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2026 Pro Swim Series — Austin: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

Published

3 months ago

January 15, 2026

Press Room

2026 PRO SWIM SERIES – AUSTIN

Thursday Finals Heat Sheet

Welcome to the 2nd finals session of the 2026 Pro Swim Series in Austin, and we are in for an exciting one tonight.

We will start the session with the event finals for the 200 IM and 50 freestyle, which swam their semifinals yesterday. World Record holders Summer McIntosh and Leon Marchand hold the top times in both 200 IM events, which will be the first two events of the meet.

Simone Manuel and Maxime Grousset had the fastest semifinal times in the 50 freestyle and will each lead tonight’s event finals.

We will then move into the semifinals of the men’s and women’s 50 breaststroke where Skyler Smith and Van Mathias are the top seeds. Mathias is fresh off a Pro Swim Series record in the event, swimming 26.57 in prelims.

Charlotte Crush and Kieran Smith are the top seeds in the first typical event finals of the evening, though they aren’t far ahead of their competition with Teagan O’Dell coming in behind Crush and Marchand and Yohann Ndoye-Brouard sitting less than a second behind Smith.

The women’s 100 fly could be one of the most exciting events of the session with Regan Smith coming in as the top seed ahead of Summer McIntosh. On the men’s side, Caeleb Dressel earned the top time, about half-a-second ahead of Grousset.

The session will wrap up with the 400 freestyle finals where last night’s 1500 champion Katie Ledecky is the top women’s seed, 11 seconds ahead of Rylee Erisman, who is looking for a strong swim to match her electric 500 from Winter Juniors.

The men’s 400 free could be a close race with Daniel Wiffen leading Ilia Sibirtsev and Bobby Finke by just over a second. Ryan Erisman is also in the mix there, and is coming off a massive best time in last night’s 1500 freestyle.

WOMEN’S 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – Final

World Record: 2:05.70 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2025)
American Record: 2:06.15 – Ariana Kukors (2009)
US Open Record: 2:06.79 – Kate Douglass, USA (2024)
PSS Record: 2:06.82 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2025)
World Jr Record: 2:06.56 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2024)
~~Pool Record: 2:08.51 – Madisyn Cox~~

Top 8 Finishers

Summer McIntosh (TXLA) — 2:08.48
Cyrielle Duhamel (FRA) — 2:13.73
Teagan O’Dell (CAL) — 2:14.06
Emma Weyant (GSC) — 2:14.23
Lindsay Looney (TXLA) — 2:17.86
Ava Chavez (CAL) — 2:18.86
Rowyn Wilber (CLOV) — 2:18.92
Maren Byrne (ALTO) — 2:19.05

Summer McIntosh swam to an easy victory in the women’s 200 IM, stopping the clock in 2:08.48 to come in more than five seconds ahead of the rest of the field and break Madisyn Cox’s pool record in the process.

McIntosh was out in 27.44, claiming the lead at the very start as the only swimmer under 28 seconds on the opening 50. She split 31.82 on the backstroke, the fastest in the field by more than two seconds. Nobody else was even under 34 seconds.

The breaststroke leg saw McIntosh touch in 38.65 before she came home in 30.57 on the freestyle, locking up the top spot and the fastest split on all four 50s.

France’s Cyrielle Duhamel finished 2nd after sitting in 3rd for most of the race. She was out behind Teagan O’Dell, splitting 28.52/34.27/39.47 on the first 3 50s, but her final 50 of 31.47 was more than a second faster than O’Dell and moved her into the silver medal position.

O’Dell was 28.42/34.17/38.97/32.50 to finish 3rd in 2:14.06, three seconds off her lifetime best 2:11.24 from July.

Emma Weyant finished 4th in 2:14.23, another new personal best, dropping from the 2:14.74 she swam in the semifinal

MEN’S 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – Final

World Record: 1:52.69 – Leon Marchand, FRA (2025)
American Record: 1:54.00 – Ryan Lochte (2011)
US Open Record: 1:54.43 – Ryan Lochte, USA (2010)
PSS Record: 1:55.68 – Leon Marchand, FRA (2023)
World Jr Record: 1:56.99 – Hubert Kos, HUN (2021)
Pool Record: 1:55.50 — Hubert Kos

Top 8 Finishers

Leon Marchand (TXLA) — 1:57.65
Carson Foster (NYAC) — 1:58.96
Kieran Smith (RAC) — 1:59.86
Grant Sanders (UN-FL) — 2:01.93
Gerhardt Hoover (CS) — 2:05.80
Cullen Kahl (MAC) — 2:06.18
Ethan Heasley (HEAT) — 2:07.57
Rafael Arizpe Arriaga (IM) — 2:07.69

Leon Marchand picked up the win in the men’s 200 IM final, touching in 1:57.65 to earn the top time by more than a second.

Marchand was the fastest on the first three 50s, splitting 24.97/29.79 and 33.57 on the fly/back and breaststroke splits, and his freestyle leg of 29.32 was 3rd behind Carson Foster and Kieran Smith.

Texas teammate Carson Foster finished 2nd in 1:58.96, a little more than three seconds off his lifetime best 1:55.65 from the 2024 Olympic Trials. Foster was 2nd through the entire race, splitting 25.48 on the opening 50 to get out just ahead of Kieran Smith. He was 30.03 on the backstroke and 34.50 on the breaststroke to put himself comfortably in the 2nd place position. He brought the race home in 28.95, the fastest freestyle leg in the field for the silver medal.

Kieran Smith was 3rd in 1:59.86 after splitting 25.60/30.01/35.16/29.09 to also come home faster than Marchand on the final 50. His final time was about three seconds off his best 1:56.97, also from the 2024 Olympic Trials.

WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – Final

World Record: 23.61 – Sarah Sjostrom, SWE (2023)
American Record: 23.91 – Kate Douglass/Gretchen Walsh, USA (2024)
US Open Record: 23.91 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2024)
PSS Record: 24.17 – Sarah Sjostrom, SWE (2016)
World Jr Record: 24.17 – Claire Curzan, USA (2021)
Pool Record: 24.17 – Sarah Sjostrom

Top 8 Finishers

Simone Manuel (TXLA) — 24.79
Beryl Gastaldello (FRA) — 24.85
Marie Wattel (FRA) — 24.97
Anna Peplowski (ISC) — 25.14
Analia Pigree (FRA) — 25.23
Claire Weinstein (UN) — 25.53
Chloe Stepanek (LIAC) — 25.84
Emma Harvey (BER) — 26.85

The women’s 50 free was tight with the top two swimmers touching just six hundredths apart. Simone Manuel came out on top, touching in 24.79 to just beat France’s Beryl Gastaldello, who swam 24.85 for 2nd.

Manuel was just off the 24.77 she swam in the semifinals while Gastaldello dropped on hundredth from her semifinals swim of 24.86.

Marie Wattel finished 3rd in 24.97 to wrap up the sub-25 swimmers in the event.

Anna Peplowski was 5th in 25.14, setting a new lifetime best, dropping from her 25.29 from June of this year.

MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – Final

World Record: 20.91 – Cesar Cielo, BRA (2009)
American Record: 21.04 – Caeleb Dressel, USA (2019)
US Open Record: 21.04 – Caeleb Dressel, USA (2019)
PSS Record: 21.51 – Caeleb Dressel, USA (2020)
World Jr Record: 21.75 – Michael Andrew, USA (2017)
Pool Record: 21.44 – Fred Bousquet

Top 8 Finishers

Andrej Barna (SRB) — 21.77
Maxime Grousset (FRA) — 21.82
Jack Alexy (CAL) — 21.92
Brooks Curry (CAL) — 22.00
Matt King (ISC) — 22.13
Nikita Baez (FRA) — 22.25
Chris Guiliano (TXLA) — 22.31
Masahiro Kawane (MEI) — 22.45

The men’s 50 freestyle was even closer than the women’s with the top three swimmers touching just 0.15 seconds apart. Andrej Barna was able to hold off a late surge from Maxime Grousset to touch in 21.77, winning by just five hundredths.

Grousset finished 2nd in 21.82, about two tenths off the 21.62 he swam in the semifinal.

Jack Alexy was a tenth back of Grousset in 21.92, his fastest swim of the three sessions, and he came in just ahead of teammate Brooks Curry’s 22.00.

WOMEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – Semifinal

World Record: 29.16 Rute Meilutyte, LTU (2023)
American Record: 29.40 – Lilly King (2017)
US Open Record: 29.62 – Lilly King, USA (2018)
PSS Record: 29.62 – Lilly King, USA (2018)
World Jr Record: 29.30 – Benedetta Pilato, ITA (2018)

Top 8 Qualifiers

Anna Elendt (TXLA) — 30.85
Skyler Smith (NCAC) — 30.86
Kate Canales (AAAA) — 31.96
Ella Peterson (DADS) — 33.10
Maya McCarney (NCAP) — 33.38
Caprie Moreno (TIDE) — 33.59
Grace Hunt (YSSC) — 33.83
Kia Alert (CW) — 33.86

The 1st semifinal went to Texas swimmer Anna Elendt in 30.85, touching more than two seconds ahead of Ella Peterson, who finished 2nd in the 1st semifinal with her 33.10 to qualify 4th overall.

Skyler Smith won the 2nd semifinal, just a hundredth slower than Elendt, touching in 30.86 to win her heat by more than a second. Kate Canales finished 2nd in 31.96, qualifying 3rd.

Maya McCarney was 33.88 for 5th from heat two, and the rest of the final will be made up of swimmers from the 1st semifinal.

Caprie Moreno (33.59), Grace Hunt (33.83), and Kia Alert (33.86) round out tomorrow’s event final.

MEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – Semifinal

World Record: 25.95 – Adam Peaty, GBR (2017)
American Record: 26.45 – Nic Fink (2022)
US Open Record: 26.52 – Michael Andrew, USA (2022)
PSS Record: 26.57 — Van Mathias, USA (2025)
World Jr Record: 26.97 – Nicolo Martinenghi, ITA (2017)

Top 8 Qualifiers

Van Mathias (ISC) — 26.62
Mitch Mason (TFA) — 27.34
Denis Petrashov (CARD) — 27.37
Finn Brooks (ISC) — 27.52
Jack Kelly (NYAC) — 27.55
Brian Benzing (ISC) — 27.58
Andres Puente Bustamante (TFA) — 27.63
Jeremie Delbois (FRA) — 27.67

Van Mathias did not rebreak his PSS record from the prelims, but he earned a dominant victory in the men’s 50 breaststroke, touching in 26.62 to come in seven tenths ahead of 2nd place finisher Mitch Mason from his same semifinal.

Denis Petrashov was also in the 2nd semifinal, and he qualified 3rd overall in 27.37, just three hundredths back of Mason.

Indiana’s Finn Brooks was 4th after winning the first semifinal in 27.52, just three hundredths ahead of Jack Kelly’s 27.55.

WOMEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – Final

World Record: 2:03.14 – Kaylee McKeown, AUS (2023)
American Record: 2:03.35 – Regan Smith (2019)
US Open Record: 2:03.80 – Regan Smith, USA (2023)
PSS Record: 2:03.99 – Regan Smith, USA (2024)
World Jr Record: 2:03.35 – Regan Smith, USA (2019)
Pool Record: 2:05.52 – Regan Smith, USA (2025)

Top 8 Finishers

Charlotte Crush (LAK) — 2:09.79
Teagan O’Dell (CAL) — 2:11.13
Rowyn Wilber (CLOV) — 2:14.38
Tessa Christiansen (AAAA) — 2:16.17
Georgia Wimberly (LAC) — 2:16.69
Sydney Wasylenky (TOPS) — 2:16.77
Lucy Gilbreath (HCA) — 2:17.81
Haddie Vohs (FASTIN) — 2:21.99

The women’s 200 backstroke was missing American Record holder Regan Smith, and Charlotte Crush stepped up to the plate, swimming 2:09.79 to lock up the win by more than a second over Cal freshman Teagan O’Dell.

Crush’s swim was nearly three seconds off her lifetime best 2:07.05 from the USA Swimming Nationals in June. She grabbed the lead at the start, splitting 30.17/33.17 on the opening 100 to turn in 1:03.34, eight tenths ahead of O’Dell. She came home in 33.22/33.23 to split 1:06.45.

O’Dell was out in 1:04.14 after splitting 31.02/33.12 on her opening two 50s. She came home in 33.59/33.40, touching in 2:11.13 with her final 100 of 1:06.99. O’Dell’s lifetime best is 2:07.97 from the 2024 Olympic Trials.

Rowyn Wilber rounded out the podium in 2:14.38, just off her lifetime best of 2:14.07.

MEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – Final

World Record: 1:51.92 – Aaron Peirsol, USA (2009)
American Record: 1:51.92 – Aaron Peirsol, USA (2009)
US Open Record: 1:53.08 – Aaron Peirsol, USA (2009)
PSS Record: 1:55.04 – Jiayu Xu, CHN (2017)
World Jr Record: 1:55.14 – Kliment Kolesnikov, RUS (2017)
Pool Record: 1:54.21 – Hubert Kos, HUN (2025)

Top 8 Finishers

Yohann Ndoye-Brouard (FRA) — 1:56.68
Leon Marchand (TXLA) — 1:57.90
Humberto Najera (CAL) — 1:58.87
Mewen Tomac (FRA) — 1:59.58
Kieran Smith (RAC) — 1:59.64
Carson Foster (NYAC) — 2:01.66
Mathys Chouchaoui (FRA) — 2:01.68
Derek Hernandez-Ojeda (NTRO) — 2:03.64

France’s Yohann Ndoye-Brouard got out fast in the men’s 200 backstroke, taking a commanding lead in the first 100 and holding onto it through the remainder of the race, touching in 1:56.68 for the top time by more than a second.

He turned in 56.74 at the 100 mark after splitting 26.92/29.82, sitting more than a second ahead of Humberto Najera’s 57.77 in 2nd. He came home in 59.94 with final 50s of 30.25/29.69 to earn the win.

Leon Marchand finished 2nd overall, touching in 1:57.90 after turning in 3rd at the 100. He was out in 58.13 after splitting 28.01/30.12 to sit four tenths behind Najera and just a tenth ahead of Mewen Tomac’s 58.27. Marchand came home strong though, splitting 30.00/29.77 to touch in 59.77, passing Najera. Marchand’s lifetime best sits at 1:57.14 from June of 2025

Najera was 1:48.87 in 3rd overall, and Tomac finished 4th in 1:59.58.

WOMEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – Final

World Record: 54.60 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2025)
American Record: 54.60 – Gretchen Walsh (2025)
US Open Record: 54.60 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2025)
PSS Record: 54.60 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2025)
World Jr Record: 56.33 – Mizuki Hirai, JPN (2024)
Pool Record: 55.60 — Gretchen Walsh

Top 8 Finishers

Regan Smith (TXLA) — 56.18
Summer McIntosh (TXLA) — 58.56
Marie Wattel (FRA) — 59.58
Ava Chavez (CAL) — 1:00.33
Simone Manuel (TXLA) — 1:00.46
Mena Boardman (CS) — 1:00.79
Emily Wolf (FASTIN) — 1:01.16
Emma Harvey (BER) — 1:01.23

The women’s 100 fly was not as close as most people were anticipating. Regan Smith dominated the event from the start, and won by more than two seconds over Summer McIntosh.

Smith was out in 26.59, nearly a second ahead of McIntosh’s 27.52. She also had the fastest closing 50 in the field, splitting 29.59 to be the only swimmer under 30 seconds and the only swimmer under 31 seconds. McIntosh had the 2nd fastest final 50 of 31.04.

McIntosh touched in 58.56 for 2nd overall, about a second-and-a-half off her lifetime best 57.01 from last month’s U.S. Open Championships.

Marie Wattel finished 3rd in 59.58, rounding out the podium and the sub-minute swimmers. She was in 7th at the 50 mark, splitting 28.33, but she came home very strong, touching in 31.25 to pass four swimmers.

MEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – Final

World Record: 49.45 – Caeleb Dressel, USA (2021)
American Record: 49.45 – Caeleb Dressel (2021)
US Open Record: 49.76 – Caeleb Dressel, USA (2021)
PSS Record: 50.42 – Ilya Kharun, CAN (2025)
World Jr Record: 50.62 – Kristof Milak, HUN (2017)
Pool Record: 50.24 – Shaine Casas, USA (2025)

Top 8 Finishers

Maxime Grousset (FRA) — 50.95
Caeleb Dressel (SJAC) — 51.62
Clement Secchi (FRA) — 52.45
Jack Dahlgren (AQJT) — 52.73
Luke Barr (TFA) — 52.91
Patrick Sammon (NYAC) — 53.54
Ethan Heasley (HEAT) — 54.80
Jimmy Beeson (YSSC) — 55.25

Reigning World Champion Maxime Grousset took the top time in the men’s 100 fly, picking up his 1st win of the session after he was just out touched in the men’s 50 freestyle.

Just like in the women’s event, Grousset got out to a quick lead, splitting 23.45 at the 50 mark to turn almost seven tenths ahead of Caeleb Dressel‘s 24.14 in 2nd. He came home in 27.50, the 2nd fastest closing 50 in the heat to win the event by nearly a second.

Dressel finished 2nd overall in 51.62, his fastest time in the event since the Paris Olympics. Dresel had the fastest closing split in the field of 27.48.

Clement Secchi from France finished 3rd in 52.45, a position he held throughout the race after splitting 24.20/28.25.

WOMEN’S 400 FREESTYLE – Final

Top 8 Finishers

Katie Ledecky (GSC-FL) — 4:00.54
Claire Weinstein (UN-CA) — 4:07.37
Rylee Erisman (LAKR) — 4:11.02
Emma Weyant (GSC-FL) — 4:11.48
Brinkleigh Hansen (SPA-FL) — 4:11.78
Anna Peplowski (ISC) — 4:14.47
Emily Wolf (FASTIN) — 4:17.06
Becca Mann (TAC-NC) — 4:20.10

Katie Ledecky crushed the women’s 400 freestyle, swimming 4:00.54 to earn the top time by almost seven seconds over Cal’s Claire Weinstein.

She was out in 57.58, already taking a commanding lead. Fro there, she split 1:00.57/1:01.19/1:01.20 to touch in 1st by a large margin. Ledecky was coming off the 2nd fastest time in history in the 1500, and mentioned in her post race interview that her 400 ‘hurt’ likely as a result of that swim yesterday.

Claire Weinstein was 2nd in 4:07.37, splitting 59.39/1:02.91/1:02.78/1:02.29 to lock up 2nd place in the event.

The bronze medal went to Rylee Erisman in 4:11.02, a massive best time. She takes more than 3 seconds off her pre-meet best of 4:14.74 from March of 2024 and two seconds off her prelims time of 4:13.25. She split 1:00.26/1:03.54/1:03.70/1:03.52 to hold off Emma Weyant’s 4:11.48 for 4th.

MEN’S 400 FREESTYLE – Final

World Record: 3:39.46 – Lucas Martens, GER (2025)
American Record: 3:42.78 – Larsen Jensen (2008)
US Open Record: 3:43.33 – Rex Maurer, USA (2025)
PSS Record: 3:43.55 – Yang Sun, CHN (2016)
World Jr Record: 3:44.31 – Petar Mitsin (2023)
Pool Record: 3:44.70 – Leon Marchand, FRA (2025)

Top 8 Finishers

Ryan Erisman (CAL) — 3:46.75
Ilia Sibirtsev (UZB) — 3:49.03
Lucas Henveaux (CAL) — 3:51.17
Bobby Finke (SPA-FL) — 3:51.41
Denis Loktev (ISR) — 3:52.96
Luke Hobson (NYAC) — 3:54.03
Gabriel Jett (CAL) — 3:54.89
Daniel Wiffen (CAL) — 3:56.15

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Austin, TX

Storms dump small hail throughout Austin area Saturday

Published

12 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

Storms dump small hail throughout Austin area Saturday

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Small hail peppered the Austin area as strong thunderstorms moved through Saturday.

A few of the storms dropped rain and up to pea-sized hail in San Marcos, Dripping Springs and the Austin metro area.

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued for Williamson County around 8:15 p.m., and then canceled shortly after. However, it was enough for the Two Step Inn music festival in Georgetown to cancel shows for the rest of the evening. Event organizers say the festival will run as planned Sunday.

KXAN’s First Warning Weather team is monitoring the storms. We will update this post as the evening continues.

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Austin, TX

Abbott unveils monument dedicated to Texas Revolutionary War soldiers

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Abbott unveils monument dedicated to Texas Revolutionary War soldiers

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution unveiled a new monument at the Texas State Cemetery on Saturday, dedicated to Texas Revolutionary War soldiers.

“We must educate every generation about why it is that America grew from a tenuous 13 colonies into the most powerful country in the history of the world,” said Governor Abbott. “This monument here is an enduring testament to the heroes who fought for the freedom that is unique to America.”

The monument was dedicated to 69 soldiers who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later settled in Texas, according to a press release.

Among those that were honored, Abbott recognized:

José Santiago Seguín, grandfather of Texas Revolutionary hero Juan Seguín.
Peter Sides, who fought in the 2^nd Battalion of the North Carolina Regiment of the Colonial Army, and was later killed in the 1813 Battle of Medina, fighting for Mexican independence against Spain.
Antonio Gil Y’Barbo, the founder of Nacogdoches.
William Sparks, who fought as a mounted rifleman in the American Revolution and later settled in Texas. He had two sons and two grandsons who fought in the Texas Revolution.

“This year marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, which not only gave freedom to the British colonies of North America, but inspired movements for freedom and liberty all over the world,” said TSSAR President Mel Oller. “Texans played a role in the war too, and it’s important to recognize them, and the sacrifices they made for our freedom.”

At the monument unveiling, Abbott was also inducted into the Sons of the American Revolution and received its Silver Good Citizenship Medal.

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Trinket trade boxes on the rise across Austin

Published

2 days ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Trinket trade boxes on the rise across Austin

AUSTIN, Texas — Inside a green wooden box mounted to a steel fence, a treasure trove of trinkets awaits. Just a few miles north is another goodie box, this time covered in leopard print and inside a craft studio. Farther east, a simple white trinket box sits mounted on a wooden pole, decorated with stars and a crow saying, “Thanks for visiting!”

These boxes, filled to the brim with stickers, keychains, jewelry, collectibles and more, are known as trinket trade boxes. Austin has seen a sudden surge in these boxes over the last few months, and despite their varying locations, one sentiment ties them all together: trinket trading is a fun way to bring a bit of joy to the community.

“Little things that bring people joy is so important right now, which I think a lot of us can agree with, and I’ve seen all sorts of people use the box so far,” said Anna Arocha, whose trinket box is in The Triangle neighborhood downtown. “Little kids and all the way up to people in their 50s and 60s, I’ve seen stop by.”

Trinket trading operates on a simple system of take something, leave something. People can swap a toy car for a lanyard, a bracelet for a Sonny Angel, or a Pokémon card for a rubber duck.

“There was somebody who was just walking by with their kid in the stroller, and there was a finger puppet inside of the box, and I saw her swap something out and walk away with the little finger puppet,” Arocha said. “And it was just such a cute moment to see a mom and a kid enjoy something like that.”

Arocha put her crafting skills to work and made her green wooden box in just one day using craft wood and a wine crate last month. Amy Elms opted for a small, white junction box to ensure it could withstand harsh Texas weather. Ani’s Day & Night on East Riverside, which has a large outdoor space for picnic tables and food trucks, gave Elms permission to place her trinket box on their property in January.

Ally Chavez used her own property, Create! Studio ATX on West Anderson Lane, for her leopard-print box that opened in March.

“There wasn’t a ton up here in the north area, so we just kind of wanted to put it together and put it up for the studio just as a way to connect with the community in a way that no one has to spend money,” Chavez said.

Since their debuts, all three trinket boxes have garnered thousands of interactions on social media. When Arocha posted about the opening of her box in March, she racked up 100,000 views on TikTok. But with the excited comments came a bit of negative attention, and her cameras caught a thief trying to take all the trinkets. Arocha now locks the box at night.

“If somebody wants to do that, so be it,” Arocha said. “We can start over, and if the joy that it brings outweighs that every time, I think it’s worth doing.”

Arocha, Elms and Chavez’s boxes are now registered on a website called Worldwide Sidewalk Joy, alongside all the others in Austin and across the globe, as trinket trading grows to become a kind of new, modern geocaching.

“Honestly, it’s been I think even better than I expected so far,” Elms said. “I’ve had people… visiting Austin from out of town, and they’re making it a stop during their visit. I’ve also had multiple people reach out to me to ask how they can start their own trinket trade box, too, which I really love.”

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