U.S. Long Course Nationals: David Plummer Upsets Aaron Peirsol for 100 Back Crown – Coverage Sponsored by TYR
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IRVINE, California, August 4. MINNETONKA's David Plummer touched out Longhorn's Aaron Peirsol at the wall of the men's 100 back at the U.S. Long Course Nationals. Plummer had just enough in the tank to capture the national title over five-time Olympic gold medalist and world-record holder Peirsol.
Plummer clocked a time of 53.60 to move into sixth in the world this year. Only Liam Tancock (52.85), Matt Grevers (53.05), Camille Lacourt (53.29), Ryosuke Irie (53.32), Junya Koga (53.49) and Hayden Stoeckel (53.61) have been faster.
Peirsol looked like he would earn yet another triumph in the event at nationals, but ran out of pool to catch Plummer. Peirsol wound up with a silver in 53.63 to move to eighth in the world this year. It was an improvement on his previous season best time of 54.02 set during prelims for the top seed.
SwimMAC's Nick Thoman finished third in 53.78, off his ninth-ranked season best of 53.70 set at the Charlotte UltraSwim. Thoman put on a show in the first 50 with a 25.80, but faded to third.
Grevers, who is the fastest American this year with a 53.05, could not duplicate that swim with a fourth-place 54.00 this evening. California's David Russell (54.46), Indiana's Ben Hesen (55.01), Daytona Beach's Rex Tullius (55.10) and New York's Randall Bal (55.18) also swam in the finale.
SwimMAC's Kip Darmody topped the B final with a swift time of 54.95, moving closer to the top 25 rankings.
Coverage Sponsored by TYR