2026 Fort Lauderdale Open: Day 3 Prelims Live Recap

2026 Speedo Fort Lauderdale Open

• Wednesday, April 29 – Saturday, May 2, 2026
• Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center
• LCM (50 meters)
• All the Links
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheet
• Live Results: “Fort Lauderdale Open” on Meet Mobile
• Recaps

Day 3 Prelims Heat Sheet

Everybody prepare for some extra thrilling motion in south Florida because the third day of the Speedo Fort Lauderdale open is about to get underway.

First factor, a humongous, ginormous, cyclopean because of everyone’s 2nd favourite SwimSwam Staff Member Coleman Hodges(I’m working underneath the idea, that each one of you might be right here for me and never the swim meet), who has graciously arrange a livestream of audio and of the scoreboard for this morning’s prelims, in order that we will all hear alongside to the meet as we work and extra importantly see outcomes as a substitute of getting to depend upon different means.

Scoreboard Live Steam and Audio

While we needed to wait yesterday till the penultimate occasion to see Katie Ledecky and Summer McIntosh swim, this morning begins off with a bang because the pair are the highest two seeds and can occupy lane 5 in heats 10 and 11. The pair had an exhilarating encounter final night time within the 400 free, and every will likely be trying to arrange one other encounter within the remaining tonight. While they gained’t be competing towards each other straight this morning, every may have some competitors of their heats as McIntosh is flanked by a pair of teammates in Regan Smith and Nikolett Padar, whereas Ledecky will look to get to the wall earlier than the like of Simone Manuel and Madi Mintenko. The first of the circle-seeded heats isn’t any slouch both as Erin Gemmell squares off towards Rylee Erisman, Anna Moesch, and Gretchen Walsh, who’s attempting her hand on the lengthy course model of the occasion.

Walsh has a fast turnaround as solely the 50 breaststroke separates the 200 free from the 50 fly the place she is the highest seed. The American file holder, Walsh may have a little bit extra relaxation between occasions than her teammate Kate Douglass, who along with be the 2nd seed within the 50 fly, is the highest seed within the 50 breaststroke. In the dash breaststroke occasion, Douglass is ready to conflict towards some acquainted foes as she seems to edge out Mona McSharry, Eleni Jefimova, Emma Weber, and Gretchen’s sister Alex Walsh.

Like Douglass and Gretchen, Alex Walsh is scheduled to swim a number of occasions, because the Olympian is entered within the 200 free, 50 breaststroke and the final occasion of the morning the 400 IM, the place she runs into the likes of the Katie Grimes and Emma Weyant. She may have a little bit break between the breaststroke and IM because the 200 again is located between them,

Walsh’s teammates Claire Curzan and Grimes are the highest seeds within the first of the circle seeded heats within the 200 again, and every will likely be trying to put up occasions that rise up towards the favored of Phoebe Bacon and Isabelle Stadden in warmth 6 and towards the American Record Holder Regan Smith and teenage phenom, Audrey Derivaux, who’ve been seeded to swim subsequent to 1 one other within the remaining warmth.

In the lads’s occasions it’s very an identical story with Olympians and NCAA champions littering the warmth sheets. Luke Hobson leads the 200 free however will likely be underneath stress from coaching companions Chris Guiliano and Alex Enyeart in addition to a powerful Florida contingent as Kieran Smith, Josh Liendo and Aiden Norman have all be seeded into the identical warmth.

Perhaps one of many occasions of the meet on the lads’s aspect, the 50 fly seed Caeleb Dressel as the highest seed. The American Record holder will look to make the A-final after lacking it yesterday within the 100 free however is not going to have a straightforward time of it as Shaine Casas, Josh Liendo, Ilya Kharun, Dylan Carter all lurk within the circle seeded heats.

The quickest man ever within the 200 yard again, Hubert Kos, is the highest seed within the 200 again with an entry time of 1:53.19. The NCAA champion for Texas, doubtless gained’t be firing on all cylinders this morning, as there are simply six swimmers seeded underneath 2:00.

The males’s occasions conclude with the 400 IM, the place the final warmth may see some pleasure as Leon Marchand, the highest seed squares off towards Bobby Finke. While the pair and Carson Foster, the #2 seed, are 11 seconds away from the remainder of the sphere, every will likely be trying to make sure a spot in the course of the pool for the ultimate tonight.

Women’s 200 Freestyle

• World Record – 1:52.23 – Ariarne Titmus, AUS (2024)
• American Record – 1:53.61 – Allison Schmitt (2012)
• U.S. Open Record – 1:53.80 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2026)

Top 8:

1. Katie Ledecky (GSC) – 1:56.57
2. Summer McIntosh (TXLA) – 1:56.85
3. Erin Gemmell (TXLA) – 1:56.88
4. Regan Smith (TXLA) – 1:57.97
5. Rylee Erisman (LAKR) – 1:58.01
6. Nikolett Padar (TXLA) – 1:58.42
7. Simone Manuel (TXLA) – 1:58.46
8. Anna Moesch (GSCY) – 1:59.05

With three swimmers underneath 1:57, tonight’s remaining seems to be an excellent one as Katie Ledecky and her 1:56.57 will take lane 5 within the remaining tonight. Last night time’s 400 free runner-up, was out in 57.07 and closed in 59.50 to win the 2nd of the circle seeded heats forward of Simone Manuel, who touched 2nd within the warmth in 1:58.46, the seventh quickest time of the morning.

In the ultimate, taking lane 5 tonight will likely be Summer McIntosh, who set the US Open file two months in the past on the Westmont Pro Swim Series. The Canadian was quicker than her prelim time from March by .02, going 1:56.85 this morning. Expect McIntosh to be quicker tonight, as she was out quick in 56.17 earlier than shutting issues down on the again half coming house in 1:00.68. Two of McIntosh’s teammates at Texas additionally superior from her warmth as Regan Smith, touched 2nd in 1:57.97, just a bit over a second off her PB from March, and Nikolett Padar completed third and sixth general with a time of 1:58.42.

The third swimmer underneath 1:57 this morning was Erin Gemmell, making it 5 Texas primarily based swimmers within the remaining. Gemmell, who break up 56.73 and 1:00.15 was trailing on the 100 in her warmth as Gretchen Walsh was out fast, flipping within the 100 at 56.19, however the dash star began to fade on the final 100, closing in 1:02.92 to complete ninth general and simply .06 out of eighth. Walsh, one of many quickest swimmers in Short Course Yards, hasn’t swam this occasion many occasions, final recording a lead to 2023 and whereas she missed the A-final, she did reduce 2 seconds off her PB to interrupt the two:00 barrier for the primary time

Men’s 200 Freestyle

• World Record – 1:42.00 – Paul Biedermann, GER (2009)
• American Record – 1:42.96 – Michael Phelps (2008)
• U.S. Open Record – 1:43.76 – Luke Hobson, USA (2025)

Top 8:

1. Chris Guiliano (TXLA) – 1:47.96
2. Tomas Navikonis (OSU) – 1:48.04
3. Patrick Sammon (NYAC) – 1:48.39
4. Hubert Kos (TXLA) – 1:48.40
5. Luke Hobson (TXLA) – 1:49.13
6. Mitchell Schott (PRIN) – 1:49.25
7. Ruslan Gaziev (OSU) – 1:50.44
8. Grant Sanders (SPA) – 1:50.66

It wasn’t as dominant a efficiency for Texas males because it was for the ladies within the earlier warmth, however they did advance three swimmers into the ultimate with final night time’s 100 free winner Chris Guiliano main the best way.  The third general seed was over two seconds off his seed, however nonetheless managed to nab lane 5 for tonight, splitting 52.31/55.65 to publish the lone sub 1:48 time of the morning.

His coaching companions Hubert Kos and Luke Hobson posted the 4th and fifth quickest occasions of the morning going 1:48.40 and 1:49.13 respectively. If you’re shocked by Kos’s efficiency, I’d say disgrace on you as we already talked about within the NCAA recaps, that nothing he does ought to be shocking. The NCAA champion within the 100 and 200 again, Kos was entered with a seed of 1:57.52 and swam within the 4th of 9 heats. Out in 52.07, quicker than Guiliano, Kos closed in 56.33 to cease the clock in a brand new private better of 1:48.40, slicing over a second off his time from the 2021 Hungarian Junior National Championships. Hobson, the highest seed and reigning World silver medalist, was greater than 5 seconds off his seed as he opened in 53.26 and closed in 55.87 to cease the clock at 1:49.13.

Of be aware, Kieran Smith and Josh Liendo have been each Declared False Starts. Smith is the third seed within the 200 again and Liendo is the 2nd seed within the 50 fly.

Women’s 50 Breaststroke

• World Record – 29.16 – Ruta Meilutyte, LTU (2023)
• American Record – 29.40 – Lilly King (2017)
• U.S. Open Record – 29.62 – Lilly King, USA (2018)

Top 8:

1. Eneli Jefimova (NCS) – 30.64
2. Emma Weber (CA-Y) – 30.98
3. Kate Douglass (NYAC) – 31.04
4. Mona McSharry (TNAQ) – 31.28
5. Hannah Bach (OSU) – 31.83
6. Skylar Zulegar (TYDE) – 32.40
7. Gabrielle Rose (BCA) – 32.42
8. Maya McCarney (NCAP) – 32.86

Recent NCAA champion within the 100 breast, Eneli Jefimova posted the highest time within the girls’s 50 breaststroke posting the quickest time of the morning, hitting the wall in 30.64. The NC State first-year was simply one among two swimmers underneath 31.00 as she was joined there by ACC rival Emma Weber. Weber, the 4th seed out touched her coaching accomplice and the highest seed Kate Douglass within the final warmth by .06 going 30.98 to Douglass’s 31.04.

The second seed getting into the occasion, Mona McSharry took 4th general with a time of 31.28. The latest Irish Open champion has been as quick as 30.36 this season, so search for the Tennessee Volunteer to be quicker tonight.

Slipping into the ultimate in eighth is NCAP’s Maya McCarney, who at 15 reduce practically half a second off her PB from the Austin Pro Swim Series to file a brand new better of 32.86. Set to be seeded on the alternative aspect of the pool from her is the 48 yr previous Gabrielle Rose, who posted the seventh quickest time of the morning along with her 32.42.

Men’s 50 Breaststroke

• World Record – 25.95 – Adam Peaty, GBR (2017)
• American Record – 26.39 – Van Mathias (2026)
• U.S. Open Record – 26.52 – Michael Andrew, USA (2022)

Top 8:

1. Jack Kelly (NYAC) – 27.21
2. Ian Call (NAC) – 27.37
3. Pavel Romanov (UN-06) – 27.75
4. Uros Zivanovic (UN-20) – 27.80
5. Keian Lam (PRIN) – 28.59
6. Spencer Kinsey (BSS) – 28.77
7. Reef McMeeking (LAKR) – 28.85
8. Louis Joos (BSS) – 29.04

Last night time’s 100 breaststroke winner, Jack Kelly bought issues completed this morning as he posted the quickest time of 27.21. While three different swimmers have been underneath 28.oo, he and Ian Call would be the pair to observe tonight. Kelly, who swam collegiately for Brown University, trains in Texas and is characterize Ireland internationally, has been as quick as 26.84 this season, having completed so final month on the Irish Open.

Looking to chase him down tonight will likely be Call, a junior in highschool, who has dedicated to swim at Texas in two years time. The 17 year-old was 27.37 this morning, a lot quicker than his 28.04 from Westmont and quicker than his former private finest od 27.45 from final summer season’s Junior World Championships, the place he positioned eighth within the remaining.

The different two swimmers underneath 28 this morning have been 32-year-old Pavel Romanov, who was 27.75, and Uros Zivanovic, who swims collegiately for Auburn and was 27.80 this morning.

Women’s 50 Butterfly

• World Record – 24.43 – Sarah Sjöström, SWE (2014)
• American Record – 24.66 – Gretchen Walsh (2025)
• U.S. Open Record – 24.66 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2025)

Top 8:

1. Gretchen Walsh (NYAC) – 25.16
2. Kate Douglass (NYAC) – 25.50
3. Lismar Lyon (SOFL) – 26.59
4. Elizaveta Klevanovich (UN-20) – 26.65
5. Phoebe Bacon (WISC) – 26.74
6. Emma Harvey (BER) – 26.91
7. Kennedi Southern (LAC) – 27.17
8. Hanne Peeters (NTRO) – 27.33

Both Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglass navigated their fast turnarounds with aplomb because the pair of the highest seeds remained atop the leaderboard. Walsh, the American and US Open Record holder, has a season finest and World main time of 25.12 from the China Open and was simply off that outcomes as she hit the wall in 25.16.

Walsh will occupy lane 5 tonight and may have her teammate and coaching accomplice Kate Douglass to 1 aspect as she touched 2nd quickest in 25.50, not far off her 25.34 from the China Open. Douglass had simply come from the prelims of the 50 breaststroke the place she posted the third quickest time of the morning. Quick turnarounds are nothing new for Douglass as she gained each the 100 free and 100 breaststroke final night time.

After the pair of Cavaliers its a giant soar again to the remainder of the sphere. Leading the cost is Lismar Lyon and Elizaveta Klevanovich who have been 26.59 and 26.65 this morning, the third and 4th quickest occasions.

Men’s 50 Butterfly

• World Record – 22.27 – Andriy Govorov, UKR (2018)
• American Record – 22.35 – Caeleb Dressel (2019)
• U.S. Open Record – 22.80 – Maxime Grousset, FRA (2022)

Top 8:

1. Ilya Kharun (SUN) – 23.06
2. Dylan Carter (AZFL) – 23.49
3. Josh Liendo (FLOR) – 23.50
4. Ralf Tribuntsov (EST) – 23.72
5. Daniel Zaitsev (EST) – 23.81
6. Albert Smelzer (GSA) – 24.06
7. Shaine Casas (TXLA)/Caeleb Dressel (SJAC) – 24.13

Both Shaine Casas and Caeleb Dressel efficiently put up occasions that earned them an A-final berth, however it was an in depth name because the pair tied for seventh this morning with time of 24.13. The two Americans may have numerous work to this night in the event that they want to contest for the win, however they are going to be aided by some empty water as they are going to be seeded into the skin lanes.

Over a full second forward of them this morning, was the Ilya Kharun, the third seed. The ASU junior, who’s transitioning his sporting nationality to the United States was the star of the morning, as he posted a time of 23.06. The time would rank him thirteenth on the earth this season if he hadn’t been already 22.98 at December’s U.S. Open. Surrounding him tonight within the remaining will likely be Dylan Carter and Josh Liendo. Carter, a local of Trinidad and Tobago, was in Liendo warmth, ending .43 again at 23.49.

Liendo, the 2nd seed, dropped the 200 free this morning in an effort to concentrate on this occasion and safely superior with the third quickest time of the morning, posting a results of 23.50. Liendo hasn’t posted any meters outcomes this season, with a lot of his focus focused on his remaining NCAA season, which culminated with three wins on the males’s NCAA championships together with a PB and new NCAA file within the 100 fly.

Women’s 200 Backstroke

• World Record – 2:03.14 – Kaylee McKeown, AUS (2023)
• American Record – 2:03.35 – Regan Smith (2019)
• U.S. Open Record – 2:03.80 – Regan Smith, USA (2023)

Top 8:

1. Isabelle Stadden (AQJT) – 2:08.81
2. Rylee Erisman (LAKR) – 2:09.75
3. Sadie Buckley (NCAP) – 2:09.95
4. Audrey Derivaux (JW) – 2:10.89
5. Regan Smith (TXLA) – 2:10.96
6. Phoebe Bacon (WISC) – 2:11.92
7. Erika Pelaez (NCS) – 2:12.54
8. Catie Choate (GSC) – 2:12.96

Regan Smith, the highest seed and American file holder put forth a strong morning swim, going 2:10.96, however in one of many deepest occasions on the ladies’s aspect, her time clock in simply because the fifth quickest time of the morning. Out in 1:03.37 and again in 1:07.59, Smith trailed for a lot of the final warmth  because the teenaged pair of Rylee Erisman and Audrey Derivaux touched forward of her.

Erisman, 17, didn’t compete on this occasion as final yr’s Nationals, and her time this morning seems to be her first swim for the reason that 2024 Olympic Trials. Touching in 2:09.75, Erisman sliced over two seconds off her sed to interrupt into the sub-2:10 membership for the primary time. One yr youthful, Derivaux is the reigning Junior World Champion, owns a PB of two:06.68. She touched this morning in 2:10.89 however has been as quick as 2:08.61 this yr, successful the occasion on the Indianapolis Sectional meet in March.

Earning the highest seed tonight is Isabelle Stadden. A product of Cal, however coaching out of the University of Virginia, Stadden has been on hearth this yr. She positioned 2nd to Smith on the Westmont PSS on this occasion, going a brand new PB of two:05.91 and at the moment ranks third on the earth this season. In Westmont, Stadden was 2:09.65 in prelims, so might be on observe for a brand new PB tonight as she was 2:08.81 within the penultimate warmth, splitting 1:02.57 and 1:06.24.

Such is the depth of this occasion, that a number of notably swimmers missed the A-final reduce. Virginia teammates, Katie Grimes and Claire Curzan have been effectively off their seeds ending ninth and tenth general with occasions of two:13.14 and a pair of:13.16 respectively.

In trying on the outcomes, you might even see that Katharine Berkoff DNF’ed the race. Thanks to Coleman and his livestream, we all know that Berkoff was out in 29.75 and flipped on the 100 in a swift 1:01.3 and continued to steer the final warmth by way of the 150, the place she was on tempo for a sub-2:10 tempo, till she stopped on the 150 wall. Based on the commentary on the reside stream, the cease appeared deliberate and was not a results of an damage.

Men’s 200 Backstroke

• World Record – 1:51.92 – Aaron Peirsol, USA (2009)
• American Record – 1:51.92 – Aaron Peirsol (2009)
• U.S. Open Record – 1:53.08 – Aaron Peirsol, USA (2009)

Top 8:

1. Hubert Kos (TXLA) – 1:58.05
2. Kieran Smith (RAC) – 2:01.67
3. Jack Aikins (UN-11) – 2:03.04
4. Joey Eaddy (REV) – 2:03.06
5. Ethan Bathala (BSS) – 2:03.22
6. Aiden Norman (FLOR) – 2:03.27
7. Brayden Capen (ACAD) – 2:03.55
8. Caleb Maldari (GSC) – 2:03.78

Women’s 400 IM

• World Record – 4:23.65 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2025)
• American Record – 4:31.12 – Katie Hoff (2008)
• U.S. Open Record – 4:26.98 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2025)

Top 8:

Men’s 400 IM

• World Record – 4:02.50 – Leon Marchand, FRA (2023)
• American Record – 4:03.84 – Michael Phelps (2008)
• U.S. Open Record – 4:05.25 – Michael Phelps, USA (2008)

Top 8: