2024 Pro Swim Series – San Antonio: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

2024 TYR PRO SWIM SERIES – SAN ANTONIO

Day 3 Finals Heat Sheets

Happy Friday everyone, and weclome back for the third night of finals at the San Antonio Pro Swim Series stop. We’ve had two great days of racing so far and based on prelims, it looks like we won’t be slowing down tonight.

Order of Events

• Women’s 200 freestyle
• Men’s 200 freestyle
• Women’s 200 backstroke
• Men’s 200 backstroke
• Women’s 400 IM
• Men’s 400 IM
• Women’s 100 fly
• Men’s 100 fly

Katie Ledecky meant business during the 200 freestyle prelims, turning in a 1:56.72 and securing lane 4 for the final tonight. She’ll be flanked by Anna Peplowski, who continued her 2023 breakout in the yards pool this NCAA season. Now back in long-course meters, Peplowski swam 1:57.93 in prelims. Behind her, there are four 1:58s including the Tokyo silver medalist Siobhan Haughey, who won the 100 free last night.

Haughey’s got a double tonight, sneaking into the 100 butterfly final in eighth. We’ve seen Haughey develop her breaststroke speed up to the international level and now she’s showing even more versatility by making this butterfly final. Top seed is the fastest woman in the yards edition of the race, Gretchen Walsh. Walsh just missed her lifetime best in prelims with a 56.41.

The 100 fly is another stacked field as G. Walsh will contend with Torri Huske, Regan Smith, and Claire Curzan for the win.

Caeleb Dressel won the 100 free last night from lane 8. He’ll be more centrally located for tonight’s 100 fly final. Dressel qualified 2nd in 51.41. He sits less than two-tenths from top qualifier Hubert Kos and something to watch for is his back end speed, which has been one of his strengths across his events since his return to competition.

Leon Marchand, newly-turned professional, will aim for his second win of the meet tonight, this time in his signature event: the 400 IM. Marchand cruised to the top time of the morning in 4:18.47, over a second ahead of his training partner Chase Kalisz. Like yesterday’s 200 fly, the 400 IM is shaping up to be all about the Sun Devil training partners; in addition to Marchand and Kalisz, Jay Litherland is holding down the 3rd seed (4:20.37).

WOMEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – Finals

• World Record: 1:52.85, Mollie O’Callaghan (2023)
• American Record: 1:53.61, Allison Schmitt (2012)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 1:54.13, Summer McIntosh (2023)
• U.S Open Record: 1:54.13, Summer McIntosh (2023)

Top 8:

1. Siobhan Haughey (HKG) — 1:54.52
2. Katie Ledecky (GSC) — 1:54.97
3. Anna Peplowski (IU) — 1:56.99
4. Paige Madden (NYAC) — 1:57.25
5. Erin Gemmell (UN) — 1:57.98
6. Nicole Maier (UN) — 1:58.39
7. Simone Manuel (UN) — 1:59.25
8. Anastasia Gorbenko (UN) — 1:59.25

Siobhan Haughey led the women’s 200 freestyle from start to finish in San Antonio, collecting her second win of the meet. She swam 1:54.52 to win, which is faster than she went to claim gold at the 2024 World Championships (1:54.89).

Haughey opened the race in 26.95, opening up a lead as the only woman in the field sub-27 on the opening length. She flipped at the 100 mark in 55.78, under world record pace (where she often is at this point of the race). On the final 50 meters, Haughey held of a charge from top qualifier Katie Ledecky. Ledecky split 29.18 on the final 50 meters but ran out of room to catch Haughey.

Ledecky finished .45 seconds behind Haughey in a season-best 1:54.97. That’s her first sub-1:56 swim of the season.

Anna Peplowski swam a personal best to take 3rd. She swam 1:56.99, shaving three-hundredths off her personal best time. Paige Madden, who won the 1500 and finished 2nd in the 400 at this meet, finished 4th in 1:57.25.

MEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – Finals

• World Record: 1:42.00, Paul Biedermann (2009)
• American Record: 1:42.96, Michael Phelps (2008)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 1:44.82, Sun Yang (2016)
• U.S Open Record: 1:44.10, Michael Phelps (2008)

Top 8:

1. Rafael Miroslaw (IU) — 1:46.11
2. Carson Foster (RAYS) — 1:46.58
3. Kieran Smith (RAC) — 1:47.41
4. Luca Urlando (DART) — 1:47.42
5. Grant House (UN) — 1:47.51
6. Drew Kibler (NYAC) — 1:47.58
7. Lucas Henveaux (CAL) — 1:47.63
8. Murilo Sartori (UOFL) — 1:48.33

Indiana’s Rafael Miroslaw jumped on the men’s 200 freestyle from the start. Miroslaw, who represents Germany internationally, opened in 24.03 then continued to press his advantage and flipped at the 100 in 50.36. At the halfway point, he was 1.47 seconds ahead of Carson Foster.

Miroslaw held on to the lead for the rest of the race. He had to fight to hold off everyone else, as at 28.04 he had the slowest closing 50 meters of anyone else in the field. Miroslaw’s 1:46.11 is a solid in-season time for him, not too far away from the season-best 1:45.84 that he swam at 2024 Worlds.

Foster sat in second for the entire race. He touched .47 seconds back from Miroslaw with a 1:46.58, which is a new season-best for him.

Kieran Smith took third in 1:47.41. He was able to get his hand on the wall a hundredth ahead of Luca Urlando, who cut through the field on the final 50 meters with a 27.25 split to move from 6th to 4th.

WOMEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – Finals

• World Record: 2:03.14, Kaylee McKeown (2023)
• American Record: 2:03.35, Regan Smith (2019)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 2:03.99, Regan Smith (2024)
• U.S Open Record: 2:03.80, Regan Smith (2023)

Top 8:

1. Regan Smith (UN) — 2:05.46
2. Phoebe Bacon (WISC) — 2:07.24
3. Claire Curzan (UN) — 2:07.64
4. Rhyan White (WOLF) — 2:09.35
5. Kennedy Noble (NCS) — 2:09.44
6. Aviv Barzelay (TAMU) — 2:11.89
7. Roos Rottink (MTAC) — 2:13.30
8. Mabel Koff (NBAC) — 2:14.10

The trend so far this session in San Antonio is put yourself in the lead early and hold on for the win. First it was Haughey, then it was Miroslaw, and in the 200 backstroke it was Regan Smith‘s turn. Smith powered out to the lead with a 29.34 opening 50, then followed up in 31.13. That gave her a 100 split of 1:00.47 and a lead of 1.24 seconds ahead of Phoebe Bacon.

Smith continued to grow her lead over Bacon on the third 50 with a 32.29, then came home in 32.70 for an overall time of 2:05.46. Earlier this season in Westmont, Smith set the Pro Swim Series record at 2:03.99.

Bacon finished second in 2:07.24, improving from the 2:07.49 that she swam at the U.S. Open in December 2023. Bacon kept herself ahead of Claire Curzan down the stretch; Curzan touched four-tenths behind Bacon in 2:07.64.

MEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – Finals

• 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)
• U.S Open Record: 1:53.08, Aaron Peirsol (2009)

Top 8:

1. Hunter Tapp (WOLF) — 1:58.52
2. Jack Aikins (UN) — 1:58.81
3. Gavin Keogh (FAC) — 1:59.19
4. David Gerchik (UN) — 1:59.98
5. Hayden Kwan (USC) — 2:00.45
6. Baylor Stanton (GA) — 2:01.70
7. Nico Garcia (VT) — 2:02.30
8. Michael Hochwalt (SWAT) — 2:04.01

Though this race looked like it was going to be all Jack Aikins, Hunter Tapp had something to say about that on the final 50.

Aikins held a big lead coming off the final turn, but Tapp absolutely charged, splitting 29.64. He went by Aikins as they passed under the flags, earning the win in a season-best time of 1:58.52. Like many swimmers at this meet, Tapp is making a quick turn around from the yards-meet NCAA Championships and long-course is really where he shines.

Aikins led through the first 150 meters of the race, splitting 27.58/29.65/30.51. He held a .47 second lead over Gavin Keogh as he made the final turn, but it wasn’t enough to withstand Tapp’s surge.

Aikins finished with a 1:58.81, splitting 30.98 on the final 50 which did the job to keep him ahead of Keogh. This was a huge swim for Keogh, a high school junior committed to NC State. Keogh broke the 2:00 barrier for the first time, popping a 1:59.19 to round out the podium. His previos best stood at 2:00.64 from August 2023.

WOMEN’S 400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – Finals

• World Record: 4:25.87, Summer McIntosh (2023)
• American Record: 4:31.12, Katie Hoff (2008)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 4:31.07, Katinka Hosszu (2015)
• U.S Open Record: 4:28.61, Summer McIntosh (2022)

Top 8:

1. Anastasia Gorbenko (UN) — 4:38.89
2. Sydney Pickrem (AGS) — 4:44.16
3. Ella Nelson (UVA) — 4:45.08
4. Bailey Andison (CAMO) — 4:46.35
5. Giulia Goerigk (TAMU) — 4:46.81
6. Caroline Bricker (UN) — 4:50.27
7. Lucy Bell (UN) — 4:50.29
8. Applejean Gwinn (SAND) — 4:51.48

After our streak of swimmers leading from wire-to-wire was broken in the men’s 200 backstroke, we picked it right back up in the women’s 400 IM. Anastasia Gorbenko, who picked up the silver medal in this event at 2024 Worlds, didn’t waste any time in this San Antonio final.

Gorbenko opened in a 1:03.05 butterfly, then followed up with 1:13.08/1:18.29/1:04.47. She touched in 4:38.89, about a second and a half off her PB from 2024 Worlds.

Sydney Pickrem took second place, 5.27 seconds behind Gorbenko. Pickrem clocked 4:44.16, making her move to pass Virginia’s Ella Nelson on the tail end of the breaststroke leg with a 1:05.61 split. There was a delay on the results being made official as officials reviewed Nelson’s swim for a potential disqualification. No DQ was made, and Nelson held on to 3rd place in a season-best 4:45.08.

MEN’S 400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – Finals

• World Record: 4:02.50, Leon Marchand (2023)
• American Record: 4:03.84, Michael Phelps (2008)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 4:07.80, Leon Marchand (2023)
• U.S Open Record: 4:05.25, Michael Phelps (2008)

Top 8:

1. Leon Marchand (UN) — 4:11.21
2. Chase Kalisz (UN) — 4:12.45
3. Jay Litherland (UN) — 4:16.61
4. Bobby Finke (SPA) — 4:18.04
5. Danny Berlitz (WVU) — 4:20.93
6. Tommy Bried (UOFL) — 4:23.01
7. Grant Sanders (FAST) — 4:29.22
8. Michael Hochwalt (SWAT) — 4:30.61

Say it with me now: Leon Marchand led the entire way in the men’s 400 IM. Marchand picked up the win in the 200 butterfly yesterday, and now he’s added the 400 IM to his collection in San Antonio.

Marchand kicked things off with a 56.23 butterfly leg, leading Chase Kalisz‘s 56.94. They were the only two to take the race out under 57 seconds, putting themselves ahead of Jay Litherland‘s 57.23.

Marchand widened his lead on the backstroke leg, splitting 1:04.21. Then, he swam 1:10.09/1:00.68 on the back half of the race. He touched in 4:11.21, which puts him into the top 10 in the world this season at 9th.

Each of the top three swimmers in this race were largely in their own races. 1.24 seconds behind Marchand, Kalisz finished second in 4:12.45. Then it was Litherland for thirdin 4:16.61, more than four seconds behind Kalisz with a 4:16.61.

WOMEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – Finals

• World Record: 55.48, Sarah Sjostrom (2016)
• American Record: 55.64, Torri Huske (2022)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 56.13, Torri Huske (2024)
• U.S Open Record: 55.66, Torri Huske (2021)

Top 8:

1. Torri Huske (AAC) — 55.68 *Pro Swim Series Record*
2. Gretchen Walsh (UVA) — 56.14
3. Claire Curzan (UN) — 57.67
4. Regan Smith (UN) — 57.93
5. Alex Walsh (UVA) — 57.95
6. Beata Nelson (WISC) — 58.41
7. Siobhan Haughey (HKG) — 58.64
8. Kelly Pash (UN) — 58.67

Torri Huske put together a huge swim for her in the women’s 100 butterfly. It was Gretchen Walsh who led the field at the turn, splitting 25.84. Huske was running second with a 25.96. The two had already separated themselves from the rest of the field, as Beata Nelson was 3rd at the turn in 27.02.

Huske made her move on the second half of the race. She split 29.72 on the way home, pushing ahead for the win in a speedy 55.68. Not only does that swim lower her own Pro Series Record by .45 seconds, it’s also just .04 seconds off her American record from 2022.

This is also Huske’s first 55-point outing since 2022, which she pointed out herself in her post-race interview as she affirmed that she was pleased with the time.

For her part, Walsh turned in a personal best of 56.14. That chops two-tenths off her personal best, which stood at 56.34 from June 2023. That time makes her the third-fastest American all-time in the event.

On the second swim of her 200 backstroke/100 butterfly double, Curzan finished third in 57.63.

MEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – Finals

Top 8:

1. Caeleb Dressel (GSC) / Hubert Kos (UN) — 50.84
2. (tie)
3. Eric Friese (GSC) — 51.84
4. Bjoern Kammann (TENN) — 52.45
5. Youssef Ramadan (VT) — 52.59
6. Zach Harting (CARD) — 52.94
7. Finn Brooks (IU) — 53.26
8. Tobias Schulrath (GER) — 53.36

That was an exciting race to finish out this session. In lane 4, Hubert Kos was first to the 50-meter mark in 23.70. He was followed by Finn Brooks (23.89) and Eric Friese (24.18). Caeleb Dressel was back in fifth with a 24.37 opening split.

Dressel pushed the back half of the race. He powered through the field with a 26.47 closing split–the fastest in the field by .67 seconds. He pulled even with Kos and at the touch, there was nothing separating the pair. Both stopped the clock at 50.84, which is the third fastest time in the world this season.

It’s a strong swim for both swimmers. For Kos, it’s a lifetime best, beating the 51.23 that he put up in prelims and breaking 51 seconds for the first time. He came into the day with a 51.33 PB from the 2022 European Championships.

And for Dressel, it’s another time that’s his best since returning to the sport. He was 51.27 at the Westmont Pro Series, so this is his first time sub-51 since his return. He just keeps improving; his win in the 100 free last night (48.40) was also his fastest since getting back to racing.

Eric Friese, another Gator, took third in 51.84 and was the only other swimmer in the field to break 52 seconds in the final.