Hunter Armstrong Goes Sub-53 in 100 Backstroke at TYR Pro Swim Series Knoxville
Night three of the TYR Pro Swim Series in Knoxville, Tenn., was bookended by a pair of Olympic gold medalists from the Tokyo Games scoring wins, with Chase Kalisz opening up the meet with a title in an off-event before Ahmed Hafnaoui dominated the 400 freestyle in his long-awaited return to major competition. But the top men’s performance came in the 100 backstroke, where Hunter Armstrong blasted a very impressive effort in a come-from-behind win over American-record holder Ryan Murphy.
Men’s 200 Butterfly
Chase Kalisz has never raced the 200 butterfly in international competition, but he has recorded plenty of solid swims against U.S. competition over the years. He put together another strong performance Friday evening with particularly quick closing splits to overtake Cal’s Gabriel Jett. Kalisz was more than a second behind Jett at the halfway point, but a 29.97 split on the third 50 pulled him in front. He extended the lead down the stretch and won the race in 1:56.40.
Jett, who swam as fast as 1:54.37 this summer in winning the title at U.S. Nationals, was three seconds off that mark as he took second in 1:57.38. Jett is making a rare long course appearance in the midst of his sophomore season at Cal. Cardinal Aquatics’ Nick Albiero took third in 1:57.69, while his Louisville training partner (and 2021 Olympian) Zach Harting fell to sixth (1:59.81).
Event 14 Men 200 LC Meter Butterfly
==================================================================
World: W 1:50.34 6/21/2022 Kristof Milak, HUN
American: A 1:51.51 7/29/2009 Michael Phelps, USA
U.S. Open: O 1:52.20 7/2/2008 Michael Phelps, Club Wolverine
Pro Swim: P 1:53.84 6/14/2019 Gianluca Urlando, DART Swimming-SN
Jr World: j 1:53.79 6/30/2017 Kristof Milak, HUN
Oly Trials: T 2:00.49
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Chase Kalisz 28 SUN-AZ 1:59.71 1:56.40T
r:+0.71 26.28 56.12 (29.84)
1:26.09 (29.97) 1:56.40 (30.31)
2 Gabriel Jett 20 Unattached-PC 1:58.74 1:57.38T
r:+0.67 26.09 55.10 (29.01)
1:26.20 (31.10) 1:57.38 (31.18)
3 Nicolas Albiero 23 CARD-KY 1:59.23 1:57.69T
r:+0.63 25.93 55.25 (29.32)
1:25.73 (30.48) 1:57.69 (31.96)
4 *Hector Ruvalca 25 AGS-GU 2:00.40 1:58.83
r:+0.68 26.40 56.52 (30.12)
1:27.31 (30.79) 1:58.83 (31.52)
5 Connor LaMastra 24 DYNA-GA 2:00.48 1:59.55T
r:+0.64 26.59 57.03 (30.44)
1:27.73 (30.70) 1:59.55 (31.82)
6 Zach Harting 25 CARD-KY 2:00.65 1:59.81T
r:+0.64 26.95 57.33 (30.38)
1:28.42 (31.09) 1:59.81 (31.39)
7 Henry McFadden 17 JW-MA 2:00.63 2:00.95
r:+0.76 27.25 57.96 (30.71)
1:29.12 (31.16) 2:00.95 (31.83)
8 Dare Rose 20 Unattached-PC 2:00.52 2:01.00
r:+0.64 26.39 56.62 (30.23)
1:28.42 (31.80) 2:01.00 (32.58)
Men’s 50 Freestyle
NC State’s David Curtiss pulled off a win against a loaded field in the 50 free, knocking off many of the men he will face at March’s NCAA Championships in the 50-yard free by a significant margin. Curtiss got under 22 seconds as he touched in 21.97. Rounding out the top three were Cal teammates Bjorn Seeliger (22.33) and Jack Alexy (22.34), while Tennessee’s Gui Caribe and Mission Viejo’s Justin Ress tied for fourth in 22.37.
Jordan Crooks, the Tennessee sophomore who captured the short course world title in the 50 free last month, ended up sixth in 22.40, and veteran American sprinter Ryan Held was seventh (22.68).
Event 16 Men 50 LC Meter Freestyle
==================================================================
World: W 20.91 12/18/2009Cesar Cielo Filho, BRA
American: A 21.04 7/27/2019 Caeleb Dressel - also 6/20/21, USA
U.S. Open: O 21.04 6/20/2021 Caeleb Dressel, Gator Swim Club-
Pro Swim: P 21.51 3/7/2020 Caeleb Dressel, Gator Swim Club-
Jr World: j 21.75 8/25/2017 Michael Andrew, USA
Oly Trials: T 22.79
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 David Curtiss 20 NC State-NC 22.45 21.97T
r:+0.60
2 Bjorn Seeliger 23 Unattached-PC 22.57 22.33T
r:+0.62
3 Jack Alexy 19 Unattached-PC 22.42 22.34T
r:+0.62
4 Guilherme Santo 19 Tennessee-SE 22.60 22.37T
r:+0.62
4 Justin Ress 25 MVN-CA 22.68 22.37T
r:+0.59
6 *Jordan Crooks 20 Tennessee-SE 22.63 22.40
r:+0.47
7 Ryan Held 27 NYAC-MR 22.74 22.68T
r:+0.45
8 Kevin Gillooly 23 MVN-CA 22.89 22.95
r:+0.60
Men’s 100 Backstroke
In 2021, Hunter Armstrong surprisingly qualified for his first Olympic team, and one year later, he broke the first world record of his career (50 back) before winning a pair of individual medals at the World Championships plus three relay medals. Armstrong already looks on track to sustain his momentum in 2023 after he swam a particularly quick in-season mark in the 100 back at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Knoxville.
Armstrong, the bronze medalist in the event at the World Championships, raced head-to-head against Ryan Murphy, the American-record holder, Worlds silver medalist and now Armstrong’s training partner at Cal. Armstrong turned at the halfway point three tenths behind Murphy, but his second-half speed is unmatched. He came home in 26.70, more than one second quicker than Murphy, and Armstrong finished in 52.68. For some comparison, there are some years when no American swims under 53 in-season at all. Armstrong just missed David Plummer’s 2016 Pro Series record of 52.40.
Murphy took second in 53.47 while National-Age-Group-record holder David Diehl placed third in 54.50, holding off the reigning NCAA champion in the 200-yard back, Cal’s Destin Lasco (54.85).
Event 18 Men 100 LC Meter Backstroke
==================================================================
World: W 51.60 6/6/2022 Thomas Ceccon, hun
American: A 51.85 8/13/2016 Ryan Murphy, USA
U.S. Open: O 51.94 7/8/2009 Aaron Peirsol, Longhorn
Pro Swim: P 52.40 2016 David Plummer
Jr World: j 52.53 8/6/2018 Kliment Kolesnikov, RUS
Oly Trials: T 55.69
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Hunter Armstron 21 California Aq.-P 54.64 52.68T
r:+0.69 25.98 52.68 (26.70)
2 Ryan Murphy 27 California Aq.-P 55.32 53.47T
r:+0.53 25.69 53.47 (27.78)
3 Daniel Diehl 17 CUY-MD 55.30 54.50T
r:+0.59 26.37 54.50 (28.13)
4 Destin Lasco 21 Unattached-PC 55.12 54.85T
r:+0.57 27.07 54.85 (27.78)
5 Javier Acevedo 24 Canada 55.66 55.17T
r:+0.61 27.03 55.17 (28.14)
6 Hunter Tapp 21 NC State-NC 55.28 55.24T
r:+0.66 26.41 55.24 (28.83)
7 Nicolas Albiero 23 CARD-KY 55.92 55.92
r:+0.65 26.87 55.92 (29.05)
8 Manuel Martos 22 Spain 55.96 56.33
r:+0.53 27.22 56.33 (29.11)
Men’s 200 Breaststroke
Most of the top men’s breaststrokers in the United States are missing this first Pro Series meet of the year, so Tennessee’s Lyubomir Epitropov was able to grab the win in 2:12.15. Miguel de Lara had the lead for most of the race, but Epitropov had almost caught up by the 150-meter mark, and he pulled ahead on the final length. De Lara took second in 2:12.78, and Brandon Fischer was third in 2:14.02.
Event 20 Men 200 LC Meter Breaststroke
==================================================================
World: W 2:05.95 5/19/2022 Zac Studbblety-Cook, AUS
American: A 2:07.17 6/30/2016 Josh Prenot, Cal Aquatics
U.S. Open: O 2:07.17 6/30/2016 Josh Prenot, Cal Aquatics
Pro Swim: P 2:08.95 2018 Andrew Wilson
Jr World: j 2:09.39 7/27/2017 Haiyang Qin, CHN
Oly Trials: T 2:15.99
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 *Lyubomir Epitr 23 Tennessee-SE 2:18.63 2:12.15
r:+0.68 30.62 1:04.15 (33.53)
1:38.29 (34.14) 2:12.15 (33.86)
2 Miguel de Lara 28 ANV Puebla 2:18.83 2:12.78T
r:+0.71 30.01 1:03.84 (33.83)
1:38.21 (34.37) 2:12.78 (34.57)
3 Brandon Fischer 34 TRIV-PC 2:16.93 2:14.02T
r:+0.74 31.25 1:04.27 (33.02)
1:39.24 (34.97) 2:14.02 (34.78)
4 Thomas Cope 25 CW-MI 2:17.75 2:15.83T
r:+0.64 30.74 1:05.05 (34.31)
1:40.23 (35.18) 2:15.83 (35.60)
5 Brayden Taivass 18 Canada 2:19.00 2:16.04
r:+0.63 30.77 1:05.37 (34.60)
1:40.27 (34.90) 2:16.04 (35.77)
6 Will Scholtz 18 LAK-KY 2:19.17 2:17.81
r:+0.75 31.36 1:05.96 (34.60)
1:41.70 (35.74) 2:17.81 (36.11)
7 Andrew Zou 17 TXLA-ST 2:19.60 2:18.40
r:+0.63 31.36 1:06.25 (34.89)
1:42.21 (35.96) 2:18.40 (36.19)
8 Trenton Julian 24 MVN-CA 2:19.52 2:21.19
r:+0.66 31.37 1:06.79 (35.42)
1:43.96 (37.17) 2:21.19 (37.23)
Men’s 50 Butterfly
Ryan Held, competing for the first time since June’s World Championships and getting married in the fall, bounced back from a disappointing 50 free performance to earn the win in a tight final. Held came in at 23.93, just two hundredths ahead of Missouri’s Clement Secchi (23.95). Tennessee’s Gui Caribe was only four hundredths further behind in third place (23.99).
Event 22 Men 50 LC Meter Butterfly
==================================================================
World: W 22.27 7/1/2018 Andri Govorov, UKR
American: A 22.35 7/22/2019 Caeleb Dressel, USA
U.S. Open: O 22.84 4/27/2022 Caeleb Dressel, Gator Swim Club-
Pro Swim: P 23.11 2012 Matt Targett
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Ryan Held 27 NYAC-MR 24.29 23.93
r:+0.58
2 *Clement Secchi 22 Missouri-MV 24.36 23.95
r:+0.60
3 Guilherme Santo 19 Tennessee-SE 24.10 23.99
r:+0.55
4 Finlay Knox 22 Canada 24.22 24.09
r:+0.65
5 Luke Miller 20 NC State-NC 24.52 24.20
r:+0.47
6 Dare Rose 20 Unattached-PC 24.55 24.28
r:+0.58
7 Jarod Hatch 24 MVN-CA 24.40 24.37
r:+0.61
8 *Bjoern Kammann 21 Tennessee-SE 24.52 24.39
r:+0.53
Men’s 400 Freestyle
Now training at Indiana University, Ahmed Hafnaoui is looking to reclaim his place on the global scene after winning Olympic gold in the 400 free in 2021 and then missing the major competitions of 2022. In Knoxville, Hafnaoui faced off against another 400 free Olympic-medal winner from Tokyo, University of Florida-trained Kieran Smith. Smith started off the race in aggressive fashion, and he took a half-second lead after just 50 meters. Smith held onto a shrinking lead through 250 meters, but then Hafnaoui took over and exploded on the last two lengths to leave Smith behind.
Hafnaoui finished in 3:47.41, about four seconds shy of his Olympics time of 3:43.36, while Smith was second in 3:50.53. Bobby Finke, another former Florida Gator, finished third in 3:52.09.
Event 24 Men 400 LC Meter Freestyle
==================================================================
World: W 3:40.07 7/26/2009 Paul Biedermann, GER
American: A 3:42.78 8/10/2008 Larsen Jensen, USA
U.S. Open: O 3:43.53 6/29/2008 Larsen Jensen, Trojan
Pro Swim: P 3:43.55 2016 Sun Yang
Jr World: j 3:44.60 4/1/2014 Mack Horton, AUS
Oly Trials: T 3:55.59
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Ahmed Hafnaoui 20 Tunisia 3:53.55 3:47.41T
r:+0.81 26.85 55.23 (28.38)
1:24.39 (29.16) 1:53.38 (28.99)
2:22.51 (29.13) 2:51.55 (29.04)
3:19.76 (28.21) 3:47.41 (27.65)
2 Kieran Smith 22 Ridgefield Aq-CT 3:54.41 3:50.53T
r:+0.70 26.23 54.77 (28.54)
1:23.89 (29.12) 1:52.91 (29.02)
2:22.36 (29.45) 2:51.95 (29.59)
3:21.80 (29.85) 3:50.53 (28.73)
3 Bobby Finke 23 SPA-FL 3:56.79 3:52.09T
r:+0.73 27.13 56.18 (29.05)
1:25.68 (29.50) 1:55.21 (29.53)
2:24.44 (29.23) 2:53.94 (29.50)
3:23.36 (29.42) 3:52.09 (28.73)
4 Zane Grothe 30 BCH-CA 3:56.04 3:53.97T
r:+0.55 27.12 56.64 (29.52)
1:26.31 (29.67) 1:56.38 (30.07)
2:26.22 (29.84) 2:56.14 (29.92)
3:25.99 (29.85) 3:53.97 (27.98)
5 Drew Kibler 22 CSC-IN 3:57.09 3:56.29
r:+0.66 26.30 55.02 (28.72)
1:24.69 (29.67) 1:54.58 (29.89)
2:25.25 (30.67) 2:55.72 (30.47)
3:26.68 (30.96) 3:56.29 (29.61)
6 Michael Brinega 23 Ohio St-OH 3:58.16 3:58.03
r:+0.75 27.35 57.40 (30.05)
1:27.89 (30.49) 1:58.76 (30.87)
2:28.88 (30.12) 2:59.64 (30.76)
3:29.61 (29.97) 3:58.03 (28.42)
7 Henry McFadden 17 JW-MA 3:57.07 3:58.79
r:+0.74 27.44 56.97 (29.53)
1:27.00 (30.03) 1:57.39 (30.39)
2:27.65 (30.26) 2:58.17 (30.52)
3:28.77 (30.60) 3:58.79 (30.02)
8 Trenton Julian 24 MVN-CA 3:58.52 4:05.43
r:+0.67 25.42 53.14 (27.72)
1:23.43 (30.29) 1:55.43 (32.00)
2:27.86 (32.43) 3:00.60 (32.74)
3:33.87 (33.27) 4:05.43 (31.56)
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