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Ryan Murphy has quickly taken over the reigns as the best US backstroker in both Olympic distances. Murphy swam the third fastest 200 back of 2017 with a 1:54.30 to sit just behind Russia’s Evgeny Rylov (1:53.81) and China’s Xu Jiayu (1:54.03). Murphy made his second straight World Championship team with that swim and will look to win his first individual World Championship medal.
Murphy will be joined by teammate Jacob Pebley for the second straight year at 1:54.78, as the ladder made his first World Championship team. Pebley now sits just behind Murphy on the world rankings list in fourth. Pebley has indicated that he has been very motivated this year as he was one of the few US swimmers that did not get a medal in Rio. He has a very good chance to get an individual medal in Rio as well as a possible spot in the 100 back on Friday.
Robert Owen (1:57.17), Sean Lehane (1:57.33), Austin Katz (1:57.60), Abrahm DeVine (1:58.65), Joey Reilman (1:59.33) and Hennessey Stuart (2:00.48) also swam in the A-Final.
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