By Spencer Penland on SwimSwam
2025 WORLD AQUATICS SWIMMING WORLD CUP – Westmont
- October 17-19, 2025
- Westmont, Illinois
- SCM (25 meters)
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
Here we are: stop #2 of the 2025 World Cup. We’ve traveled across state lines from last week’s stop in Carmel to Westmont, IL. This morning’s action should be just as competitive as it was last week, so we should be in for a treat.
Gretchen Walsh should be one of the stars of this stop once again. Walsh will be racing the 50 back and 100 IM this morning. Walsh is already the World Record holder in the 100 IM, and she’s very close to the 50 back record mark.
Hubert Kos comes in as the top seed in the men’s 200 back by a wide margin. Kos is just 0.02 seconds off the World Record mark in the 200 back.
Women’s 400 Freestyle – Slow Heats
- World Record: 3:50.25 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2024)
- World Junior Record: 3:50.25 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2024)
- World Cup Record: 3:52.80 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2022)
- U.S. Open Record: 3:54.04 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2022)
Results From Slow Heats:
Out of the slow heats, USC’s Minna Abraham (Hungary) led the way with a 4:03.44. That swim stands as a career best for Abraham, and we’ll see where it lands her tonight, once the fastest heat has swum. She was out fast, splitting 1:58.21 on the opening 200m, then she fell off that pace a bit, coming home in 2:05.23 on the back half.
Another Trojan, Justina Kozan, was 2nd in this morning’s heat, swimming a 4:06.97. Chloe Stepanek rounded out the top 3 this morning, clocking a 4:07.02.
Men’s 400 Freestyle – Slow Heats
- World Record: 3:32.25 – Yannick Agnel, FRA (2012)
- World Junior Record: 3:37.92 – Matthew Sates, RSA (2021)
- World Cup Record: 3:32.77 – Paul Biedermann, GER (2009)
- U.S. Open Record: 3:35.99 – Kieran Smith, USA (2022)
Results From Slow Heats:
Luke Hobson led the way out of the slow heats of the men’s 400 free this morning. Hobson popped a 3:38.90, marking a huge lifetime best. Hobson blew away his previous mark of 3:43.87, which he swam last weekend in Carmel. We’ll see how his time stacks up against the fastest heat tonight, but he should finish fairly high.
Brendon Smith (Australia) was 2nd out of this morning’s heats, swimming a 3:42.28. Great Britain’s Max Litchfield came in 3rd this morning with a 3:43.03.
Women’s 50 Backstroke – Heats
- World Record: 25.23 – Regan Smith, USA (2024)
- World Junior Record: 26.03 – Sara Curtis, ITA (2024)
- World Cup Record: 25.36 – Kaylee McKeown, AUS (2024)
- U.S. Open Record: 25.37 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2024)
TOP 8:
- Mollie O’Callaghan (Australia) – 25.73
- Katharine Berkoff (USA) – 25.84
- Kaylee McKeown (Australia) – 25.87
- Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 25.99
- Kylie Masse (Canada) – 26.07
- Sara Curtis (Italy) – 26.33
- Rhyan White (USA) – 26.50
- Roos Vanotterdijk (Belgium) – 26.58
Mollie O’Callaghan led an excellent field in the women’s 50 back this morning. O’Callaghan popped a 25.73, putting her exactly half a second off the World Record mark of 25.23. She was also just off the 25.80 she swam for 2nd at last week’s stop of the World Cup.
Katharine Berkoff, Kaylee McKeown, and Gretchen Walsh were all under 26 seconds this morning as well. McKeown was the winner in the this event last week in Carmel, where she clocked a 25.42.
Berkoff was 3rd last week with a 25.82 and nearly matched that time this morning, swimming a 25.84.
Walsh will be the wild card in this race tonight, as she didn’t compete in the 50 back last week. As pure a sprinter as there is, Walsh could easily upset this field of some of the fastest backstrokers in the world tonight. She holds a career best of 25.37, which she swam last year.
Men’s 200 Backstroke – Heats
- World Record: 1:45.63 – Mitch Larkin, AUS (2015)
- World Junior Record: 1:48.02 – Kliment Kolesnikov, RUS (2017)
- World Cup Record: 1:46.11 – Arkady Vyatchanin, RUS (2009)
- U.S. Open Record: 1:48.40 – Shaine Casas, USA (2022)
TOP 8:
- Hubert Kos (Hungary) – 1:50.68
- Thomas Ceccon (Italy) – 1:51.21
- Enoch Robb (Australia) – 1:51.57
- Joshua Edwards-Smith (Australia) – 1:52.03
- Alexandre Desangles (France) – 1:52.07
- Tomoyuki Matsushita (Japan) – 1:52.15
- Yeziel Morales (France) – 1:52.23
- Kacper Stokowski (Poland) – 1:52.32
Hubert Kos led the way in the men’s 200 back prelims this morning, swimming a 1:50.68. After winning the event last week in 1:46.84, Kos was back in action this morning, posting the top time of the morning.
While he won’t have his training partner, Leon Marchand, there to push him tonight, he does have Thomas Ceccon this time around. Ceccon, the World Record holder in the LCM 100 back, swam his career best of 1:51.21 this morning to take 2nd overall. We don’t know exactly what Ceccon is capable of in this race tonight in finals, but it stands to reason that he could pop a big swim.
Australia’s Enoch Robb rounded out the top 3 this morning with a 1:51.57.
Women’s 200 Butterfly – Heats
- World Record: 1:59.32 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2024)
- World Junior Record: 1:59.32 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2024)
- World Cup Record: 2:00.28 – Regan Smith, USA (2025)
- U.S. Open Record: 2:00.28 – Regan Smith, USA (2025)
TOP 8:
- Regan Smith (USA) – 2:04.48
- Brittany Castelluzzo (Australia) – 2:06.97
- Laura Lahtinen (Finland) – 2:07.42
- Emily Richards (Great Britain) – 2:07.58
- Ellen Walshe (Ireland) – 2:08.16
- Bella Grant (Australia) – 2:08.59
- Ella Jansen (Canada) – 2:09.13
- Mio Narita (Japan) – 2:11.43
After her World Cup Record breaking performance last week, Regan Smith is back in action here in Westmont. Smith posted a 2:04.48 this morning, which is well off the 2:00.28 she swam to win the event last week, but was still enough for her to take the top seed for finals tonight by over 2 seconds. She was out in 59.40 on the first 100 this morning, which we can expect to be considerably quicker tonight.
Australia’s Brittany Castelluzzo came in 2nd this morning with a 2:06.97. Castelluzzo finished 4th last week in Carmel, where she swam a 2:05.49 in finals.
Ireland’s Ellen Walshe was the bronze medalist in this race last week, and she’ll look to repeat or improve on that finish this time around. Walshe went 2:08.16 this morning, taking 5th overall and earning her way into finals. She went 2:05.07 last week in Carmel.
Men’s 100 Butterfly – Heats
- World Record: 47.71 – Noe Ponti, SUI (2024)
- World Junior Record: 49.03 – Ilya Kharun, CAN (2022)
- World Cup Record: 48.40 – Noe Ponti, SUI (2024)
- U.S. Open Record: 48.53 – Noe Ponti, SUI (2025)
TOP 8:
- Ilya Kharun (Canada) – 49.16
- Noe Ponti (Switzerland) – 49.94
- Ksawery Masiuk (Poland) – 50.05
- Finlay Brooks (USA) – 50.42
- Josh Liendo (Canada) – 50.51
- Trenton Julian (USA) – 50.52
- Simone Stefani (Italy) – 50.64
- Kamil Sieradzki (Poland) – 51.02
Ilya Kharun clocked the fastest time of the morning in the men’s 100 fly, touching in 49.16. The World Junior Record holder in the event from back in 2022, Kharun was just off his career best of 49.02, which he swam last week in Carmel.
This morning has set up another showdown between Kharun and Noe Ponti. Ponti won the race last week in 48.53, setting a new US Open Record in the process. He’s also the World Record holder in the event, holding a career mark of 47.71.
Ksawery Masiuk, Josh Liendo, and Trenton Julian are all returning finalists from last week as well. Liendo came in 4th last week with a 50.20, and was 50.51 this morning for 5th overall.
Masiuk was faster this morning than he was in finals last week, swimming a 50.05 this morning after taking 5th last week in 50.30.
Women’s 200 Breaststroke – Heats
- World Record: 2:12.50 – Kate Douglass, USA (2024)
- World Junior Record: 2:14.70 – Evgeniia Chikunova, RUS (2023)
- World Cup Record: 2:12.72 – Kate Douglass, USA (2024)
- U.S. Open Record: 2:13.97 – Kate Douglass, USA (2025)
TOP 8:
- Kate Douglass (USA) – 2:18.34
- Rebecca Meder (South Africa) – 2:19.92
- Alex Walsh (USA) – 2:20.07
- Mona McSharry (Ireland) – 2:20.12
- Ella Ramsay (Australia) – 2:21.10
- Anastasia Gorbenko (Israel) – 2:23.08
- Sophie Angus (Canada) – 2:23.26
- Brearna Crawford (New Zealand) – 2:23.97
Kate Douglass is back in action this week after setting the US Open Record in the 200 breast last week in Carmel. Douglass clocked a 2:18.34 this morning, which is well off the 2:13.97 she went last week to win the event, but she was still plenty fast enough to earn the top spot this morning.
South Africa’s Rebecca Meder was also under 2:20 this morning, swimming a 2:19.92 for 2nd. Meder earned the bronze medal last week in Carmel, where she swam a 2:18.14 in finals.
Alex Walsh made her debut at this stop of the meet, swimming a 2:20.07 for 3rd this morning. Walsh came in 4th in finals last week with a 2:18.96.
Men’s 100 Breaststroke – Heats
- World Record: 55.28 – Ilya Shymanovich, BLR (2021)
- World Junior Record: 56.66 – Simone Cerasuolo, ITA (2021)
- World Cup Record: 55.61 – Cameron Van der Burgh, RSA (2009)
- U.S. Open Record: 55.92 – Adam Peaty, GBR (2019)
TOP 8:
- Caspar Corbeau (Netherlands) – 56.24
- Van Mathias (USA) – 57.10
- Shin Ohashi (Japan) – 57.48
- Josh Matheny (USA) – 57.51
- Ilya Shymanovich (NAA) – 57.52
- Brian Benzing (USA) – 57.57
- Adam Peaty (Great Britain) – 57.73
- Yamato Fukasawa (Japan) – 57.92
Caspar Corbeau won the men’s 100 breast last week in Carmel, and went even faster this morning. Corbeau popped a 56.24 this morning to earn the top seed, which was almost half a second faster than the 56.67 he swam to win the event last week. He was out quick, splitting 26.11 on the opening 50m, then came home in 30.13.
Van Mathias came in 2nd this m0rning with a 57.10. Mathias came in 3rd last week with a 57.26, but that time came after he went his career best of 56.72 in prelims.
Japan’s Shin Ohashi went 57.48 this morning, which was good for the 3rd seed for finals tonight. Last week, Ohashi wound up 8th in finals with a 57.91.
Ilya Shymanovich was the silver medalist last week and came in 5th this morning with a 57.52.
Women’s 50 Freestyle – Heats
- World Record: 22.83 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2024)
- World Junior Record: 23.66 – Eva Okaro, GBR (2024)
- World Cup Record: 22.93 – Ranomi Kromowidjojo, NED (2017)
- U.S. Open Record: 23.10 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2024)
TOP 8:
- Alexandria Perkins (Australia) – 23.78
- Katarzyna Wasick (Poland) – 23.82
- Taylor Ruck (Canada) – 24.00
- Marrit Steenbergen (Netherlands)/Mollie O’Callaghan (Australia) – 24.02 (Tie)
- –
- Florine Gaspard (Belgium)/Olivia Wunsch (Australia) – 24.18 (Tie)
- –
- Katharine Berkoff (USA) – 24.36
Australia’s Alexandria Perkins led the way in the women’s 50 free this morning with a 23.78. Perkins came in 2nd last week with a 23.50 in finals.
Poland’s Katarzyna Wasick, the champion in this event last week, was 2nd this morning with a 23.82. Wasick won the event in 23.29 last week in Carmel.
Taylor Ruck has entered the equation this week, having gone 24.00 this morning. That time would have been good for 4th in finals tonight.
After clocking the top time of the morning in the 50 back to start this session off, Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan made this final as well, swimming a 24.02. O’Callaghan earned the bronze medal last week with a 23.96 in finals.
Men’s 50 Freestyle – Heats
- World Record: 19.90 – Jordan Crooks, CAY (2024)
- World Junior Record: 20.98, Kenzo Simons, NED (2019)
- World Cup Record: 20.48 – Vlad Morozov, RUS (2018)
- U.S. Open Record: 20.24 – Caeleb Dressel, USA (2019)
TOP 8:
- Dylan Carter (TTO) – 20.97
- Van Mathias (USA) – 21.12
- Josh Liendo (Canada) – 21.17
- Ilya Kharun (Canada) – 21.18
- Jack Alexy (USA) – 21.19
- Chris Guiliano (USA) – 21.24
- Ruslan Gaziev (Canada) – 21.33
- Ralf Tribuntsov (Estonia) – 21.37
Dylan Carter clocked the top time in what was a very tight field of the men’s 50 free this morning. Carter was the only swimmer to go under 21 seconds, stopping the clock in 20.97. He came in 4th last week in Carmel with a 21.12 in finals.
Chris Guiliano, the champion in this event last week, was 6th this morning with a 21.24, almost half a second off the 20.83 he swam to win the race last week.
In a stunningly tough double, Van Mathias managed a 2nd place finish in the 50 free after coming in 2nd in the 100 breast. With just the women’s 50 free in between his races, Mathias managed to put up a career best by kore than half a second in the 50 free.
Josh Liendo and Ilya Kharun both made the final in the 50 tonight after also making the 100 fly final earlier in the session.
Women’s 100 IM – Heats
- World Record: 55.11 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2024)
- World Junior Record: 57.59 – Anastasiya Shkurdai, BLR (2020)
- World Cup Record: 55.91 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2025)
- U.S. Open Record: 55.91 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2025)
TOP 8:
- Kate Douglass (USA) – 57.29
- Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 57.35
- Roos Vanotterdijk (Belgium) – 58.13
- Anastasia Gorbenko (Israel) – 58.47
- Phoebe Bacon (USA) – 58.52
- Marrit Steenbergen (Netherlands) – 58.54
- Rebecca Meder (South Africa) – 58.83
- Ella Ramsay (Australia) – 59.24
Training partners Kate Douglass and Gretchen Walsh led the way in prelims of the women’s 100 IM this morning. Douglass swam a 57.29 this morning, which is within a second of the 56.34 she swam for silver in this event last week.
Meanwhile, Walsh is the World Record holder in this event, and she set the US Open and World Cup Records last week with a 55.91. This morning, she went 57.35.
Marrit Steenbergen pulled off a tight double like Van Mathias on the men’s side. Steenbergen took 4th in the 50 free before coming in 6th in the 100 IM this morning with just the men’s 50 free in between her races.
Douglass will also be working a double tonight, as she’s in the 200 breast final. Rebecca Meder is in the same boat as Douglass, also having the 100 IM final tonight.
Men’s 100 IM – Heats
- World Record: 49.28 – Caeleb Dressel, USA (2020)
- World Junior Record: 50.63 – Kliment Kolesnikov, RUS (2018)
- World Cup Record: 49.92 – Leon Marchand, FRA (2024)
- U.S. Open Record: 50.86 – Shaine Casas, USA (2025)
TOP 8:
- Luke Barr (USA) – 51.53
- Hubert Kos (Hungary) – 51.74
- Noe Ponti (Switzerland) – 51.92
- Thomas Ceccon (Italy) – 52.05
- Grant House (USA) – 52.07
- Finlay Knox (Canada) – 52.13
- Shaine Casas (USA) – 52.36
- Nikola Miljenic (Croatia) – 52.37
Luke Barr clocked the top time of the morning in the men’s 100 IM, swimming a 51.53. That performance marks a career best for Barr, bettering the 52.09 he swam last week in Carmel. Barr came in 7th in finals last week with that 52.09.
Hubert Kos was back in action here, swimming a 51.74. Both Kos and Thomas Ceccon will be racing this final tonight after having already swum the 200 back final.
Shaine Casas, who set the US Open Record in this event last week with a 50.86, came in 7th this morning with a 52.36.
Read the full story on SwimSwam: 2025 Swimming World Cup – Westmont: Day 1 Prelims Live Recap
