchand (SUN) – 1:57.65
4. Ilya Kharun (SUN) – 1:57.67
5. Jack Dahlgren (TRI) – 1:58.03
6. Trenton Julian (MVN) – 1:59.02
7. Zach Harting (CARD) – 1:59.15
8. Vili Sivec (CSUB) – 1:59.55

It was a 1-2-3-4 punch for the Arizona State-trained 200 butterfly swimmers in today’s heats session. 30-year-old Chase Kalisz, best known for his 400 IM gold medal performance at the Tokyo Olympics, earned 1st place status going into tonight’s final. He hit the wall in 1:57.54 but his three teammates were all within 0.13 of his top-seeded time.

Pro Swim Series record holder Luca Urlando (1:57.64) garnered himself a win in the final heat, touching out 2023 World Champion Leon Marchand (1:57.65) by 0.01. 19-year-old Ilya Kharun, who owns a lifetime best of 1:53.82, put his hands on the wall in 1:57.67 to win the first circle-seeded heat (and rank 4th overall).

Everyone who broke the 2-minute barrier earned a slot in tonight’s A-final, with 1:59.55 being the cut-off. Jack Dahlgren (1:58.03), Trenton Julian (1:59.02), Zach Harting (1:59.15), and Vili Sivec (1:59.55) were the other four swimmers to make the final. Julian and Harting have both represented Team USA on the international scene, with Julian swimming this event at the 2022 World Championships and Harting repping the Red, White, and Blue at the 2021 Olympics and 2024 Worlds.

WOMEN’S 400 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 3:55.38 – Ariarne Titmus (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 Qualifiers:

1. Katie Ledecky (GSC) – 4:02.72
2. Paige Madden (NYAC) – 4:09.41
3. Jillian Cox (TXLA) – 4:10.31
4. Aurora Roggaur (STAN) – 4:11.19
5. Erin Gemmell (TEX) – 4:11.80
6. Anna Peplowski (IU) – 4:12.90
7. Cavan Gormsen (UVA) – 4:14.03
8. Julia Mrozinski (TENN) – 4:14.05

After bowing out of yesterday’s 1500 freestyle timed final, Florida-trained Katie Ledecky (4:02.72) recorded the fastest 400 free prelim time. She led the field by nearly seven seconds en route to winning the final circle-seeded heat, splitting sub-31 on seven of the eight 50s:

Yesterday’s 1500 winner, Paige Madden, punched the only other sub-4:10 time of the morning. Madden put her hand on the wall in 4:09.41 to win the first circle-seeded heat. She represented Team USA in this event at the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games where she placed 7th in the final. Madden owns a career-best time of 4:03.98 from the heats of those Olympics.

Texas native Jillian Cox logged 4:10.31 for 3rd place status, with Aurora Roghair (4:11.19) and Erin Gemmell (4:11.80) not sitting too far behind her. Cox has been as fast as 4:06.60 in this particular event while Gemmell has been a swift 4:05.07 in the past.

Anna Peplowski, more known for her 200 free prowess, touched 6th this morning in 4:12.90. Cavan Gormsen (4:14.03) and Julia Mrozinski (4:14.05) also ensured A-final qualification via their 7th and 8th place showings.

MEN’S 400 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• 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 Qualifiers:

1. Guilherme Costa (RKF) – 3:49.42
2. Lucas Henveaux (CAL) – 3:49.67
3. Alfonso Mestre (GSC) – 3:49.79
4. Carson Foster (RAYS) – 3:50.27
5. David Johnston (TST) – 3:50.65
6. Ilia Sibirtsev (UOFL) – 3:50.67
7. Kieran Smith (RAC) – 3:51.32
8. Drew Kibler (NYAC) – 3:51.48

25-year-old Brazilian Guilherme Costa (3:49.42) cleared the field in the men’s 400 free heats. The 2022 World Championship bronze medalist took the race out in a strong 1:52.57 through the first 200. He eventually shut things down over the next 150 meters before increasing his rate over the final 50, where he split 27.93 to ensure a heat win.

Lucas Henveaux, who is currently training with the Loughborough group alongside Daniel Wiffen, touched 2nd overall in 3:49.67. Florida pro Alfonso Mestre was the only other swimmer to break the 3:50-barrier (3:49.79). His training partner and Tokyo bronze medalist, Kieran Smith, recorded a morning swim of 3:51.32 for 7th.

Drew Kibler, who won the U.S. Open title in this event back in December, touched 8th in 3:51.48. Former training partners Carson Foster (3:50.27) and David Johnston (3:50.65) also secured spots in the A-final.