TYR Pro Series: Olivia Smoliga Wins 100 Backstroke Showdown of Olympic Contenders; Ryan Murphy Rolls
The last night of the TYR Pro Series stop in San Antonio could not have opened with a more intriguing event, as three of the top contenders for Olympic berths in the women’s 100-meter backstroke squared off at the Bill Walker Pool. The showdown certainly did not disappoint as Olivia Smoliga claimed the narrowest of victories, prevailing by .01 in an effort of 59.49.
Third at the turn, Smoliga charged to the wall and was able to overtake Regan Smith, the current world-record holder, and Kathleen Baker, the former world-record holder. Smith touched just behind in 59.50 while Baker, who won the 200 backstroke on Friday night, picked up the bronze medal in 59.57.
When the Olympic Trials are held in Omaha, the 100 backstroke might be the fiercest event on the program. In addition to the women who battled at the Pro Series, the likes of Phoebe Bacon and Katharine Berkoff will be factors, among others. Whoever is left off the Team USA roster will have the talent to earn a medal in Tokyo – but will not have the opportunity, due to the two-per-country rule in each event.
Completing his sweep of the backstroke events, Ryan Murphy blasted the field in the 100 distance, winning with a time of 53.56. Already the winner of the 200 back on Friday night, Murphy beat runnerup Coleman Stewart (54.48) by nearly a second. Murphy initially was slated to face Justin Ress in the final, but after qualifying as the top seed, Ress opted to scratch the final.
Murphy heads into the spring and summer looking to defend the Olympic titles he earned in 2016 at the Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Event 19 Women 100 LC Meter Backstroke
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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
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=== A - Final ===
1 Olivia Smoliga 26 Athens Bulldog S 59.89 59.49
r:+0.69 29.11 59.49 (30.38)
2 Regan Smith 19 Riptide 59.39 59.50
r:+0.59 28.61 59.50 (30.89)
3 Kathleen Baker 24 Team Elite/NYAC 59.97 59.57
r:+0.62 28.49 59.57 (31.08)
4 Lisa Bratton 24 Aggie Swim Club 1:01.16 1:01.21
r:+0.62 30.00 1:01.21 (31.21)
5 Hali Flickinger 26 Sun Devil Swimmi 1:01.82 1:01.57
r:+0.67 30.32 1:01.57 (31.25)
6 Levenia Sim 14 TNT Swimming 1:01.66 1:01.88
r:+0.53 29.46 1:01.88 (32.42)
7 Beata Nelson 22 Wisconsin Aquati 1:02.62 1:02.23
r:+0.69 30.24 1:02.23 (31.99)
8 Sherridon Dress 22 Una GSC 1:02.61 1:02.38
r:+0.66 30.21 1:02.38 (32.17)
Event 20 Men 100 LC Meter Backstroke
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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 54.87 53.56
r:+0.88 25.85 53.56 (27.71)
2 Coleman Stewart 23 Wolfpack Elite 55.30 54.48
r:+0.60 26.61 54.48 (27.87)
3 *Kacper Stokows 22 NC State Univers 55.28 55.30
r:+0.64 26.47 55.30 (28.83)
4 *Zheng Quah 24 California Aquat 56.19 55.64
r:+0.66 26.50 55.64 (29.14)
5 *Paul Le 28 Wolfpack Elite 55.94 56.03
r:+0.86 27.01 56.03 (29.02)
6 Drew Carbone 21 Unattached 56.16 56.33
r:+0.61 26.95 56.33 (29.38)
7 *Chris Reid 25 Wolfpack Elite 56.17 56.37
r:+0.95 27.65 56.37 (28.72)
8 Nick Alexander 22 Team Triumph 56.59 57.08
r:+0.59 27.45 57.08 (29.63)
