During the second night of competition at the 2026 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, American Katharine Berkoff delivered the biggest individual swim of the night. Berkoff set a new American Record in the 50 backstroke, touching in 26.90 to win the gold medal.
Two straight head-to-head wins over one of the sport's biggest stars is a real accomplishment for Berkoff.
It's her second straight night getting the better of American teammate Regan Smith, the 100 back world record holder, after upsetting her in that event on day one. Smith again took second, with Australia's Iona Anderson third.
Here are the highlights from the second night of action:
Summer McIntosh wins 400 Individual Medley goldSummer McIntosh was visibly upset after suffering defeat in the 200 freestyle on the first day of competition. The Canadian prodigy has been on a tear this season, and rarely settles for any color medal other than gold.
In the women’s 400 IM, McIntosh delivered the response many expected. The event’s world record holder blew away the field in 4:28.01, a new championship record.
Jenna Forrester of Australia took second in 4:31.50, with Argentina's Agostina Hein settling for third in 4:32.54. Alex Walsh was the top American finisher, taking fifth in 4:33.73.
Tomoyuki Matsushita outlasts Carson Foster in 400 Individual MedleyJapan's strength in the IM event lived up to its billing as Tomoyuki Matsushita came out on top, winning in 4:06.75 for a new championship record.
American Carson Foster battled with Matsushita from the start, placing second in race in 4:07.11. Bobby Finke took third folllowing up his silver medal in the 800 freestyle last night.
Meg Harris upsets Gretchen Walsh in 100 freestyleGretchen Walsh, the fastest qualifier out of prelims in the women’s 100 freestyle, was fresh off a huge opening night at Pan Pacs. In the championship final she was out fast at the 50 meter mark, but Australia's Meg Harris didn’t let her get away.
The Aussie found an extra kick over the back half to run down Walsh and out-touch her at the finish, winning in 52.60 to 52.78. It's Walsh's first defeat of the meet after winning the 50 fly and being apart of the U.S.’s world-record mixed medley relay last night.
Olivia Wunsch made it a 1-3 finish for Australia, taking bronze in 52.98.
Jack Alexy dominates 100 freestyleBrazilian Gui Caribe got off to a great start in the men’s 100 freestyle, but it was never enough to challenge Jack Alexy.
The American took over and broke his own championship record to win in 47.14. It's a big statement for Alexy, the American Record holder who raced unrested at Nationals specifically to save his best for Pan Pacs.
Patrick Sammon backed up his own Nationals form with a second place finish in 47.62, with Caribe holding on for third in 47.89.
Chris Guiliano had a big swim in the consolation final, throwing down a 47.16, only two hundredths off of Jack Alexy’s winning time.
McKenzie Siroky tops podium in 100 breaststrokeIn the women’s 100 breaststroke McKenzie Siroky, who upset Kate Douglass by two-hundredths at Nationals, went out and beat the field again, winning Pan Pacs gold in 1:05.32.
Siroky beat out China's Tang Qianting and Japan's Satomi Suzuki to take the win. Douglass, the 2025 national champion and world championship silver medalist in the event, missed the podium, finishing fourth in 1:05.81.
Van Mathias wins 100 breaststroke titleVan Mathias's story keeps getting better. The former Indiana swimmer turned director of operations, now training as a pro on the side, raced to a Pan Pacs win in the men’s 100 breaststroke.
Mathias broke his own championship record to win in 58.02, narrowly missing his own American Record in the process. Japan's Shin Ohashi took second in 58.54, a new world junior record, with Australia's Samuel Williamson rounding out the podium in third at 59.34.
Quintin McCarty takes 50 backstroke titleQuintin McCarty, who won the 50 backstroke at U.S. Nationals, delivered on the international stage tonight, breaking the championship record to win in 24.51.
Australia's Isaac Cooper, the fastest qualifier out of prelims, took second in 24.59, with fellow American Will Modglin, fresh off day a world-record mixed medley relay, was third in 24.66.
United States men, Australia women win 4x200 freestyle relaysThe U.S. men won the 4×200 freestyle relay in 6:49.37. Luke Hobson, Aaron Shackell, Patrick Sammon, and Gabriel Jett came together to set a new championship record.
Three of the four legs were actually under the pace they needed to threaten the world record, a reminder of just how hard a relay record is to take down even with that kind of speed.
Australia's Charlie Hawke made things interesting on the third leg, but Gabriel Jett came through with an incredible final turn to pull the Americans away for good. Australia took silver in 7:01.10, with Japan third in 7:02.74.
In the women's race, Australia beat out the U.S. for gold, winning in 7:42.40, a new championship record, with the Americans just seven-tenths back in 7:43.10 for silver. Katie Ledecky fought hard during her anchor leg but it wasn’t enough to catch the Aussies. Canada finished third to win bronze in 7:52.74.
Tomorrow's Schedule — Day 3 (Friday, August 14)Heats begin at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET); finals at 6 p.m. PT (9 p.m. ET), streaming live on Peacock in the U.S. and CBC Sports in Canada.
Women's & Men's 400 Freestyle
Women's & Men's 100 Butterfly
Women's & Men's 200 Backstroke
Women's & Men's 50 Breaststroke
Women's & Men's 4x100 Freestyle Relay
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