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Ryan Murphy was out under world record pace in the 100 back final on Friday night at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Tokyo. Murphy holds that world record from when he led off the 4×100 medley relay in Rio two years ago. Murphy could not quite hold on for a best time, but finished in a 51.94, not far off his 51.85 world record.
It is the third fastest time in the 100 back of all-time, tying Aaron Peirsol’s former world record from 2009. Murphy is now the first swimmer to break 52 seconds more than once. Murphy is now over half a second ahead of the rest of the world this year, including second place Kliment Kolesnikov of Russia.
Murphy was well in front of the rest of the field as Japan’s Ryosuke Irie finished with the silver at 52.78 in front of his home crowd.
Australia’s Mitch Larkin (52.88) was back on the podium at a major meet in the 100 back after missing it the last two years. Larkin swam faster here in Tokyo than he did to win the Commonwealth Games in April, a promising sign for the now 25-year-old.
Irie and Larkin moved up in the world rankings this year to sixth and seventh respectively.
American veteran Matt Grevers finished off the podium in a surprising fourth. The time wasn’t bad for the gentle giant, as he had a 52.99. Grevers will keep his spot on the World Championship team for next year as he was a 52.55 at Nationals last month.
Michael Andrew won the B-Final at 53.55 ahead of Justin Ress at 53.59.
Canada’s Javier Acevedo (53.90) and Markus Thormeyer (54.02) finished in fifth and sixth.
Japan’s Masaki Kaneko (54.33) and Australia’s Bradley Woodward (54.34) finished in seventh and eighth.
2018 World Rankings:
- Ryan Murphy, USA, 51.94
- Kliment Kolesnikov, RUS, 52.53
- Matt Grevers, USA, 52.55
- Evgeny Rylov, RUS, 52.67
- Xu Jiayu, CHN, 52.72
- Ryosuke Irie, JPN, 52.78
- Mitch Larkin, AUS, 52.88
- Justin Ress, USA, 53.26
Stephanie