Pro Swim Series, Day 2 Prelims: Carson Foster Leads Way in 400 IM
A night after a strong showing in the 200 breaststroke to open the Pro Swim Series stop in Westmont, Carson Foster was back in the water Thursday morning.
The American set the pace in the 400 individual medley, going 4:20.07, the fastest time by nearly four seconds. He’ll have company from Americans Bobby Finke and Shaine Casas in the A final, though Leon Marchand isn’t a part of the IM at this event.
Other action from Illinois on Thursday morning:
Women’s 100 breaststroke
In a battle of Olympic medalists, Kate Douglass led the way in prelims with a time of 1:06.69. She edged Paris bronze-winner Mona McSharry, the Irishwoman going 1:07.01. Sophie Angus was a ways back in 1:08.93 in third for Canada. Two other swimmers broke 1:10, with Argentine Macarena Ceballos fourth in 1:09.69 and Skyler Smith fifth.
On the veteran side of things, Breeja Larson finished seventh in 1:10.43 to make the A final, with Gabby Rose finishing eighth to sneak into the A final in 1:10.60, by .22 seconds.
Men’s 100 breaststroke
Off his win in the 200 breast, Leon Marchand opted out of the 100 breast. That opened the door for Jack Kelly to lead the way in 1:00.87. He was a half-second up on Joshua Staples.
The A final is full of American contenders. Michael Andrew was fourth in 1:01.78, Josh Matheny .03 back and Luke Barr another .06 behind that. The top seed entering the meet, Denis Petrashov, was seventh in 1:01.96, with fellow international veteran Michael Houlie of Tennessee eighth .02 back. The other A finalist is Ian Call, the 17-year-old third in 1:01.69.
Among those missing the A final were AJ Pouch, who was 11th; Canadian Apollo Hess in 12th; and Brian Benzing in 16th.
Women’s 200 butterfly
The 200 fly this time around includes Summer McIntosh but not Regan Smith. McIntosh was quickest in prelims of 2:08.57. She owns the series record of 2:04.00 set 364 days ago.
It’s 2.5 seconds back to Lindsay Looney as the second seed in 2:11.07. Kelsey Zhang was third in 2:13.47. Samantha Banos dropped a rare best time in prelims at 2:14.25 for fourth.
Men’s 200 butterfly
Without Leon Marchand in this event, Gabriel Jett led the way in prelims in 1:57.45, one of seven swimmers under two minutes. Fellow American mainstay Trenton Julian was third in 1:58.85.
In between was 18-year-old Berk Erturk in 1:58.68. Anton Semenyuk, 17, dropped a best time of 1:59.10 for fourth. David Sammons was fifth, a spot ahead of Lucas Henveaux. Jack Dahlgren and Luke Hobson, in 2:00.86 in exiting his comfort zone, round out the A final.
That leaves no place for Dare Rose, who finished ninth. Nor for Harrison Turner, the Aussie who entered as the top seed but finished 10th in 2:01.88.
Women’s 50 backstroke
Isabelle Stadden set a best time in prelims of the 50 back, going 27.42 to lead the way. She had been 27.64 in 2023. She was a tenth ahead of Katharine Berkoff, who entered as the top seed. Ingrid Wilm of Canada was third in 28.19, with Tesse Giele followed in 28.41.
On the comeback trail, Olivia Smoliga was fifth in 28.42. Celia Pulido, Rhyan White and Phoebe Bacon rounded out the top eight, with Bacon in 28.51 to seal it.
Men’s 50 backstroke
Auburn’s Ivan Tarasov led the way in prelims at 25.19, edging his fellow Tiger Kalle Makinen by .13 seconds. Makinen set a best time of 25.32.
Third place went to Bermudian Jack Harvey in 25.40, .01 up on a tie between Michael Andrew and Ruslan Gaziev. Blake Tierney gave Canada a second A finalist in eighth. Top seed entering the meet, Guilherme Basseto, was just 13th in 26.06.
Women’s 400 individual medley
The 400 IM this time around includes Regan Smith but not Summer McIntosh, Smith also eschewing the 50 back for the longer race.
Smith was second in 4:43.34, .15 seconds behind the top seed taken down by Emma Weyant. Agostina Hein of Argentina grabbed the third spot in 4:46.46, with Kayla Han fourth in 4:8.25. Lea Polonsky was sixth, Isabelle Odgers eighth. The fifth time went to 15-year-old Sydney Hardy in 4:51.50.
Men’s 400 individual medley
Carson Foster led the way in the 400 IM with a time of 4:20.07 in an event that was without Leon Marchand. Foster was 4.01 seconds clear of the field, Grant Sanders securing the second time in 4:24.08. Bobby Finke finished third in 4:26.16, less than four tenths up on Max Matteazzi.
Fifth was Shaine Casas in 4:27.08. Stephan Steverink of Brazil was sixth.
