USA Swimming Pro Series Stop in Westmont Will Utilize New Format in 100-Meter Events
The next stop of the USA Swimming Pro Series is less than a week away, and the competition in Westmont, Illinois will be the latest to employ the changes to the meet format. In the 100-meter distances of each stroke, a prelims-semifinals-final setup will be utilized, while the men’s and women’s 800 freestyle events will be conducted in a prelims-finals format.
USA Swimming instituted this approach for the 2026 Pro Series in order to provide athletes with additional familiarity with the format used during international competition. During the first Pro Series meet, held in Austin, Texas, the three-round approach was present in the 50-meter events, along with the 200 individual medley.
“In preparation for what’s ahead in LA28, it has become clear we need to create more long-course racing opportunities for our National Team,” said Greg Meehan, Managing Director of the National Team, during the November announcement of the format changes. “This new format at (the) Pro Swim Series meets in 2026 is a great first step by contesting some events in a prelims/semifinals/final format or a prelims/final distance format. It’s especially important in 2026 without a traditional nine-day meet to finish the long-course season.”
The psych sheets for the Westmont stop were released earlier this week, with several Olympic champions committed to a meet that is loaded with top-tier talent. On the men’s side, France’s Leon Marchand and American Caeleb Dressel are slated for multi-event programs, while the United States’ Katie Ledecky and Canadian Summer McIntosh are among the leading women’s athletes scheduled to participate. Ledecky and McIntosh are both entered in the 800 freestyle, where they rank first and second in the all-time rankings.
