The 2026 Pan Pacific Championships kicked off from the Wollett Aquatic Center in Irvine, California on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
The Day One events are the 50 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 200 butterfly as well as the men’s 800 and women’s 1500 free slower heats.
There were several meet records and several tough-luck third-place finishes for some of the world’s elite swimmers.
Here is a look at the women’s events on Day One:
Women’s 50 Butterfly
Kate Douglass became the third woman to break 25 seconds, setting the meet record in 24.99. It stood for one heat as Gretchen Walsh went a 24.91 in the final prelims heat.
The U.S. duo knocked Torri Huske out as only two can make it from each country as Douglass joined Walsh and Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom as the only three to break 25 seconds.
They were the top two finalists.
Australia’s Alex Perkins took the third spot in 25.57, while Canada’s Taylor Ruck won the first heat to take the fourth seed overall in 25.61.
South Africa’s Erin Gallagher was fifth at 25.64, followed by Japan’s Rikako Ikee (25.90), Huske (26.19) and Canada’s Leilani Fack (26.47).
New Zealand’s Zoe Pedersen takes the final A final spot.
Pan Pacific: Women’s 200 Freestyle
Australia’s Lani Pallister pulled away in the final meters to take the top seed in the 200 free in a loaded field.
The Dolphins star got to the wall in 1:55.29.
New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather took the second seed in 1:55.53.
The top U.S. performer in the morning was Anna Peplowski , who took the third seed in 1:55.85, touching out Canada’s Summer McIntosh (1:55.85) in their heat.
USA’s Erin Gemmell took the second finals spot with the sixth seed (1:55.88), ahead of Rylee Erisman (1:56.00), who will be in the B final
Australia’s Milla Jansen is in the final, along with Brazil’s Maria Costa and Stephanie Balduccini.
Pan Pacific: Women’s 100 Backstroke
This is the tough part about Pan Pacs. U.S. star Claire Curzan threw down a 58.21 in the second prelims heat to break the meet record.
Katharine Berkoff responded by breaking the meet record in the next heat, getting to the wall in 58.09.
That also lasted for one heat as Regan Smith went a 57.86 to break the mark and send Curzan to the B final.
They were the top three finishers.
Canada’s Taylor Ruck was fourth but will take the third seed into finals with a very strong 58.58.
Leah Shackley, Rylee Erisman and Phoebe Bacon all were in the top eight but will not swim in the A final, either.
Pan Pacific: Women’s 200 Butterfly
Another 1-2-3 event for the U.S., leaving a hard-luck swimmer in the B final.
Alex Shackell (2:06.68) took the top seed , while Tess Howley was second in 2:07.13.
Caroline Bricker was the tough-luck third place for the U.S., going a 2:09.20.
Australia took the next two with Brittany Castelluzzo (2:09.27) and Elizabeth Dekkers (2:09.38).
