U.S. Nationals: Hunter Armstrong, Justin Ress A Hundredth Apart in 50 Backstroke
The men’s 50 backstroke closed out the Thursday prelims session at the U.S. National Championships from Indianapolis at the Indiana University Natatorium.
Several big names ended up within four tenths of a second of each other.
Shaine Casas had a strong 100 butterfly and switched gears for the 50 backstroke and turned in a 24.65 to win the first circle-seeded heat.
The second circle-seeded heat went to Justin Ress, who turned in a 24.21.
The final heat at U.S. Nationals saw Hunter Armstrong get to the wall in 24.20.
Ryan Held had a strong swim in the fourth heat at 24.69 out of Lane 2, setting up a fast and close final at U.S. Nationals.
Armstrong took the top seed in 24.20, followed by Ress (24.21), Casas (24.65), Held (24.69), Tommy Janton (24.84), Jack Dolan (24.89), Wyatt Davis (24.91) and Jack Aikins (25.00).
It was an impressive double for Casas, who made the final in both events. Held threw a fast swim in the early heats to disrupt the pecking order, though not surprising with Held’s success in the 50s.
Ryan Murphy and Destin Lasco, who made the team in the 200 backstroke, scratched the 50 backstroke, but plenty of star power is still present in the event at U.S. Nationals.
