Olivia Smoliga swam an impressive 59.04 in winning the 100 back on Saturday morning at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Mission Viejo as her time is the fastest any American has been this year, as she won ahead of Kathleen Baker (59.50). Smoliga and Baker were the two representatives for the United States in the 100 back at the last Olympics in Rio and will have a chance to repeat that feat in Tokyo this summer as they are expected to do battle once more in Omaha at the end of June.
Alabama’s Rhyan White, who was second at this year’s NCAAs, broke 1:00 for the first time in third place with a 59.66 to put herself as the fourth fastest American this year, making the 100 back that much more competitive come Trials.
Cal freshman Isabelle Stadden placed fourth at 1:00.51 as she will have a better chance in the 200 come Omaha, as will Lisa Bratton, who was fifth at 1:00.83.
Reigning Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Ryan Murphy swam a crooked 53.11 to win the men’s race, which is a season best for him and the fastest time an American has swum this year. Murphy won ahead of Cal undergrads Hugo Gonzalez (53.76) and Daniel Carr (53.83) in second and third as Destin Lasco (55.04) and Bryce Mefford (55.16) also raced in that heat in fifth and sixth place.
Cal Berkeley has become a destination for backstroke talent since Murphy has been there in 2013, and that streak will continue in the near future with Lasco having three more years of school. The freshman was third at NCAAs in the 100 back.
2012 Olympic gold medalist Matt Grevers was also in the final, placing eighth at 55.40.
Event 15 Women 100 LC Meter Backstroke
=========================================================================
World: W 57.57 7/28/2019 Regan Smith, USA
American: A 57.57 7/28/2019 Regan Smith, USA
U.S. Open: O 58.00 7/28/2018 Kathleen Baker, Team Elite-NC
Jr World: J 57.57 7/28/2019 Regan Smith, USA
Pro Swim: P 58.18 3/7/2020 Regan Smith, Riptide-MN
1:01.49 W-II Oly Trials Wave II
1:02.69 W-I Oly Trials Wave I
Name Age Team Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Olivia Smoliga 26 Athens Bulldog S 59.59 59.04
r:+0.63 29.02 59.04 (30.02)
2 Kathleen Baker 24 Team Elite-NC/NY 59.45 59.50
r:+0.82 28.72 59.50 (30.78)
3 Rhyan White 21 Univ Alabama Swi 1:00.39 59.66
r:+0.77 29.13 59.66 (30.53)
4 Isabelle Stadde 18 Unattached-PC 1:00.48 1:00.51
29.48 1:00.51 (31.03)
5 Lisa Bratton 24 Aggie Swim Club- 1:01.09 1:00.83
r:+0.56 29.64 1:00.83 (31.19)
6 Ali Deloof 26 Tennessee Aquati 1:00.78 1:01.49
r:+0.99 29.40 1:01.49 (32.09)
7 Isabel Ivey 20 Unattached-PC 1:01.03 1:01.55
r:+0.76 29.69 1:01.55 (31.86)
8 Sherridon Dress 22 Una GSC-FL 1:02.00 1:01.77
r:+0.54 30.16 1:01.77 (31.61)
Event 16 Men 100 LC Meter Backstroke
=========================================================================
World: W 51.85 8/13/2016 Ryan Murphy, USA
American: A 51.85 8/13/2016 Ryan Murphy, USA
U.S. Open: O 51.94 7/8/2009 Aaron Peirsol, Longhorn
Jr World: J 52.53 8/6/2018 Kliment Kolesnikov, RUS
Pro Swim: P 52.40 2016 David Plummer
55.51 W-II Oly Trials Wave II
56.59 W-I Oly Trials Wave I
Name Age Team Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Ryan Murphy 25 California Aquat 54.41 53.11
r:+0.96 25.67 53.11 (27.44)
2 *Hugo Gonzalez 22 Una CAL-PC 53.84 53.76
r:+0.64 26.41 53.76 (27.35)
3 Daniel Carr 22 Unattached-PC 53.73 53.83
r:+0.77 26.24 53.83 (27.59)
4 Jack Aikins 18 SwimAtlanta-GA 55.59 54.93
r:+0.51 26.48 54.93 (28.45)
5 Destin Lasco 19 Unattached-PC 55.37 55.04
r:+0.68 27.09 55.04 (27.95)
6 Bryce Mefford 22 Unattached-PC 55.09 55.16
r:+0.67 26.79 55.16 (28.37)
7 Will Grant 19 Veritas Swimming 55.23 55.17
r:+0.63 26.82 55.17 (28.35)
8 Matt Grevers 36 Unattached-AZ 55.39 55.40
r:+0.61 26.78 55.40 (28.62)
