Carson Foster Breaks 1:56 in 200 Backstroke at Austin Sectionals
In his first chapter of international racing, Carson Foster was a 200 backstroke specialist. Long before he became the top American medley swimmer with a pair of silver medals at the World Championships, a 15-year-old Foster swam at the 2017 World Junior Championships in Indianapolis and captured a silver medal in the 200 backstroke (behind a future rival in collegiate swimming, Spain’s Hugo Gonzalez). In recent years, Foster has skipped the 200 back at major qualification meets because of schedule conflicts with other events, but he took a shot at the event Saturday evening at a Sectionals meet in Austin, Texas.
Foster has used this Sectionals meet as a chance to swim some off-events after his breakthrough performance last month in Budapest, and he previously produced the nation’s top times for 2022 in the 200 butterfly and 400 freestyle (in a time trial). Then, in what could be his final race of the summer season, Foster swam a mark of 1:55.86 in the 200 back. That crushed his lifetime-best mark of 1:57.28 set earlier this year, and Foster moved ahead of 2000 Olympic gold medalist Lenny Krayzelburg to become the 14th-fastest American in history.
The time would have placed Foster third in the 200 back at the U.S. International Team Trials in April behind Ryan Murphy and Shaine Casas, and it would have been good for fourth at the World Championships behind Murphy, Luke Greenbank and Casas.
In a recent interview with Swimming World, Foster suggested he may add another event to his primary lineup based on the times he produced at Sectionals, and the 200 fly seems like the most likely choice after his 1:53.67 made him the third-fastest American in history. The 200 back and 200 IM have been contested back-to-back at the past five Olympic Games, which may dissuade Foster from seriously considering the 200 back, but there will be adjustments to the Olympic swimming schedule in 2024 with an extra day of competition added.
In other races during the finals session in Austin, Casas swam an elite time of 50.56 in the 100 fly, and Caspar Corbeau edged out Will Licon in the men’s 100 breaststroke, 1:00.65 to 1:00.77, while Texas Longhorn and World Championship team member Coby Carrozza won the 400 free in 3:49.48.
On the women’s side, Kelly Pash swam a quick time of 57.73 in the 100 fly, which would have been good enough for fourth at the U.S. International Team Trials, while Longhorn Aquatics’ Jillian Cox won the women’s 400 free in 4:11.69, with Olympian Erica Sullivan taking second (4:13.12). Nitro’s Paula Warren won the 200 back (2:15.26), and Aggie’s Charlotte Longbottom finished first in the 100 breast (1:10.06).