The United States dominated the opening night of the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California, with three dominant 1-2 finishes in individual events. Gretchen Walsh claimed victory in the women’s 50-meter butterfly, clocking 24.65 seconds, while her American teammate Kate Douglass secured second place at 25.06 seconds. This performance showcased the depth of U.S. swimming talent at the prestigious competition.
Two additional American sweeps highlighted the strong start for the home nation. Katharine Berkoff edged out world record holder Regan Smith in the women’s 100-meter backstroke, finishing in 57.93 seconds compared to Smith’s 58.11. In the men’s 200-meter freestyle, Luke Hobson and Gabriel Jett claimed the top two spots, with Hobson touching the wall first in 1:43.85 and Jett posting a personal best of 1:43.96. Olympic legend Michael Phelps attended the event as a spectator.
Other notable performances included Australian swimmer Lani Pallister setting a course record in the women’s 200-meter freestyle at 1:53.67, while Ben Armbruster of Australia won the men’s 50-meter butterfly. The Pan Pacific Championships, held once every four years, returns to competition after being cancelled in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was relocated to Southern California from Canada to provide the region with a major international meet ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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