By Terin Frodyma on SwimSwam
2026 Pro Swim Series #2 – Westmont
March 4-7, 2026 FMC Aquatic Center, Westmont, Illinois Long Course Meters (50 meters), Prelims/Finals Psych SheetThe 2nd stop of the 2026 Pro Series is just around the corner in Westmont, and with it comes a deep pool of talent and several big names leading the way.
Before the first swimmers take the blocks, let’s look at five storylines to follow before the swimming commences in Westmont.
Newest Chapter(s) in Ledecky v. McIntosh
Possibly the most anticipated race of the week will be the women’s 800 freestyle, as it will be the latest chapter in the ongoing rivalry between Katie Ledecky and Summer McIntosh. Fortunately, we fans won’t have to wait all that long to get to see this, as the 800 free will be raced as the 9th event of the meet, and be the first race of the meet for both the American distance queen and the rising Canadian superstar.
Ledecky and McIntosh are currently set to meet in both the 800 free and 200 free, as well as the 400 IM (an uncommon pick for Ledecky, but one she is more than capable of swimming well), though most of the excitement centers on the 800. Though not set in stone (with potential scratches possible), the 200 free could also be a spunky switch-up in the now deep and extensive rivalry between two of the best swimmers in history.
Looking at the 200 free, McIntosh has not swum the event since the Canadian Trials in May of 2024, but holds the top entered time of 1:53.65 from the World Championships in 2023, showing that she could be in for a sizeable time drop, given the overall improvement that she has shown in her swimming since that 2023 World Championships. Ledecky has not swum a best time in the 200 free for nearly a decade, with her fastest ever swim coming at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio in 1:53.73. She is entered here with her 1:54.97 from the Pre Series in San Antonio in April of 2024.
As mentioned, the marquee battle will be in the 800 free; 2025 was a major year for both women, particularly in this event, highlighting the calendar year was Ledecky breaking her near decade old world record of 8:04.79 in 8:04.12 at the Ft. Lauderdale Pro Series, which helped kick off one of the best 12-month stretches of her career. McIntosh is one of the only swimmers over the last decade to take down Ledecky, and with some frequency. The longer the race, the more it favors Ledecky, but anytime that these two meet, usually side by side, it makes for fireworks in the pool.
Men’s 100 Free: A Marquee-Worthy Event Field
Out of every event field this week, the men’s 100 free may shine brighter than any other. Leading the way is Paris Olympian Chris Guiliano in 47.25; just behind him is one of the greatest sprinters in history, Caeleb Dressel, in 47.25. The rest of the top five is nothing to sleep on either, with Destin Lasco (47.58), Matt King (47.94), and Brooks Curry (47.96) coming in as the only four entrants under 48.
This event is not only top-heavy but also has a number of guys deeper in the psych sheet that could end up being threats in different finals, such as Kieran Smith, who enters as the #9 seed in 48.36, and Luke Hobson, who is 12th at 48.50. World Championship finalist Gabriel Jett enters 17th at 49.10, while NCAA champion and Bahamian record holder Lamar Taylor sits as the #13 seed in 48.51.
Dressel will be a big draw for a number of viewers, and the last time we saw him race was in Austin at the first Pro Series of the year, where we got a few glimpses of the Dresseel of years past, finishing 2nd in the 100 fly (51.62), and 3rd in the 50 fly (23.29). We have not seen Dressel win an event at a major meet since he won both the 50 free and 100 fly in Indianapolis at the US Olympic Trials, and this race could be one that he is heavily in contention for come the ‘A’ final.
Looking to deny Dressel, Guiliano will be, who won this event in Austin in 48.14 and was 2nd at the US Open in 47.63. Giuliano has been sub-48 seven times since May of 2025, with his only two non-48 swims coming in Austin in January. Dressel, on the other hand, does not have the sheer numbers to compare with Guiliano, but has not been under 49 since the Olympic Trials. This race could be a big tone setter for the 2026 year ahead of Dressel, and Guiliano will be looking to stay undefeated in this race during the 2026 Pro Series.
Men’s Distance Free Trio Set to Battle
The current state of distance freestyle is in good hands, largely in part to the trio of Daniel Wiffen, Bobby Finke, and Sam Short. Though the 800 and 1500 free are not the deepest events, with just 15 entered in the 800 free and 16 entered in the 1500 free, the top of these events could be among the more competitive and tight contests that the men’s meet has to offer.
This will be a great opportunity to see these swimmers in a healthy race, after both Short and Finke suffered food poisoning in Singapore last summer at the World Championships, while Wiffen was dealing with appendicitis.
One of the exciting twists to this stop is the men’s 800 free being contested as a prelim/final, with the winner receiving $3,000 in prize money, which could up the stake for the three distance juggernauts to give that race in particular their everything.
The Wiffen and Finke matchups were among the highlights of the Paris Olympics in 2024, and the illness/health issues in 2025 felt as though we were robbed of a proper rematch on a major world competition stage. Although Westmont won’t have that same big-meet feel, the three-headed monster of Wiffen, Finke, and Short is on a collision course for some exciting swims here.
Michael Andrew Loaded Up on Events, Racing First Meet Since Full Move Back to Hawaii
In December, Michael Andrew made the full move to Hawaii to realign with his former coach, his father, Peter Andrew, with this marking the first major meet since the two rejoined forces. He comes into this Westmont Pro Series, entered as the #2 seed in the 50 breast, #4 seed in the 50 back, #4 seed in the 100 breast, and is also set to race the 50 free, 50 fly, and 100 fly.
Andrew has had several ups and downs since his Olympic debut in Tokyo in 2021, notably failing to qualify for both the 2023 World Championships team and 2024 Olympic Team, but did finish 2nd in both the 50 breast (26.92) and 50 fly (23.21) at the 2025 US National Championships to secure a spot on the 2025 World Championship team.
Our most recent taste of Andrew racing came at the US Open Championships in December, where he raced the prelims of all four 50s, with his highest finish coming in the 50 back (25.65). He also touched 25th in the 50 fly (24.07), 20th in the 50 breast (28.02), and 38th in the 50 free (22.95). His most recent appearance in Westmont came during the World Cup, where he finished 7th in this pool in the short-course 50 breast in 26.36.
Andrew should be in the mix in a number of his entered events; ones to keep a keen eye on will be both breaststroke events, as aside from the resurgence of Van Mathias, who is not entered here in Westmont, the US is still looking to build that depth back into the men’s breaststroke. Andrew should have good races with the likes of Michael Houlie, Denis Petrashov, Leon Marchand, and Josh Matheny.
American Women’s Backstroke on Full Display
One of the most consistent international groups in recent memory has been the US women’s backstrokers, spearheaded by Regan Smith, who comes into Westmont as the top seed in the 200 back (also entered in the 400 IM and 200 free). Joining Smith in Westmont is Katherine Berkoff, Phoebe Bacon, Rhyan White, and Isabelle Stadden, among others.
Of the three backstroke events to be contested here, the 200 back may be the most anticipated, partially because it is the only backstroke race Smith will race at the meet. Just behind Smith are Bacon, White, and Stadden with entry times of 2:05.61, 2:07.38, and 2:08.40, respectively. Berkoss comes into this event as a sneaky 10th seed in 2:12.19, between her and the pack are a number of Canadian talents in Madison Kryger, Ingrid Wilm, and Bridget Burton, and also features Mexican backstroke talents Celia Pulido and Daniela Linares Danzos.
The 50 back field is also very deep in its own right, with Berkoff as the clear top seed as the only swimmer in the field entered under 27 (26.97), just a few spots back are White and Stadden in 4th and 5th (27.75, 27.78). This event leans international, with names like Tessa Giele (3rd, 27.53), Wild (2nd, 27.48), and Lora Komoroczy (7th, 28.02) each hunting for a win in Westmont.
A good portion of the last five years of US women’s backstrokers will be in attendance in Westmont. Much of the opposing fields are international talents, giving these races a nice big meet feel, even if it’s just a stop on the Pro Swim Series.
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