2026 Speedo Fort Lauderdale Open: Day 2 Prelims

2026 Speedo Fort Lauderdale Open

Day 2 Prelims Heat Sheet

Good morning, Swim Fans, and welcome to the primary full day of occasions on the 2026 Speedo Fort Lauderdale Open. We had an thrilling session final night time, with Katie Ledecky swimming the fifth quickest time ever within the 1500, going 15:25.62, whereas her coaching associate and fellow World Record holder Bobby Finke was upset as Harvard first-year and Shawmut Aquatic Club’s William Mulgrew took the boys’s race by over 8 seconds.

This morning, the trio return to the water with Ledecky because the #2 seed within the 400 free. She will probably be seeking to submit a robust time to set herself as much as as soon as once more duel rival Summer McIntosh, who’s entered as the highest seed. Finke and Mulgrew every will seem within the final warmth, coming into because the third and fifth seeds, respectively, with every flanking the top-seeded Kieran Smith.

However, now we have loads of occasions with loads of stars to get via earlier than we begin the 400 freestyles. The morning kicks off with a run of dash occasions because the 100 free, 100 breast, and 50 again kick issues off. New York Athletic Club and Virginia’s Kate Douglass has a tricky morning double as she enters because the #2 seed within the 100 free, and because the prime seed within the 100 breast. The five-time Olympic medalists received’t be capable to coast this morning within the 100 free, as the sphere is loaded with the USA’s finest sprinters, as Simone Manuel, the American Record holder, is the highest seed. Manuel isn’t the lone swimmer for Douglass to control, as coaching companions Gretchen Walsh, Anna Moesch, and Madi Mintenko are all within the warmth earlier than, and Claire Curzan is within the warmth after. While eyes will probably be drawn to Walsh, as one of many quickest sprinters, look out for Moesch, who dropped over a second within the yards model of this occasion this previous NCAA season.

Douglass returns shortly with the 100 breaststroke as the following ladies’s occasion, and will probably be seeking to put up a time to safe a spot within the finals in opposition to the likes of Mona McSharry, Eneli Jefimova, and Emma Weber. She isn’t alone with a double on the morning as Gretchen Walsh and Claire Curzan each return to the water within the 50 again, going up in opposition to the American Record holder Katharine Berkoff. However, their double pales compared to Alex Walsh‘s, who’s the fifth seed within the 100 breaststroke and the thirty sixth seed within the 200 fly. Seeded with the quickest yards time within the occasion, Walsh could have simply the 50 again heats in between her occasions, however might simply put up a time that slots her into the A-final among the many likes of Regan Smith and Tess Howley. One-upping Walsh, with a grimy double, is her fellow UVA-based swimmer, Katie Grimes, who’s scheduled to tackle the 200 fly and 400 free again to again.

The males’s facet is equally chock-full of stars, as Caeleb Dressel leads a robust 100 free discipline that features fellow Olympians Chris Guiliano and Shaine Casas, in addition to 2025 World Champion medalist Patrick Sammon. The 2026 NCAA champion on this occasion, Josh Liendo, is slated to swim in Dressel’s warmth,  as is fellow Canadian Ruslan Gaziev, so search for the Canadians to push Dressel up and down the pool.

The males’s 100 breaststroke has just one swimmer entered underneath 1:00, with Jack Kelly main the best way, however with the occasion wide-open for the American males, search for somebody like Ian Call or Jordan Willis to attempt to make a transfer and set themselves up for a run for subsequent yr’s World Championship workforce. The 100 breast additionally accommodates some surprises, with Hubert Kos showing within the occasion because the fifth seed. A powerful backstroker and IMer, the Hungarian,  returns to the water shortly as the highest seed within the 50 again, the place he’ll tackle coaching associate Shaine Casas.

While Dressel, Kos, and Casas are large attracts, the boys’s 200 fly will probably be Leon Marchand‘s first appearance this weekend and is sure to draw some attention. Last year, the Frenchman returned to competition at this meet after some time off to recover from injury, but he now appears to be in good standing as he prepares for this summer’s European Championships. Marchand is the highest seed by a large margin, however must be arrange tonight for a very good race in opposition to his coaching associate, Carson Foster, in addition to Mitchell Schott, who is about to hitch the pair in Austin after graduating from Princeton.

Women’s 100 Freestyle – Prelims

• World Record: 51.71 – Sarah Sjöström, SWE (2017)
• American Record: 52.04 – Simone Manuel (2019)
• U.S. Open Record: 52.43 – Tori Huske, USA (2025)

Top 8:

1. Gretchen Walsh (NYAC) – 53.64
2. Anna Moesch (GSYC) – 53.69
3. Kate Douglass (NYAC) – 54.04
4. Simone Manuel (TXLA) – 54.41
5. Erin Gemmell (TXLA) – 54.43
6. Nikolett Padar (TXLA) – 54.73
7. Rylee Erisman (LAKR) – 54.86
8. Erika Pelaez (NCS) – 54.87

Well, they are saying good issues come to those that wait, and tonight’s last appears to be a very good one because the UVA-based swimmers Gretchen Walsh, Anna Moesch, and Kate Douglass will occupy the center lanes and hope to fend off the squad from Texas.

Walsh posted a really fast 53.64 to earn the highest seed, opening in 25.61 and shutting in 28.03. The time, whereas practically a second off her seed, is a really robust efficiency and a very good indicator that she has extra in reserve for tonight, as she posted a season-best time, as she didn’t swim this occasion on the Westmont Pro Swim Series and was 54.02 on the China Open. What’s much more telling is that Walsh is primed for a robust swim; final yr at this meet, she was 54.09 in prelims earlier than going 52.90 in finals.

The 23-year-old isn’t the one one primed for an enormous drop from this morning, as her coaching associate Anna Moesch got here inside .15 of her finest time as she stopped the clock at 53.69. Moesch took the race out slower than Walsh, going 26.15 on the primary 50, however used her 200 prowess to shut in 27.54 to earn the 2nd seed. Moesch hasn’t swum the occasion as a lot as Walsh, Douglass or Manuel, and hasn’t posted a time since final summer time when she went an equal 53.69 in prelims at Natonals earlier than ending sixth within the finals along with her PB of 53.54.

Surrounding the highest two tonight will probably be two of the quickest Americans, as Douglass completed third and Manuel in 4th. The pair are each a bit again of the highest two, ending in 54.04 and 54.41, respectively, however ought to every be simply capable of get underneath 54.00, as Manuel was 54.87 within the Westmont prelims earlier than going 53.88 in finals, an occasion the place Douglass went from 54.97 to a profitable time of 53.45.

Men’s 100 Freestyle – Prelims

Top 8:

1. Chris Guiliano (TXLA) – 48.48
2. Patrick Sammon (NYAC)/Tomas Navikonis (OSU) – 48.90
4. Dylan Carter (AZFL) – 49.07
5. Josh Liendo (FLOR) – 49.51
6. Luke Hobson (NYAC) – 49.66
7. Jerry Fox (NCS) – 49.68
8. Ruslan Gaziev (OSU) – 49.69

Texas-based Chris Guiliano posted the highest time of the morning, profitable the penultimate warmth of the boys’s 100 free in a time of 48.48. The 22-year-old Olympian opened in 23.36 earlier than closing in 25.12. His time this morning is greater than a second off his prelims swim of 47.38 from the Westmont PSS again in March, however as quick sufficient to earn him the center lane tonight as his time is greater than half a second away from the sphere.

Flanking him tonight will probably be Patrick Sammon and Tomas Navikonis, who joined him underneath 49, with their equal 48.90s. The pair, whereas tied on the finish, swam the occasion very in another way with the ASU product, Sammon, opening in 23.37, whereas the Buckeye, Navikonis, attacked the backhalf, opening in 23.81, however closing 25.09, practically half a second quicker than Sammon. Keep an eye fixed on Josh Liendo, who completed fifth this morning, because the Canadian was out gradual, going 24.16 to the ft, possible which means he has extra within the tank for tonight.

Missing the A-final reduce have been Americans Shaine Casas and Caeleb Dressel. The pair completed ninth and tenth total with occasions of 49.84 and 49.90, respectively. Casas didn’t race this occasion in Westmont, however was 49.06 in prelims within the occasion on the Austin PSS again in January. Dressel did swim the occasion at Westmont, and his time this morning is an enchancment upon his 50.22 from March, however trails his 49.27 from Austin. The pair have been each out quicker than Liendo, going 24.02 and 24.04, respectively, however simply couldn’t match his backhalf.

Women’s 100 Breaststroke – Prelims

Top 8:

1. Mona McSharry (TNAQ) – 1:07.36
2. Eneli Jefimova (NCS) – 1:07.37
3. Kate Douglass (NYAC) – 1:07.96
4. Emma Weber (CA-Y) – 1:08.00
5. Sophia Umstead (UN-10) – 1:09.68
6. Alex Walsh (NYAC) – 1:09.89
7. Gabrielle Rose (BCA) – 1:10.06
8. Hannah Bach (OSU) – 1:10.13

The quantity three appears to be considered one of Kate Douglass‘s favourite numbers for the time being, because the New York Athletic Club and Virginia swimmer completed third once more this morning, because the Olympian accomplished her back-to-back double. The top-seeded swimmer, Douglass, posted a time of 1:07.96 to complete behind Mona McSharry and Eneli Jefimova. Douglass was out slower than the pair, opening in 32.52, however used her 200 breaststroke pedigree to do sufficient on the backhalf to earn a lane in the midst of the pool tonight.

She’ll must chase down McSharry and Jefimova if she needs to take the win, because the pair each have been out shortly this morning, with the Irishwoman opening her 100 in 31.95 to cease the clock at 1:07.36. Jefimova, an Estonian who will sq. off in opposition to McSharry in Paris on the European Championships, was out even quicker, going 31.48, on her solution to a time of 1:07.37.

While the highest three have been the one ones underneath 1:08 this morning, Douglass coaching companions Emma Weber and Alex Walsh shouldn’t be ignored. Weber, a member of the 2025 Worlds workforce, went 1:08.00 flat, whereas Walsh was 1:09.89. While Walsh’s time is greater than two seconds again of the sphere, she entered the meet with a seed of 1:06.50 and certain was saving vitality as she can also be entered within the 200 fly in a while. Sandwiched between the 2 within the outcomes and persevering with her run of fine kind from the brief course season is fellow Cavalier Sophia Umstead, whose 1:09.68 isn’t solely a brand new PB but in addition stands as her first outcome underneath 1:10.

Men’s 100 Breaststroke – Prelims

Top 8:

1. Jack Kelly (NYAC) – 1:00.98
2. Ian Call (NAC) – 1:01.03
3. Hubert Kos (TXLA) – 1:02.47
4. Pavel Romanov (UN-06) – 1:02.59
5. Reef McMeeking (LAKR) – 1:02.98
6. Jordan Willis (GSC) – 1:03.05
7. Uros Zivanovic (UN-20) – 1:03.30
8. Prakhanthi Rai (BSS) – 1:03.67

The males’s 100 breaststroke was a subdued affair, with prime seed Jack Kelly including over a second to his seed time, however nonetheless retaining his prime inserting as he stopped the clock at 1:00.98. Seventeen-year-old Ian Call, too, retained his seeding, remaining the 2nd quickest swimmer within the discipline as he added simply over half a second to hit the wall in 1:01.03. A Texas commit, Call was 4th within the last in Westmont, going 1:00.52, ending one spot behind Kelly, who was 59.90.

There is a big hole between 2nd and third; in truth, the distinction between them is bigger than that between third and eighth, however don’t low cost them as many did, solely what was essential to advance safely into the ultimate. Hubert Kos, who swept the backstroke occasions at NCAAs, took a flip on the 100 breaststroke and completed third this morning in 1:02.47. While possible not turning into a breaststroker, Kos is a world-class IMer, having received bronze in Singapore, so he may very well be engaged on enhancing his weak stroke. He, too, may very well be attempting to work on the stroke with the intention to assist Hungary discipline a medley relay, because it was the one stroke that they had no entrants in at Worlds final yr.

Seven of the highest eight swimmers added time from their seed, however nobody instructed Prakhanthai Rai that as the highschool junior and Cal commit crashed his approach into the A-final, chopping 1.56 seconds off his seed to safe the eighth seed with a brand new PB of 1:03.67

Women’s 50 Backstroke – Prelims

Top 8:

1. Isabelle Stadden (AGJT) – 27.34
2. Katharine Berkoff (WOLF) – 27.78
3. Erika Pelaez (NCS) – 28.49
4. Gretchen Walsh (NYAC) – 28.54
5. Claire Curzan (TAC) – 28.73
6. Emma Harvey (BER) – 28.8
7. Phoebe Bacon (WISC) – 29.01
8. Brynn Lavigueur (SYS) – 29.11

Men’s 50 Backstroke – Prelims

Top 8:

1. Finn Harland (ALTO) – 25.15
2. Hubert Kos (TXLA) – 25.18
3. Shaine Casas (TXLA) – 25.27
4. Ralf Tribuntsov (EST) – 25.61
5. Jack Aikins (UN-11) – 25.66
6. Daniel Zaitsev (EST) – 25.67
7. Aiden Norman (FLOR) – 26.12
8. Liam Carrington (BSS) – 26.19

Women’s 200 Butterfly – Prelims

Top 8:

1. Regan Smith (TXLA) – 2:06.77
2. Tess Howley (LIAC) – 2:09.71
3. Lindsay Looney (TXLA) – 2:11.22
4. Alex Walsh (NYAC) – 2:12.81
5. Emerson Callis (QSTS) – 2:13.54
6. Eleanor Sun (PRIN) – 2:13.69
7. Michaela Mattes (UN-12) – 2:14.37
8. Addison Reeses (GSC) – 2:14.49

Men’s 200 Butterfly – Prelims

• World Record: 1:50.34 – Kristóf Milák, HUN (2022)
• American Record: 1:51.51 – Michael Phelps, (2009)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:52.20 – Michael Phelps, USA (2008)

Top 8:

1. Leon Marchand (TXLA) – 1:56.80
2. Carson Foster (NYAC) – 1:57.36
3. Mitchell Schott (PRIN) – 1:59.08
4. Arthur Balva (PRIN) – 1:59.43
5. Grant Sanders (SPA) – 2:02.66
6. Seb Lunak (NCAC) – 2:03.45
7. Noah Stotler (BSS) – 2:04.99
8. Felix Vicknair (WVU) – 2:05.61

Women’s 400 Freestyle – Prelims

Top 8:

Men’s 400 Freestyle – Prelims

Top 8: