Douglass Reclaims World Record in 50 Free as Pan Pacs Day 4 Prelims Shine
Day 4 prelims at the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships featured a sprint-studded session: Kate Douglass blasted 23.49 to reclaim the women’s 50m free world record (with Gretchen Walsh close behind at 23.78) and Jamie Jack posted a Pan Pacific record 21.42 in the men’s 50m free; Shaine Casas failed to crack the 200m IM final, while Japan led the men’s 200m breast prelims with Shin Ohashi at 2:08.90 and Yamato Fukasawa at 2:09.72, and Kate Douglass along with Kotomi Kato posted strong times in the women’s 200m breast. Slower heats in the 800m and 1500m saw Caitlin Deans and Benjamin Goedemans post the morning's best times, respectively, setting the stage for tonight’s finals under the meet’s two-per-country rules.