Pro Swim Series Sacramento, Day 1 Finals: Luka Mijatovic Dominates 1500 Freestyle With First Sub-15:00 Performance
The USA Swimming Pro Swim Series resumed Wednesday in Sacramento, Calif., with numerous high-level swimmers competing for the first time in months. Three-time Olympian Ryan Murphy was competing for the first time since the Paris Olympics while Torri Huske was making her first long course appearance of 2026 and her first asa professional swimmer.
The first evening session of the meet included the fastest heat of the men’s 1500 freestyle, where teenage freestyle star Luka Mijatovic got under 15:00 for the first time in his career. After that were the women’s and men’s 200 IM, 50 breaststroke and 100 backstroke plus the 200 free semifinals.
Men’s 1500 Freestyle
As he has broken onto the senior-level national team, Luka Mijatovic has excelled primarily in the 400 freestyle while also showing strong skills in the 200 and 800. His range also extends to 1500 meters, as he proved in the first final in Sacramento. In a race he utterly dominated, Mijatovic swam under 15:00 for the first time while dropping more than 16 seconds from his personal best time.
Splitting between 30.1 and 30.5 for most of the race after a quick start, Mijatovic flipped at the 1400-meter mark in 14:01.93. Needing a split of 58.0 or better to break the barrier, Mijatovic fired off lengths of 29.47 and 27.87 to blast his way to the wall in 14:59.27, a huge leap from his previous top time of 14:59.27. The 17-year-old became the fourth-fastest American ever in the 17-18 age group, trailing the Olympian quartet of Larsen Jensen, Bobby Finke and Luke Whitlock. Had he gone this time just months earlier, Mijatovic would have surpassed the 15-16 NAG record of 15:03.91, a mark set by Bobby Hackett all the way back in 1976.
As for the rest of the field, South Florida’s Juan Vallmitjana took second in 15:24.07 while Ellis Crisci was third (15:32.32).
Event 10 Men 1500 LC Meter Freestyle
==================================================================
World: W 14:30.67 8/4/2024 Bobby Finke, USA
American: A 14:30.67 8/4/2024 Bobby Finke, USA
U.S. Open: O 14:40.28 6/23/2024 Bobby Finke, Saint Petersburg
Pro Swim: M 14:52.33 3/6/2026 Samuel Short, Australia
Jr World: 14:41.22 8/4/2024 Kuzey Tuncelli, TUR
Name Age Team Seed Finals
==================================================================
1 Mijatovic, Luka 17 Pleasanton Seaha 15:15.95 14:59.27
r:+0.71 26.82 55.99 (29.17)
1:25.67 (29.68) 1:55.62 (29.95)
2:25.75 (30.13) 2:56.00 (30.25)
3:26.03 (30.03) 3:56.23 (30.20)
4:26.50 (30.27) 4:56.71 (30.21)
5:26.78 (30.07) 5:56.84 (30.06)
6:26.85 (30.01) 6:57.17 (30.32)
7:27.28 (30.11) 7:57.71 (30.43)
8:27.84 (30.13) 8:58.40 (30.56)
9:28.60 (30.20) 9:58.97 (30.37)
10:29.27 (30.30) 10:59.93 (30.66)
11:30.15 (30.22) 12:00.63 (30.48)
12:30.89 (30.26) 13:01.44 (30.55)
13:31.62 (30.18) 14:01.93 (30.31)
14:31.40 (29.47) 14:59.27 (27.87)
2 Vallmitjana, Juan 17 South Florida Aq 15:16.61 15:24.07
r:+0.72 27.98 57.83 (29.85)
1:28.63 (30.80) 1:59.45 (30.82)
2:30.22 (30.77) 3:01.16 (30.94)
3:32.36 (31.20) 4:03.25 (30.89)
4:34.29 (31.04) 5:05.35 (31.06)
5:36.37 (31.02) 6:07.42 (31.05)
6:38.42 (31.00) 7:09.55 (31.13)
7:40.66 (31.11) 8:11.78 (31.12)
8:42.97 (31.19) 9:14.22 (31.25)
9:45.53 (31.31) 10:16.80 (31.27)
10:47.76 (30.96) 11:18.91 (31.15)
11:49.70 (30.79) 12:20.80 (31.10)
12:51.63 (30.83) 13:22.58 (30.95)
13:53.30 (30.72) 14:24.60 (31.30)
14:54.77 (30.17) 15:24.07 (29.30)
3 Crisci, Ellis 17 Tsunami Swim Tea 15:20.93 15:32.32
r:+0.68 26.96 56.13 (29.17)
1:25.97 (29.84) 1:56.30 (30.33)
2:26.83 (30.53) 2:57.70 (30.87)
3:28.67 (30.97) 3:59.58 (30.91)
4:30.61 (31.03) 5:02.00 (31.39)
5:33.39 (31.39) 6:04.68 (31.29)
6:36.36 (31.68) 7:07.56 (31.20)
7:38.57 (31.01) 8:10.06 (31.49)
8:41.86 (31.80) 9:13.29 (31.43)
9:44.99 (31.70) 10:16.74 (31.75)
10:48.10 (31.36) 11:19.01 (30.91)
11:50.02 (31.01) 12:21.52 (31.50)
12:53.40 (31.88) 13:25.12 (31.72)
13:56.85 (31.73) 14:28.91 (32.06)
15:01.01 (32.10) 15:32.32 (31.31)
Women’s 200 IM
Torri Huske had virtually no competition as she cruised to a win in the 200 IM. In the lead by more than 1.5 seconds after backstroke, Huske held the field at bay through breaststroke before coming home in 31.21 to wrap up the win. Her final time was 2:11.34, more than four seconds quicker than she swam in prelims.
Huske has posted sub-2:10 performances in her career and she won an NCAA title in the 200-yard IM in 2025, but she has never raced individual medley in international competition, often choosing to prioritize sprint butterfly and freestyle races as Kate Douglass and Alex Walsh have been the premier Americans in the race.
Second place went to Katie Christopherson, a University of Virginia swimmer best known for breaststroke, in 2:13.15, while 14-year-old Lauren Lonsdale of host DART Swimming placed third in 2:14.27. That time made Lonsdale the fourth-quickest swimmer ever in her age group behind the star trio of Teagan O’Dell, Missy Franklin and Leah Hayes.
Event 1 Women 200 LC Meter IM
==================================================================
World: W 2:05.70 6/9/2025 Summer McIntosh, CAN
American: A 2:06.15 7/27/2009 Ariana Kukors, USA
U.S. Open: O 2:06.79 6/22/2024 Kate Douglass, New York Athleti
Pro Swim: M 2:06.82 3/7/2025 Summer McIntosh, Canada
Jr World: 2:06.56 8/3/2024 Summer McIntosh, CAN
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 Huske, Torri 23 Unattached-PV 2:15.67 2:11.34
r:+0.58 27.79 1:01.29 (33.50)
1:40.13 (38.84) 2:11.34 (31.21)
2 Christopherson, Katie 20 SwimAtlanta-GA 2:15.04 2:13.15
r:+0.61 28.41 1:03.87 (35.46)
1:41.65 (37.78) 2:13.15 (31.50)
3 Lonsdale, Lauren 14 DART Swimming-SN 2:16.38 2:14.27
r:+0.67 29.15 1:02.81 (33.66)
1:42.61 (39.80) 2:14.27 (31.66)
4 Tan, Mikayla 16 San Ramon Valley 2:17.41 2:14.92
r:+0.69 28.83 1:05.24 (36.41)
1:43.02 (37.78) 2:14.92 (31.90)
5 McDevitt, Alexa 19 California Aquat 2:15.15 2:15.12
r:+0.68 29.53 1:04.65 (35.12)
1:44.07 (39.42) 2:15.12 (31.05)
6 Landreneau, Marie 20 City Of Lafayett 2:16.34 2:15.13
r:+0.87 29.45 1:05.60 (36.15)
1:44.95 (39.35) 2:15.13 (30.18)
7 Hussein, Emma 16 Canyons Aquatic- 2:17.03 2:16.06
r:+0.72 29.51 1:05.58 (36.07)
1:44.55 (38.97) 2:16.06 (31.51)
8 Maluka, Ieva 23 Athens Bulldog S 2:16.39 2:16.34
r:+0.66 29.33 1:03.51 (34.18)
1:44.33 (40.82) 2:16.34 (32.01)
Men’s 200 IM
Canadian Finlay Knox was the only swimmer to crack 2:00 in the men’s 200 IM as he pulled away from Grant House down the stretch. Knox, a two-time Olympian the 2024 world champion in the event, pulled away slightly from House on each stroke, stretching the advantage to 1.34 seconds down the freestyle leg, finishing in 1:59.27 for the triumph.
House placed second in 2:00.61 while Grant Sanders had the strongest back half in the field, moving up for third in 2:01.01.
Event 2 Men 200 LC Meter IM
==================================================================
World: W 1:52.69 7/30/2025 Leon Marchand, FRA
American: A 1:54.00 7/28/2011 Ryan Lochte, USA
U.S. Open: O 1:54.43 8/18/2010 Ryan Lochte, Daytona Beach
Pro Swim: M 1:55.68 4/15/2023 Leon Marchand, France
Jr World: 1:56.99 5/19/2021 Hubert Kos, HUN
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 Knox, Finlay 25 Swimming Canada- 2:02.35 1:59.27
r:+0.71 25.02 55.72 (30.70)
1:30.61 (34.89) 1:59.27 (28.66)
2 House, Grant 27 Sun Devil Swimmi 2:02.97 2:00.61
r:+0.63 25.27 56.25 (30.98)
1:31.58 (35.33) 2:00.61 (29.03)
3 Sanders, Grant 28 Saint Petersburg 2:03.11 2:01.01
r:+0.70 26.13 57.43 (31.30)
1:32.04 (34.61) 2:01.01 (28.97)
4 Turner, Jacob 20 Unattached-NE 2:03.75 2:03.15
r:+0.64 25.44 57.46 (32.02)
1:33.84 (36.38) 2:03.15 (29.31)
5 Ruiz, Xavier 19 Team Puerto Rico 2:04.09 2:03.27
r:+0.54 26.89 58.96 (32.07)
1:33.57 (34.61) 2:03.27 (29.70)
6 Kabbara, Munzy 23 Lebanon-IT 2:03.72 2:03.48
r:+0.62 26.68 58.34 (31.66)
1:34.42 (36.08) 2:03.48 (29.06)
7 Hartzler, Jackson 17 Cypress Fairbank 2:04.48 2:04.60
r:+0.78 26.25 57.84 (31.59)
1:34.48 (36.64) 2:04.60 (30.12)
8 Maddan, Jack 16 First Colony Swi 2:05.66 2:06.12
r:+0.65 27.13 1:00.20 (33.07)
1:35.96 (35.76) 2:06.12 (30.16)
Women’s 50 Breaststroke
A pair of Norweigan standouts went head-to-head in a tight 50 breaststroke final. Frida Loebersli, who competes Florida Atlantic University, took the narrow win in 30.91, making her the only swimmer under 31. Loebersli edged out Cal’s Silje Slyngstadli,who touched in 31.04, while teenager Mikayla Tan came in third (31.14).
Event 3 Women 50 LC Meter Breaststroke
==================================================================
World: W 29.16 7/30/2023 Ruta Meilutyte, LTU
American: A 29.40 7/30/2017 Lilly King, USA
U.S. Open: O 29.62 6/10/2018 Lilly King, Indiana Univ
Pro Swim: M 29.62 6/10/2018 Lilly King, Indiana Univ
Jr World: 29.30 5/22/2021 Benedetta Pilato, ITA
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 Loebersli, Frida 22 Golden Panther A 31.11 30.91
r:+0.65
2 Slyngstadli, Silje 22 California Aquat 31.55 31.04
r:+0.68
3 Tan, Mikayla 16 San Ramon Valley 31.66 31.14
r:+0.61
4 Thomas, Lucy 20 Alto Swim Club-P 31.32 31.28
r:+0.64
5 Kalmar, Aliz 23 Fresno State Swi 31.98 31.33
r:+0.70
6 Larsen, Caroline 20 Univ Louisville- 31.75 31.36
r:+0.66
7 Pulkkinen, Jenna 21 Fresno State Swi 31.79 31.48
r:+0.67
8 Sileo-Magliari, Sophi 18 Upper Dublin Aqu 32.82 32.05
r:+0.63
Men’s 50 Breaststroke
Michael Andrew dipped under 27 in the morning session, and he showed some consistency by going almost the exact same time at night. Andrew touched in 26.96 to win the race by seven hundredths. Andrew, now 27, was the bronze medalist in this race at the 2022 World Championships, and it represents one of his best chances to return to the Olympic team in 2028 after he narrowly missed the Tokyo Games.
Just behind the sprint specialist was Cal’s Yamato Okadome, racing in his first meet since sweeping the NCAA titles in the 100 and 200-yard breast in March. Okadome went 27.03 for second place while Mitch Mason was third in 27.10.
Event 4 Men 50 LC Meter Breaststroke
==================================================================
World: W 25.95 7/25/2017 Adam Peaty, GBR
American: A 26.45 3/21/2022 Nic Fink, USA
U.S. Open: O 26.52 4/28/2022 Michael Andrew, MA Swim Academy
Pro Swim: M 26.57 1/15/2026 Van Mathias, Indiana Swim Clu
Jr World: 26.97 4/4/2017 Nicolo Martinenghi, ITA
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 Andrew, Michael 27 MA Swim Academy- 26.97 26.96
r:+0.66
2 Okadome, Yamato 20 California Aquat 27.36 27.03
r:+0.66
3 Mason, Mitch 23 Texas Ford Aquat 27.22 27.10
r:+0.64
4 Schreuders, Mikel 27 MA Swim Academy- 27.44 27.29
r:+0.57
5 Higdon, Tom 28 DART Swimming-SN 27.66 27.74
r:+0.62
6 Bratanov, Koko 25 Texas Ford Aquat 28.07 27.82
r:+0.62
7 Eubanks, Andrew 18 Dolphins-OR 27.76 27.91
r:+0.63
8 Romanov, Pavel 32 Unattached-CA 28.08 28.19
r:+0.66
Women’s 100 Backstroke
For each of the last three years, Katharine Berkoff has been the third best 100 backstroker in the world, falling only to Australia’s Kaylee McKeown and American teammate Regan Smith at major international competitions. Currently, the domestic competition looks stronger than ever as a resurgent Isabelle Stadden joins an already-crowded backstroke contingent, but Berkoff is nothing if not consistently strong.
The 25-year-old pulled away from Cal’s Mary-Ambre Moluh for the win in Sacramento, clocking 58.88. That time was just six hundredths off her season best of 58.82 from March, and she ranks fifth in the world this year behind Smith, Stadden, McKeown and Aussie Mollie O’Callaghan.
Moluh took second in 59.41 while Rhyan White, the fourth-place finisher in the event from the Tokyo Olympics, placed third in 1:00.93 after going 1:00.58 in the morning. Notably, freestyle specialist Kennedi Dobson took fourth in 1:01.98, a half-second best time indicative of a strong meet to come in her main events.
Event 5 Women 100 LC Meter Backstroke
==================================================================
World: W 57.13 6/18/2024 Regan Smith, USA
American: A 57.13 6/18/2024 Regan Smith, Longhorn Aquatic
U.S. Open: O 57.13 6/18/2024 Regan Smith, Longhorn Aquatic
Pro Swim: M 57.46 5/3/2025 Regan Smith, Longhorn Aquatic
Jr World: 57.57 7/28/2019 Regan Smith, USA
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 Berkoff, Katharine 25 Wolfpack Elite-N 1:00.59 58.88
r:+0.60 28.61 58.88 (30.27)
2 Moluh, Mary-Ambre 20 California Aquat 59.76 59.41
r:+0.65 29.00 59.41 (30.41)
3 White, Rhyan 26 Wolfpack Elite-N 1:00.58 1:00.93
r:+0.64 29.65 1:00.93 (31.28)
4 Dobson, Kennedi 19 Eastern Express- 1:02.46 1:01.98
r:+0.75 30.38 1:01.98 (31.60)
5 Owens, Kaitlyn 23 Texas A & M Univ 1:02.02 1:02.37
r:+0.67 29.81 1:02.37 (32.56)
6 Thornton, Maddie 17 Bend Swim Club-O 1:04.04 1:03.57
r:+0.92 31.15 1:03.57 (32.42)
7 Burton, Bridget 20 Swimming Canada- 1:04.45 1:03.83
r:+0.67 30.38 1:03.83 (33.45)
8 Isleta, Chloe 28 Phoenix Swim Clu 1:04.22 1:04.40
r:+0.72 31.12 1:04.40 (33.28)
Men’s 100 Backstroke
The great Ryan Murphy is back on the scene and already showing signs of the swimmer who dominated backstroke in the United States for so long. In his first final in almost two years, Murphy had the lead in the opening portion of this 100 back before eventually finishing second behind a swimmer a decade younger, NC State’s Daniel Diehl.
Diehl, whose bronze-medal-winning time of 52.94 from last year’s World University Games earned him a ticket to the Pan Pacific Championships, came into the finish at 53.74, with Murphy not far back at 53.91. Amid a relatively rough stretch in American men’s backstroking, the times rank first and third among Americans thus far in 2026, with Shaine Casas in between the two at 53.76.
Third place her went to Canada’s Blake Tierney at 54.59 while a second NC State swimmer, Gavin Keough, came in fourth (55.21).
Event 6 Men 100 LC Meter Backstroke
==================================================================
World: W 51.60 6/20/2022 Thomas Ceccon, ITA
American: A 51.85 8/13/2016 Ryan Murphy, USA
U.S. Open: O 51.94 7/8/2009 Aaron Peirsol, Longhorn
Pro Swim: M 52.40 6/4/2016 David Plummer, New York Athleti
Jr World: 52.08 7/28/2024 Miron Lifintsev, NAB
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 Diehl, Daniel 20 NC State Univers 55.36 53.74
r:+0.74 26.20 53.74 (27.54)
2 Murphy, Ryan 30 California Aquat 55.65 53.91
r:+0.65 26.00 53.91 (27.91)
3 Tierney, Blake P 24 Swimming Canada- 56.02 54.59
r:+0.79 26.47 54.59 (28.12)
4 Keogh, Gavin 18 NC State Univers 55.63 55.21
r:+0.68 27.02 55.21 (28.19)
5 Ekk, Ethan 19 Alto Swim Club-P 56.00 55.35
r:+0.60 27.44 55.35 (27.91)
6 Hagar, Tommy 21 Univ Alabama Swi 55.08 55.41
r:+0.67 27.04 55.41 (28.37)
7 Dommann, Raben 25 Swimming Canada- 56.46 55.78
r:+0.74 27.61 55.78 (28.17)
8 Patil, Utkarsh 21 Indiana Swim Clu 56.58 56.30
r:+0.65 27.46 56.30 (28.84)
Women’s 200 Freestyle Semifinals
Fresh off her 100 back best time, Kennedi Dobson paced the field in the 200 free semifinal round by more than a second. The 19-year-old swam a time of 1:58.14, within seven tenths of her best time of 1:57.45 from last summer.
Dobson will have a series of Olympic medalists racing her in the final with Bella Sims (1:59.51), Torri Huske (2:00.21) and Taylor Ruck (2:00.48) all getting in. Marie Landreneau was the third swimmer after Dobson and Sims to crack 2:00 (1:59.66), and 14-year-old Lauren Lonsdale was the final qualifier at 2:02.43.
Event 7 Women 200 LC Meter Freestyle
==================================================================
World: W 1:52.23 6/12/2024 Ariarne Titmus, AUS
American: A 1:53.61 7/31/2012 Allison Schmitt, USA Olympic Team
U.S. Open: O 1:53.80 3/6/2026 Summer McIntosh, Longhorn Aquatic
Pro Swim: M 1:53.80 3/6/2026 Summer McIntosh, Longhorn Aquatic
Jr World: 1:53.65 7/26/2023 Summer McIntosh, CAN
Name Age Team Prelims Semis
==================================================================
=== Semi-Finals ===
1 Dobson, Kennedi 19 Eastern Express- 1:58.92 1:58.14
r:+0.74 27.81 57.82 (30.01)
1:28.07 (30.25) 1:58.14 (30.07)
2 Sims, Bella 20 Sandpipers Of Ne 2:01.35 1:59.51
r:+0.56 27.47 57.40 (29.93)
1:28.80 (31.40) 1:59.51 (30.71)
3 Landreneau, Marie 20 City Of Lafayett 1:59.53 1:59.69
r:+0.81 27.97 58.53 (30.56)
1:29.57 (31.04) 1:59.69 (30.12)
4 Huske, Torri 23 Unattached-PV 2:02.06 2:00.21
r:+0.60 27.49 58.42 (30.93)
1:29.73 (31.31) 2:00.21 (30.48)
5 Stepanek, Chloe 24 Long Island Aqua 1:59.86 2:00.24
r:+0.71 28.04 58.44 (30.40)
1:29.55 (31.11) 2:00.24 (30.69)
6 Ruck, Taylor 25 Swimming Canada- 2:01.06 2:00.48
r:+0.67 27.52 58.65 (31.13)
1:29.78 (31.13) 2:00.48 (30.70)
7 McDevitt, Alexa 19 California Aquat 2:01.84 2:02.13
r:+0.68 28.95 59.74 (30.79)
1:31.00 (31.26) 2:02.13 (31.13)
8 Lonsdale, Lauren 14 DART Swimming-SN 2:04.87 2:02.43
r:+0.70 28.62 59.52 (30.90)
1:31.30 (31.78) 2:02.43 (31.13)
Men’s 200 Freestyle Semifinals
Not long after posting an enormous swim in the 1500 free, Luka Mijatovic returned for the 200 free semifinals and qualified comfortably for the final. Mijatovic’s tiem of 1:48.27 ranked behind only Henry McFadden, the multi-time World Championships qualifier in the 800 free relay who finished in 1:47.98.
Expect a clear top-three in the final after Keaton Jones, better known for his backstroke abilities, went 1:48.31 for third, just eight hundredths off his best time. Ethan Ekk alo got under 1:50 (1:49.09), and the last man in was Zach Parise at 1:50.95.
Event 8 Men 200 LC Meter Freestyle
==================================================================
World: W 1:42.00 7/28/2009 Paul Biedermann, GER
American: A 1:42.96 8/12/2008 Michael Phelps, USA
U.S. Open: O 1:43.73 6/4/2025 Luke Hobson, Longhorn Aquatic
Pro Swim: M 1:44.82 6/3/2016 Yang Sun, China
Jr World: 1:42.97 8/15/2023 David Popovici, ROU
Name Age Team Prelims Semis
==================================================================
=== Semi-Finals ===
1 McFadden, Henry 20 Jersey Wahoos-MA 1:49.32 1:47.98
r:+0.67 25.39 52.52 (27.13)
1:20.66 (28.14) 1:47.98 (27.32)
2 Mijatovic, Luka 17 Pleasanton Seaha 1:48.87 1:48.27
r:+0.71 25.50 53.15 (27.65)
1:20.74 (27.59) 1:48.27 (27.53)
3 Jones, Keaton 21 California Aquat 1:49.18 1:48.31
r:+0.71 24.72 51.90 (27.18)
1:19.95 (28.05) 1:48.31 (28.36)
4 Ekk, Ethan 19 Alto Swim Club-P 1:51.45 1:49.09
r:+0.73 25.77 53.68 (27.91)
1:21.65 (27.97) 1:49.09 (27.44)
5 Tepper, Joey 23 Univ Minnesota-M 1:51.51 1:50.36
r:+0.81 25.75 53.90 (28.15)
1:22.21 (28.31) 1:50.36 (28.15)
6 Gaziev, Ruslan 26 Swimming Canada- 1:51.27 1:50.61
r:+0.69 25.35 53.12 (27.77)
1:21.59 (28.47) 1:50.61 (29.02)
7 Whitfield, Brendan 21 Virginia Tech-VA 1:51.29 1:50.92
r:+0.66 25.73 53.72 (27.99)
1:22.29 (28.57) 1:50.92 (28.63)
8 Parise, Zach 20 Swimming Canada- 1:51.55 1:50.95
r:+0.70 25.88 53.69 (27.81)
1:21.99 (28.30) 1:50.95 (28.96)