2023 PAN AMERICAN GAMES
The first finals session of the 2023 Pan American Games begins Saturday with the 400 freestyle, 100 breast, 200 butterfly and 4×100 free relay scheduled in Santiago, Chile.
Brazilian couple (Maria Costa and Gabriel Roncato) competed in the women’s 400 free preliminaries this morning, but the American duo of Paige Madden (4:14.42) and Rachel Stege (4:14.60) were within a second of them. of Brazil Guillerme Costathe favorite in all three freestyle events, was the top qualifier in the men’s 400 free prelims this morning by nearly three seconds (3:52.23) ahead of the U.S. Olympic medalist Jay Litherland (3:55.00).
Both 100 breast races are expected to be close matches. of Canada Rachel Nicol (1:08.10) beat Argentina’s Macarena Ceballos (1:08.12) and Canada Sophie Angus (1:08.19) by less than a tenth of a second in the women’s 100 breaststroke prelims, while Jake Foster (1:00.95) beat Brazil Joao Gomez (1:00.89) for men.
Texas teammates Kelly Pash (2:10.68) and Dakota Luther (2:10.78) are set for a clash in the women’s 200m after taking the top two seeds just a tenth of a second apart in this morning’s preliminaries. The men’s 200 fly also features a pair of Americans as top seeds Mason Lohr (1:57.58) and Jack Dahlgren (1:58.51) the only swimmers under 1:59 in the morning heats.
400 FREESTYLE WOMEN – FINAL
- World Record: 3:55.38 – Ariarne Titmus, Australia (2023)
Pan American Games Record: 4:08.42 – Emily OverholtCanada (2015)
Top 3:
- Paige Madden (USA) – 4:06.45 *Pan Ams Record
- Maria Costa (BRA) – 4:06.68
- Gabriel Roncato (BRA) – 4:06.88
The first four finishers all went under Emily Overholtthe old Pan Ams record of 4:08.42 from 2015, but was 24 years old Paige Madden who emerged victorious by just a few tenths of a second. Her winning time of 4:06.45 barely edged out Brazil’s Maria Costa (4:06.68), Brazil Gabriel Roncato (4:06.88) and the other American Rachel Stege (4:06.94) for the crown.
Madden owns a lifetime best of 4:03.98 from the Tokyo 2021 Olympic heats, where he eventually placed 7th in the final (4:06.81). Costa set a new best time en route to silver, lowering his 4:06.85 from the Brasilia Trophy at the end of May.
MEN’S 400 FREESTYLE – FINAL
- World Record: 3:40.07 – Paul Biedermann, Germany (2009)
Pan American Games Record: 3:48.29 – Ryan CochraneCanada (2015)
Top 3:
- Guillerme Costa (BRA) – 3:46.79 *Pan Ams Record
- Alberto Mestre (VEN) – 3:47.62
- James Beach (USA) – 3:50.74
Guillerme Costa began his Pan Ams freestyle quest with a meet record in the 400 free (3:46.79), lowering the previous mark set by Canada Ryan Cochrane in 2015, the 25-year-old Brazilian placed 4th at Worlds in 3:43.58, after finishing 3rd last year in a personal best of 3:43.31.
of Venezuela Alfonso MestreOlympian’s brother Alberto Mestreimpressed with a silver medal of 3:47.62, about a second off his personal best of 3:46.61 from this year’s worlds, where he placed 11th in the preliminary round.
NC State Sr James Beach rounded out the podium with a 3rd place finish in 3:50.74, within a second of his personal best of 3:49.87 from June.
100 BREST WOMEN – FINAL
- World Record: 1:04.13 – Lily King, USA (2017)
- Pan American Games record: 1:05.64 – Katie Maley, USA (2015)
Top 3:
- Rachel Nicol (Canada) – 1:07.28
- Sophie Angus (Canada) – 1:07.55
- Macarena Ceballos (ARG) – 1:07.68
30 year old Canadian Rachel Nicol recorded his fastest 100 breaststroke time since the 2017 World Championships with a winning time of 1:07.28. Fellow Canadian Sophie Angus was just a few tenths and a few tenths short of her lifetime best of 1:07.55 for silver.
Macarena Ceballos took bronze, giving Argentina her first podium finish of the night in 1:07.68, which was within a second of her personal best of 1:06.69 from this year’s worlds.
100 BREAST MEN – FINAL
- World Record: 56.88 – Adam Peaty, Great Britain (2019)
- Pan American Games Record: 59.21 – Felipe Franca Da Silva, Brazil (2015)
Top 3:
- Jake Foster (USA) – 59.99
- Noah Nichols (USA) – 1:00.43
- Miguel De Lara (MEX) – 1:00.90
Jake Foster barely broke the minute barrier in the final to win the men’s 100+ breaststroke over fellow American Noah Nichols. Foster wasn’t far off his best time of 59.64 from the TYR Pro Championships in July. Nichols, meanwhile, was more than a second off his personal best of 59.40 from US Nationals, where he placed 3rd.
of Mexico Miguel De Lara rounded out the podium in 1:00.90 for bronze, within a second of her personal best of 1:00.14 from April.
200 BUTTERFLY WOMEN – FINAL
- World Record: 2:01.81 – Liu Zige, China (2009)
- Pan American Games Record: 2:07.64 – Kathleen Hersey, USA (2007)
Top 3:
- Dakota Luther (USA) – 2:09.97
- Maria Mata Coco (Mexico) – 2:10.25
- Kelly Pash (USA) – 2:10.30
Dakota Luther dropped under 2:10 with a winning time of 2:09.97 to edge Mexico Maria Mata Coco (2:10.25) and teammate from Texas Kelly Pash (2:10.30) in the 200 fly final. Luther, 23, has a best of 2:06.79 from the TYR Pro Championships in July.
Cocco was within a second of her personal best of 2:09.31 from June to sneak past Pash, the top qualifier this morning, by 0.05 seconds for silver. Pash’s personal best is 2:08.00 from July.
200 BUTTERFLY MEN – FINAL
- World Record: 1:50.34 – Christoph Milak, Hungary (2022)
- Pan American Games Record: 1:55.01 – Leonardo De DeusBrazil (2015)
Top 3:
- Mason Lohr (USA) – 1:56.44
- Leonardo de Deus (BRA) – 1:57.25
- Jack Dahlgren (USA) – 1:57.53
Mason Lohr gave the United States their fourth win of the session and third in a row with a 1:56.44 in the 200 meters. The Florida junior was one second off her personal best of 1:55.67 from June.
32 year old Brazilian Leonardo de Deus (1:527.25) defeated Missouri graduate Jack Dahlgren (1:57.53) in the battle for 2nd place. Dahlgren’s lifetime best is 1:55.72 from June, while de Deus was as fast as 1:54.83 in 2021.
WOMEN’S 4×100 FREESTYLE RELAY – FINAL
- World Record: 3:27.96 – Australia (2023)
- Pan American Games Record: 3:36.80 – Canada (2015)
Top 3:
- Canada – 3:37.75
- USA – 3:38.42
- Brazil – 3:39.94
Maggie McNeill split 53.14 in the third leg of Canada’s 4×100 freestyle relay (3:37.75) to lead his team over the American quartet in Gabby Albiero (55.02), Cathy de Loof (54.19), Kayla Wilson (54.85) and Amy Fulmer (54.36), which combined for 3:38.42.
Brazil took the bronze (3:39.94) nearly five seconds ahead of 4th place Mexico (3:44.90).
MEN’S 4×100 FREESTYLE RELAY – FINAL
- World Record: 3:08.24 – USA (2008)
Pan American Games record: 3:13.66 – Canada (2015)
Top 3:
- Brazil – 3:13.51
- USA – 3:14.22
- Canada – 3:15.83
Gui Caribe led off Brazil’s 4×100 freestyle relay with a split of 48.41 to lead his team (including Marcello Chierigini, Victor Alcaraand Felipe Ribeiro de Souza) past the USA for the nation’s second gold medal of the evening in 3:13.51. In the process, the Brazilians also snuck under the previous Pan Ams record of 3:13.66 by Canada in 2015.
Sophomore at Arizona State Johnny Cullow led the American relay in 48.45, followed by Adam Cheney at 48.17, Jack Aikins at 48.60 and Brooks Curry at 49.00h. Canada took bronze in 3:15.83, more than three seconds ahead of fourth-placed Mexico.