Pro Swim Series Sacramento, Day 2 Finals: Torri Huske Wins Again in 100 Fly
Several of the world’s best swimmers were in action in their premier events Thursday evening in Sacramento, Calif., at the latest stop of USA Swimming’s Pro Swim Series. Olympic gold medalist Torri Huske was racing in the 100 butterfly, coming from behind to win her second event of the meet, while world champion Katharine Berkoff highlighted the 50 backstroke. In the men’s 50 back, Ryan Murphy was aiming for his first win in his first meet in almost two years.
Finals of the200 freestyle and 400 IM were also on the schedule along with the women’s 1500 free plus semifinals in the 200 breaststroke.
Women’s 1500 Freestyle
Louisville’s Thilda Hall opened the session with a convincing win in the 1500 free, clocking 16:25.99 to win by more than 28 seconds over her closest competitor. The Swede cut almost two seconds from her seed time of 16:27.71. Second place went to Michaela Mattes, now representing Sandpipers of Nevada, in 16:54.41, with 15-year-old Lily Chai third in 17:14.64.
Event 9 Women 1500 LC Meter Freestyle
==================================================================
World: W 15:20.48 5/16/2018 Katie Ledecky, USA
American: A 15:20.48 5/16/2018 Katie Ledecky, Stanford
U.S. Open: O 15:20.48 5/16/2018 Katie Ledecky, Stanford
Pro Swim: M 15:20.48 5/16/2018 Katie Ledecky, Stanford Swimmin
Jr World: 15:28.36 8/24/2014 Katie Ledecky, USA
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== Finals ===
1 Haell, Thilda 20 Univ Louisville- 16:27.71 16:25.99
r:+0.75 30.63 1:03.10 (32.47)
1:35.77 (32.67) 2:08.80 (33.03)
2:42.03 (33.23) 3:14.86 (32.83)
3:48.04 (33.18) 4:21.42 (33.38)
4:54.67 (33.25) 5:28.04 (33.37)
6:00.62 (32.58) 6:33.58 (32.96)
7:06.38 (32.80) 7:39.38 (33.00)
8:12.11 (32.73) 8:44.91 (32.80)
9:17.69 (32.78) 9:50.45 (32.76)
10:23.64 (33.19) 10:56.54 (32.90)
11:29.37 (32.83) 12:02.45 (33.08)
12:35.45 (33.00) 13:08.66 (33.21)
13:41.98 (33.32) 14:15.13 (33.15)
14:48.28 (33.15) 15:21.41 (33.13)
15:54.30 (32.89) 16:25.99 (31.69)
2 Mattes, Michaela 21 Sandpipers Of Ne 16:43.38 16:54.41
r:+0.71 30.23 1:02.72 (32.49)
1:35.85 (33.13) 2:08.93 (33.08)
2:42.11 (33.18) 3:15.10 (32.99)
3:48.20 (33.10) 4:21.55 (33.35)
4:54.92 (33.37) 5:28.15 (33.23)
6:01.15 (33.00) 6:34.14 (32.99)
7:07.34 (33.20) 7:40.69 (33.35)
8:13.97 (33.28) 8:47.63 (33.66)
9:21.38 (33.75) 9:55.78 (34.40)
10:30.79 (35.01) 11:05.43 (34.64)
11:40.25 (34.82) 12:14.86 (34.61)
12:49.88 (35.02) 13:24.69 (34.81)
14:00.12 (35.43) 14:34.92 (34.80)
15:10.10 (35.18) 15:45.08 (34.98)
16:20.13 (35.05) 16:54.41 (34.28)
3 Chai, Lily 15 Markham Aquatic- 17:26.44 17:14.64
r:+0.82 31.08 1:04.59 (33.51)
1:38.78 (34.19) 2:13.09 (34.31)
2:47.38 (34.29) 3:21.78 (34.40)
3:56.19 (34.41) 4:30.73 (34.54)
5:05.34 (34.61) 5:39.80 (34.46)
6:14.15 (34.35) 6:48.83 (34.68)
7:22.96 (34.13) 7:57.42 (34.46)
8:31.63 (34.21) 9:06.26 (34.63)
9:40.79 (34.53) 10:15.62 (34.83)
10:50.41 (34.79) 11:25.07 (34.66)
11:59.38 (34.31) 12:34.60 (35.22)
13:09.68 (35.08) 13:45.00 (35.32)
14:19.37 (34.37) 14:54.01 (34.64)
15:29.26 (35.25) 16:04.78 (35.52)
16:39.95 (35.17) 17:14.64 (34.69)
Women’s 100 Butterfly
Torri Huske has earned two wins in two tries in Sacramento thanks to her 100 butterfly triumph. This one required a strong losing split as Taylor Ruck and Marie Wattel both showed more speed than Huske, the 2024 Olympic gold medalist in the event and the third-fastest performer in history at 55.52. In this final, her first since withdrawing from the event at last year’s World Championships, Huske came over the top of the field with a 30.62 closing split.
Huske finished in 57.46 to win by a half-second. Ruck placed second in 57.95 while Wattel, who won World Championships silver behind Huske in 2022, took third in 58.15. Caroline Bricker, one of Huske’s teammates at Stanford and last year’s U.S. national champion in the 200 fly, placed fourth in 58.54.
Event 11 Women 100 LC Meter Butterfly
==================================================================
World: W 54.33 5/2/2026 Gretchen Walsh, USA
American: A 54.33 5/2/2026 Gretchen Walsh, New York Athleti
U.S. Open: O 54.33 5/2/2026 Gretchen Walsh, New York Athleti
Pro Swim: M 54.60 5/3/2025 Gretchen Walsh, New York Athleti
Jr World: 56.33 6/22/2024 Mizuki Hirai, JPN
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 Huske, Torri 23 Unattached-PV 59.34 57.46
r:+0.59 26.84 57.46 (30.62)
2 Ruck, Taylor 25 Swimming Canada- 58.90 57.95
r:+0.66 26.62 57.95 (31.33)
3 Wattel, Marie 28 Sun Devil Swimmi 59.17 58.15
r:+0.70 26.73 58.15 (31.42)
4 Bricker, Caroline 21 Alto Swim Club-P 59.38 58.54
r:+0.64 27.54 58.54 (31.00)
5 Lyon, Lismar 25 South Florida Aq 1:00.11 58.90
r:+0.60 27.28 58.90 (31.62)
6 Larsen, Caroline 20 Univ Louisville- 1:01.15 59.58
r:+0.73 27.52 59.58 (32.06)
7 Velte, Lucy 17 Empire KC Swim C 1:00.34 59.84
r:+0.62 27.94 59.84 (31.90)
8 Chavez, Ava 20 California Aquat 1:00.29 1:00.51
r:+0.64 28.07 1:00.51 (32.44)
Men’s 100 Butterfly
Sean Niewold was the only swimmer of the day to crack 52 seconds, doing so in prelims with his 51.88. The Dutch swimmer who trains at Alabama returned in the finals session to overtake Michael Andrew and secure the win. Trailing Andrew by 0.02 halfway through the race, Niewold finished in 52.13 for the win, with Andrew second in 52.36. NC State’s Aiden Hayes touched out Canada’s Finlay Knox for third, 52.60 to 52.67.
Event 12 Men 100 LC Meter Butterfly
==================================================================
World: W 49.45 7/31/2021 Caeleb Dressel, USA
American: A 49.45 7/30/2021 Caeleb Dressel, USA
U.S. Open: O 49.76 6/18/2021 Caeleb Dressel, Gator Swim Club
Pro Swim: M 50.42 5/3/2025 Ilya Kharun, Canada
Jr World: 50.62 7/29/2017 Kristof Milak, HUN
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 Niewold, Sean 24 Univ Alabama Swi 51.88 52.13
r:+0.68 24.05 52.13 (28.08)
2 Andrew, Michael 27 MA Swim Academy- 52.92 52.36
r:+0.68 24.03 52.36 (28.33)
3 Hayes, Aiden 22 NC State Univers 53.17 52.60
r:+0.65 24.26 52.60 (28.34)
4 Knox, Finlay 25 Swimming Canada- 53.34 52.67
r:+0.66 24.86 52.67 (27.81)
5 Cancelmo, Charlie 16 Seattle Metropol 53.73 53.22
r:+0.68 24.97 53.22 (28.25)
6 Brooks, Andres 19 Team Puerto Rico 54.41 53.66
r:+0.64 25.17 53.66 (28.49)
7 Dommann, Raben 25 Swimming Canada- 54.22 53.76
r:+0.74 25.51 53.76 (28.25)
8 Brown, Jack 18 California Aquat 53.89 53.87
r:+0.63 24.74 53.87 (29.13)
Women’s 200 Breaststroke Semifinals
Leading the way into the final was 16-year-old Mikayla Tan of San Ramon Valley, who swam a best time by more than 1.5 seconds in the semifinal round. Tan came in at 2:26.37, much quicker than her pre-meet best of 2:28.11. Tan sits just one second away from the 15-16 National Age Group record of 2:25.35, which was set by Anita Nall in 1992.
Fresno State’s Aliz Kalmar placed second here in 2:27.05 while Katie Christopherson got third in 2:30.75. Georgia’s Ieva Maluka was the last qualifier in 2:34.72.
Event 13 Women 200 LC Meter Breaststroke
==================================================================
World: W 2:17.55 4/21/2023 Evgeniia Chikunova, RUS
American: A 2:18.50 8/1/2025 Kate Douglass, USA
U.S. Open: O 2:19.30 1/13/2024 Kate Douglass, New York Athleti
Pro Swim: M 2:19.30 1/13/2024 Kate Douglass, New York Athleti
Jr World: 2:19.64 8/30/2015 Viktoria Gunes, TUR
Name Age Team Prelims Semis
==================================================================
=== Semi-Finals ===
1 Tan, Mikayla 16 San Ramon Valley 2:31.57 2:26.37
r:+0.68 33.53 1:10.73 (37.20)
1:48.50 (37.77) 2:26.37 (37.87)
2 Kalmar, Aliz 23 Fresno State Swi 2:29.99 2:27.05
r:+0.70 33.29 1:10.37 (37.08)
1:48.64 (38.27) 2:27.05 (38.41)
3 Christopherson, Katie 20 SwimAtlanta-GA 2:31.40 2:30.75
r:+0.62 34.32 1:12.38 (38.06)
1:50.88 (38.50) 2:30.75 (39.87)
4 Giraudeau, Melina 22 Maverick Aquatic 2:33.90 2:31.53
r:+0.64 34.43 1:12.95 (38.52)
1:52.00 (39.05) 2:31.53 (39.53)
5 Robillard, Adalene 18 Alto Swim Club-P 2:33.04 2:32.62
r:+0.69 34.67 1:13.82 (39.15)
1:52.99 (39.17) 2:32.62 (39.63)
6 Pulkkinen, Jenna 21 Fresno State Swi 2:34.04 2:32.70
r:+0.68 34.82 1:13.61 (38.79)
1:52.85 (39.24) 2:32.70 (39.85)
7 Slyngstadli, Silje 22 California Aquat 2:33.90 2:32.93
r:+0.67 34.52 1:13.20 (38.68)
1:52.40 (39.20) 2:32.93 (40.53)
8 Maluka, Ieva 23 Athens Bulldog S 2:36.87 2:34.72
r:+0.67 35.69 1:14.97 (39.28)
1:54.83 (39.86) 2:34.72 (39.89)
Men’s 200 Breaststroke Semifinals
The central players all advanced to the men’s 200 breast final. Spain’s Carles Coll Marti posted the top time by more than a second in the semifinal round, with the reigning short course world champion going 2:11.50. Cal’s Yamato Okadome, fresh off an NCAA title in the 200-yard breast, got second in 2:12.79, and the two Americans who swam at last year’s World Championships both advanced, with Josh Matheny fourth (2:13.44) and AJ Pouch sixth (2:13.71).
There was a tie for eighth, with Eli Martin and Grant Sanders recording identical marks of 2:14.37. That set up a potential swim-off to determine the last spot in Friday’s final.
Event 14 Men 200 LC Meter Breaststroke
==================================================================
World: W 2:05.48 7/28/2023 Haiyang Qin, CHN
American: A 2:06.54 6/19/2024 Matthew Fallon, Univ Pennsylvani
U.S. Open: O 2:06.54 6/19/2024 Matthew Fallon, Univ Pennsylvani
Pro Swim: M 2:08.18 4/13/2024 Matthew Fallon, UPenn
Jr World: 2:06.91 6/20/2025 Shin Ohashi, JPN
Name Age Team Prelims Semis
==================================================================
=== Semi-Finals ===
1 Coll Marti, Carles 24 Spain-IT 2:13.39 2:11.50
r:+0.60 29.60 1:03.40 (33.80)
1:37.23 (33.83) 2:11.50 (34.27)
2 Okadome, Yamato 20 California Aquat 2:18.29 2:12.79
r:+0.64 29.34 1:02.62 (33.28)
1:37.34 (34.72) 2:12.79 (35.45)
3 Eubanks, Andrew 18 Dolphins-OR 2:14.46 2:13.21
r:+0.65 30.19 1:04.34 (34.15)
1:38.15 (33.81) 2:13.21 (35.06)
4 Matheny, Josh 23 Indiana Swim Clu 2:15.52 2:13.44
r:+0.66 29.86 1:04.13 (34.27)
1:39.18 (35.05) 2:13.44 (34.26)
5 Ruiz, Xavier 19 Team Puerto Rico 2:16.16 2:13.58
r:+0.54 30.03 1:03.91 (33.88)
1:38.57 (34.66) 2:13.58 (35.01)
6 Pouch, AJ 25 Pinnacle Racing- 2:14.25 2:13.71
r:+0.65 30.61 1:04.33 (33.72)
1:38.81 (34.48) 2:13.71 (34.90)
7 Li, Daniel 20 Rose Bowl Aquati 2:15.79 2:14.26
r:+0.65 30.55 1:04.95 (34.40)
1:39.60 (34.65) 2:14.26 (34.66)
8 Martin, Eli 20 Virginia Tech-VA 2:15.47 2:14.37
r:+0.72 30.57 1:04.13 (33.56)
1:38.86 (34.73) 2:14.37 (35.51)
8 Sanders, Grant 28 Saint Petersburg 2:17.26 2:14.37
r:+0.67 30.73 1:05.12 (34.39)
1:39.46 (34.34) 2:14.37 (34.91)
Women’s 50 Backstroke
It was going to take a huge effort to knock off the world champion in the women’s 50 back, and no one in Sacramento was up to the task. Katharine Berkoff led the field in prelims at 27.73 and swam even faster at night, coming in at 27.41 to take down the field. Berkoff holds the world’s fastest time for 2026 with the 27.24 she swam at the Westmont Pro Series in March.
Cal’s Mary-Ambre Moluh was the only swimmer close to Berkoff, coming in at 27.80 to claim second place, with Kaitlyn Owens edging Rhyan White for third, 28.23 to 28.39.
Event 15 Women 50 LC Meter Backstroke
==================================================================
World: W 26.86 10/20/2023Kaylee McKeown, AUS
American: A 26.97 6/5/2025 Katharine Berkoff, Wolfpack Elite
U.S. Open: O 26.97 6/5/2025 Katharine Berkoff, Wolfpack Elite
Pro Swim: M 27.13 5/1/2025 Kylie Masse, Canada
Jr World: 27.49 1/29/2016 Minna Atherton, AUS
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 Berkoff, Katharine 25 Wolfpack Elite-N 27.73 27.41
r:+0.59
2 Moluh, Mary-Ambre 20 California Aquat 28.09 27.80
r:+0.69
3 Owens, Kaitlyn 23 Texas A & M Univ 28.20 28.23
r:+0.57
4 White, Rhyan 26 Wolfpack Elite-N 28.66 28.39
r:+0.68
5 Berlin, Alana 19 Schroeder Swim T 29.61 29.02
r:+0.59
6 Antoniou, Kalia 26 Unattached-SE 29.11 29.14
r:+0.67
7 Thresher, Summer 17 Unattached-SN 29.62 29.16
r:+0.87
8 Clark, Ryley 19 Fresno State Swi 29.67 29.34
r:+0.70