2023 PAN AMERICAN GAMES
The 2023 Pan American Games begin this morning in Santiago, Chile. This morning’s action includes the preliminaries of eight events.
DAY 1 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
The session starts at 7:00 AM local time/8:00 AM EST
- Women’s 400 Free – Preliminaries
- Men’s 400 Free – Preliminaries
- Women’s 100 Breaststroke – Preliminaries
- Men’s 100 Breaststroke – Preliminaries
- Women’s 200 Fly – Preliminaries
- Men’s 200 Fly – Preliminaries
- Women’s 4×100 Freestyle Relay – Preliminaries
- Men’s 4×100 Freestyle Relay – Preliminary Rounds
This morning we will see Brazilian Guillerme Costathe first test of the match. Costa enters the meet seeded first in the men’s 400 free, 800 free and 1500 free. He takes the first 400, entering this morning’s action as the top seed by over 3 seconds.
Meanwhile, an American Dakota Luther ranks as a heavy favorite in the women’s 200 fly. Luther was clocked in at 2:06.79, coming in as the only swimmer in the field under 2:08.
The American duo of Noah Nichols and Jake Foster are the only swimmers in the men’s 100 breaststroke placed under 1:00.
WOMEN’S 400 FREESTYLE – PRELIMINARY
- World Record: 3:55.38 – Ariarne Titmus, Australia (2023)
- Pan American Games record: 4:08.42 – Emily Overholt, Canada (2015)
TOP 8 QUALIFICATIONS:
- Maria Costa (Brazil) – 4:13.85
- Gabriel Roncato (Brazil) – 4:14.37
- Paige Madden (USA) – 4:14.42
- Rachel Stege (USA) – 4:14.60
- Agostina Hein (Argentina) – 4:15.39
- Julie Brousseau (Canada) – 4:15.54
- Delfina Dini (Argentina) – 4:16.26
- Maria Heitman (Brazil) – 4:16.61
Kicking things off this morning, Brazil’s Maria Costa led the field in the women’s 400 free preliminary. Costa swam in the final heat this morning where she was locked in a tight race with the Americans Paige Madden and Rachel Stege to the final 100m. All three swimmers were within 0.13 seconds of each other at the 300-meter turn, but then Costa pulled away in the final 100 meters and ended up hitting his hand on the wall more than half a second ahead of the two Americans.
Brazil also had the second fastest swimmer of the morning, seeing Gabriel Roncato clock 4:14.37 to win the second heat.
It should be noted that Argentina’s Agostina Hein, only 15 years old, reached the final tonight. She came in 2nd in heat 2, swimming a 4:15.39, which was good for 5th place overall this morning.
MEN’S 400 FREESTYLE – PRELIMINARY
- World Record: 3:40.07 – Paul Biedermann, Germany (2009)
- Pan American Games record: 3:48.29 – Ryan Cochrane, Canada (2015)
TOP 8 QUALIFICATIONS:
- Guillerme Costa (Brazil) – 3:52.23
- Jay Litherland (USA) – 3:55.00
- Stefan Steverink (Brazil) – 3:55.21
- Alfonso Mestre (Venezuela) – 3:55.67
- Dylan Porges (Mexico) – 3:55.84
- James Plage (USA) – 3:55.90
- Eduardo Cisternas (Chile) – 3:56.31
- Juan Morales (Colombia) – 3:56.34
of Brazil Guillerme Costa showed he’s the class of the field this morning in the 400 free prelims, swimming 3:52.23 for the top seed for tonight’s final. Costa was the only swimmer this morning to dip under 3:55, giving himself a good cushion for the finals. He came out with solid speed this morning, splitting 1:52.55 over the first 200 meters. He then pulled back a bit and eventually came home with a 1:59.68 in the back half of the race.
American Jay Litherland was the next fastest swimmer this morning, clocking 3:55.00 for 2nd overall. Brazilian Stefan Steverink was out in front of Litherland, but Litherland followed him in the last 100 meters.
WOMEN’S 100 BREAST – PRELIMINARY MEETINGS
- World Record: 1:04.13 – Lily King, USA (2017)
- Pan American Games record: 1:05.64 – Katie Maley, USA (2015)
TOP 8 QUALIFICATIONS:
- Rachel Nicol (Canada) – 1:08.10
- Macarena Ceballos (Argentina) – 1:08.12
- Sophie Angus (Canada) – 1:08.19
- Stefania Gomez (Colombia) – 1:08.47
- Emma Weber (USA) – 1:09.00
- Bianca Rodriguez (Mexico) – 1:09.32
- Jennifer Conceicao (Brazil) – 1:09.75
- Martina Barbeyto (Argentina) – 1:10.29
Canada looked strong in the women’s 100 breast this morning, seeing Rachel Nicol record a personal best time of 1:08.10. Nicole won Heat 3 this morning, ahead of Argentina’s Macarena Ceballos (1:08.12). Ceballos was overtaken by Nicol, splitting his 32.57 in the first 50 from Nicol’s 32.87. Nicole then went home faster and managed to get to the wall first.
Canadian Sophie Angus was 3rd fastest this morning, swimming 1:08.19 to win the first heat.
Only one of the Americans managed to reach the final. Emma Weber came in 5th this morning, clocking 1:09.00 in Heat 2. Meanwhile, the other American in the event, Anna Keating, swam 1:11.42 in Heat 3, narrowly missing the final.
MEN’S 100 BREAST – PRELIMINARY CAMPAIGNS
- World Record: 56.88 – Adam Peaty, Great Britain (2019)
- Pan American Games Record: 59.21 – Felipe Franca Da Silva, Brazil (2015)
TOP 8 QUALIFICATIONS:
- Jake Foster (USA) – 1:00.85
- Joao Gomez (Brazil) – 1:00.89
- Noah Nichols (USA) – 1:01.10
- Gabriel Mastromateo (Canada) – 1:01.37
- Rafael Windmüller (Brazil) – 1:01.43
- Jorge Murillo (Colombia) – 1:01.46
- Xavier Ruiz (Puerto Rico) – 1:01.67
- Miguel De Lara (Mexico) – 1:01.75
American Jake Foster looked great this morning swimming 1:00.85 for the best overall time. Working in heat 3 this morning, Foster went 28.59 over the first 50m before coming home in 32.26.
Joao Gomez had a very similar race in Heat 2, swimming 1:00.89 for the second fastest time overall.
Series 4, meanwhile, was not the fastest series. American Noah Nichols won in 1:01.10, leading a tight field at the top. Gabriel Mastromateo, Miguel De Lara and Mariano Lazzerini also clocked 1:01s in this heat. It should be noted that Lazzerini swam a 1:01.90, which placed him 9th overall, just after tonight’s final.
200 BUTTERFLY WOMEN – PRELIMINARY ROUNDS
- World Record: 2:01.81 – Liu Zige, China (2009)
- Pan American Games Record: 2:07.64 – Kathleen Hersey, USA (2007)
TOP 8 QUALIFICATIONS:
- Kelly Pash (USA) – 2:10.68
- Dakota Luther (USA) – 2:10.78
- Maria Mata (Mexico) – 2:11.32
- Katie Forrester (Canada) – 2:14.09
- Karen Durango (Colombia) – 2:14.39
- Laura Arroyo (Mexico) – 2:14.82
- Yanin Ortiz (Costa Rica) – 2:15.50
- Yasmin Silva (Peru) – 2:15.51
The American duet of Kelly Pash and Dakota Luther took the lead this morning in the women’s 200 fly. The Texas teammates were the only two swimmers in the field to break 2:10 this morning. Although their final times were almost identical, they swam the race quite differently. Pash took the race faster, splitting 1:01.81 in the first 100m, then continued through the back half. Luther, meanwhile, was much slower, splitting 1:03.30 in the first 100 meters, then holding her pace from the second 50 to the final pair of 50s.
Maria Mata had a great performance this morning, taking 3rd place overall in 2:11.32. Pash, Luther and Matta were the only swimmers in the race this morning to swim under 2:14.
200 BUTTERFLY MEN – PRELIMINARY ROUNDS
- World Record: 1:50.34 – Christoph Milak, Hungary (2022)
- Pan American Games Record: 1:55.01 – Leonardo De DeusBrazil (2015)
TOP 8 QUALIFICATIONS:
- Mason Lohr (USA) – 1:57.58
- Jack Dahlgren (USA) – 1:58.51
- Leonardo De Deus (Brazil) – 1:59.09
- Hector Ruvalcaba (Mexico) – 1:59.44
- Kevin Jahn (Canada) – 2:00.22
- Luis Melo (Brazil) – 2:00.51
- Joaquin Gonzalez (Argentina) – 2:00.53
- Eric Gordillo (Independent) – 2:00.60
American Mason Lohr looked excellent this morning in the men’s 200 fly. He took the lead in 1:57.58, recording the best time of the morning by almost a full second. American Jack Dahlgren recorded the second-fastest time overall with 1:58.51. Laur went out pretty fast, splitting 55.90 in the first 100 meters.
of Brazil Leonardo de Deus was the next fastest swimmer this morning, swimming 1:59.09. The only other swimmer in the field to dip under 2:00 this morning was Mexico’s Hector Ruvalcaba, who swam 1:59.44.
WOMEN’S 4×100 FREESTYLE RELAY – PRELIMINARY FINALS
- World Record: 3:27.96 – Australia (2023)
- Pan American Games Record: 3:36.80 – Canada (2015)
TOP 8 QUALIFICATIONS:
- Brazil – 3:42.74
- USA – 3:42.87
- Canada – 3:43.08
- Cuba – 3:46.63
- Colombia – 3:48.63
- Argentina – 3:49.02
- Mexico – 3:49.69
- Venezuela – 3:50.28
In the preliminaries of the women’s 4×100 freestyle relay, Brazil led with a 3:42.74. Stephanie Balduccini led the team in 55.61, then Ana Vieira split 54.63 on the second leg, Celine Bispo was 55.90 on the 3rd leg and Laurent Ferreira anchored a 56.60 to make it happen.
The Brazilian team just touched the Americans in their heat. For the USA, Riley Tiltman (56.12), Camille Spink (55.49), Kayla Wilson (55.30) and Olivia Bray (55.96) combined for 3:42.87.
Canada finished 3rd this morning in 3:43.08. Unfortunately, there was an error with the division of Canada, so we can’t give them to you. However, we do know that Katerine Savard led with 55.70.
MEN’S 4×100 FREESTYLE RELAY – PRELIMINARY FINALS
- World Record: 3:08.24 – USA (2008)
- Pan American Games record: 3:13.66 – Canada (2015)
TOP 8 QUALIFICATIONS:
- Brazil – 3:16.15
- USA – 3:16.57
- Canada – 3:20.33
- Mexico – 3:22.07
- Colombia – 3:23.45
- Argentina – 3:23.64
- Venezuela – 3:25.19
- Peru – 3:33.90
There were only 9 teams competing in the men’s 4×100 free relay this morning, so only one, the Bahamas, failed to make it to the ‘A’ final. The Bahamas finished 9th this morning in 3:37.18.
Meanwhile, Brazil and the USA had a nice race in Heat 2, with Brazil coming out on top in 3:16.15, just ahead of the USA (3:16.57). They were the only teams to go under 3:20 this morning. For Brazil Victor Alcara (49.79), Gui Caribe (49.01), Felipe de Souza (49.05) and Brenno Korea (48.30) combined to earn first place for the evening.
Team USA saw Kobe Carozza (49.80), Jack Aikins (48.95), Luke Miller (48.98) and Adam Cheney (48.84) combine for path #2.