Pro Series Westmont, Day 4 Prelims: Summer McIntosh Cruises to Top Seed in 200 IM
One day of racing remains at the USA Swimming Pro Series stop in Westmont (Ill.), and if the first three days of competition are any indicator, Saturday’s action should be enticing. Already, the meet has featured a 1:53.80 clocking from Summer McIntosh in the 200-meter freestyle and a pair of victories from Chris Guiliano between the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle. Meanwhile, Australian Sam Short has been dominant in the distance-freestyle events, with the 400 freestyle – his best event – still to come.
In the women’s 100 butterfly, world-record holder Gretchen Walsh ripped a pair of 55-second performances during the preliminaries and semifinals, and is set up to make a run at a sub-55 marker during the final. Before Walsh once again takes aim at the 100 fly, she is slated to race the prelims of the 50 freestyle on Saturday morning. The final prelims session of the meet will also include competition in the 200 individual medley, 50 breaststroke and 400 freestyle.
Here’s an event-by-event recap of Saturday’s prelims:
- Live Results
- Day 1 Prelims Recap
- Day 1 Finals Recap
- Day 2 Prelims Recap
- Day 2 Finals Recap
- Day 3 Prelims Recap
- Day 3 Finals Recap
Women’s 200 Individual Medley
World-record holder Summer McIntosh, the reigning Olympic and world champion in the event, eased through her morning swim with a top-seeded mark of 2:12.13. McIntosh has already won the 200 butterfly and 200 freestyle in Westmont, the latter event in a U.S. Open record of 1:53.80. McIntosh was followed in prelims by Agostina Hein, with the 17-year-old from Argentina registering a swim of 2:14.77, slightly quicker than the 2:14.96 from American Phoebe Bacon.
Men’s 200 Individual Medley
Finlay Knox made it a pair of Canadians in the top-seeded spot for the finals of the 200 IM. Following Summer McIntosh’s performance in women’s action, Knox went 2:01.60 to lead the men’s field into the evening. Luke Barr (2:02.32) and Carson Foster (2:02.34) followed Knox, with Foster seeking to back up his previous victory in the 400 IM.
Women’s 50 Breaststroke
Skylar Smith of North Carolina was the sole swimmer to crack the 31-second barrier in the 50 breaststroke, as she landed the top seed for the final in 30.79. Ireland’s Mona McSharry, coming off a runnerup finish in the 100 breaststroke, touched the wall in 31.17 for the second-fastest time of the morning, ahead of the 31.54 by Breeja Larson.
Men’s 50 Breaststroke
With the 50-meter stroke events on his radar as the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles creep closer, Michael Andrew was quickest in the morning in the 50 breaststroke. Andrew checked in at 27.00, followed by South African Michael Houlie in 27.11. Denis Petrashov, who won the 100 breaststroke on Friday night, qualified third in 27.36.
Women’s 400 Freestyle
As expected, Katie Ledecky had no trouble posting the fastest time of the session in the 400 freestyle. With wins in the 800 freestyle and 1500 freestyle already collected, Ledecky moved through the morning over eight laps in 4:03.44 and will be the overwhelming favorite to claim the title at night. Maria Fernanda Costa of Brazil was second-fastest in prelims, behind an effort of 4:12.83.
Men’s 400 Freestyle
Lucas Henveaux will be in the middle of the pool for the final of the 400 freestyle, thanks to a prelims performance of 3:51.98, which comfortably handed him the top seed. Australian Sam Short had the second-fastest time, going 3:53.15 and will try to add to prior wins in the 800 freestyle and 1500 free. Also moving on to the final was Luke Hobson (3:53.48) in third and Kieran Smith (3:53.83) in fourth.
Women’s 50 Freestyle
Gretchen Walsh and Rylee Erisman broke the 25-second barrier during heats of the 50 freestyle, with Walsh posting the fastest time in 24.51. Erisman, a 16-year-old rising star from Florida, turned in a performance of 24.94. Earlier in the meet, Erisman was the runnerup in the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle. Veteran Olivia Smoliga qualified third in the 50 free with a mark of 25.07.
Men’s 50 Freestyle
Nikita Sheremet and Chris Guiliano paced the field in the 50 freestyle, as both athletes went sub-22 during their morning efforts. Sheremet, a standout at Louisville, notched the top time of the session with a 21.80 mark. Guiliano was just behind in 21.86 and will try for a 50-100-200 sweep during the finals.