Walsh Sparks Pan Pacs Day 1 Finals With Championship-Record Sprint
Day 1 finals at the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships produced several standout results: Gretchen Walsh won the women’s 50 fly in 24.65, a new Pan Pacs championship record; Ben Armbruster took the men’s 50 fly in 22.75; Lani Pallister set a Canadian record and Pan Pacs championship mark in the women’s 200 free with 1:53.67, ahead of Summer McIntosh (1:53.86); Luke Hobson won the men’s 200 free in 1:43.85 (a new championship record); Katharine Berkoff captured the women’s 100 back in 57.93 after Regan Smith led prelims with 57.86; seeds for other events included Shackell/Howley atop the women’s 200 fly and Urlando leading the men’s 200 fly, with the mixed 4×100 medley relay poised for a likely U.S. win and possible world-record pace, as Katie Ledecky led the way in the women’s 1500 free heading into Day 2.