2019 MEN’S NCAA SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, March 27 – Saturday, March 30
- Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center, Austin, Texas
- Defending champion: Texas (4x) (2018 results)
- Psych Sheet
- Championship Central
- Live results
100 BACKSTROKE
- NCAA Record: Ryan Murphy (Cal), 2016, 43.49
- American Record: Ryan Murphy (Cal), 2016, 43.49
- U.S. Open Record: Ryan Murphy (Cal), 2016, 43.49
- Meet Record: Ryan Murphy (Cal), 2016, 43.49
- 2018 Champion: Coleman Stewart, NC State, 44.58
John Shebat (photo: Jack Spitser)
The reigning 100 backstroke champion returns as NC State’s Coleman Stewart is the top seed heading into NCAAs. Stewart took down the ACC Record in this event at last month’s conference meet with his 44.36 leadoff leg of the 400 medley relay. He’s now the 4th fastest performer ever in this event. Teammate Andreas Vazaios, who took 3rd last season, is also looking to return to the championship final.
After some splitting swings at ACCs, Stewart quipped that he was ‘still learning how to swim’ the 100 back. If he goes 44.3 without knowing how to swim the race, and then figures out how to swim the race…that’s scary for everyone else.
NC State isn’t the only team who could get 2 men into the A final. Texas will field 2017 and 2018 NCAA runner-up John Shebat and last season’s 4th place finisher and 200 back champ, Austin Katz, who both have best times sub-45. Shebat is the 3rd fastest performer ever in this event. His 44.35 from 2017 is a hundredth faster than Stewart’s ACC Record.
The only other returning championship finalist in this event is Louisville’s Nick Albiero, who broke 45 for the first time at this season’s ACC meet. There are a handful of other men coming in after breaking 45 for the first time at midseason or their respective conference meets. That includes Alabama’s Zane Waddell, Indiana’s Gabriel Fantoni, and Arizona State’s Zachary Poti. Georgia’s Javier Acevedo, who had a foot injury in the lead up to SECs, has yet to break 45 this season, but has been sub-45 with his relay leadoff at 2018 NCAAs. Acevedo is a returning B finalist along with Waddell and Poti.
Ivy League champion Dean Farris is changing his lineup this season. Farris typically competes in the 200 freestyle on day 2, but has opted for this event instead. His 44.62 from the Harvard-Yale-Princeton meet in early February makes him the 9th fastest performer in history. Between Farris, Shebat, Stewart, and Grand Canyon’s Mark Nikolaev, we’ll have 4 of the 10 fastest performers ever competing in this race. With his 44.61 at the 2018 Hawkeye Invitational, Nikolaev became the 8th fastest performer ever. Nikolaev scored in the B final of this event in 2018.
TOP 8 PICKS:
| Place | Swimmer | Season Best | Lifetime Best |
| 1 | Coleman Stewart (NC State) | 44.36 | 44.36 |
| 2 | John Shebat (Texas) | 45.44 | 44.35 |
| 3 | Mark Nikolaev (Grand Canyon) | 44.61 | 44.61 |
| 4 | Dean Farris (Harvard) | 44.62 | 44.62 |
| 5 | Nick Albiero (Louisville | 44.88 | 44.88 |
| 6 | Gabriel Fantoni (Indiana) | 44.91 | 44.91 |
| 7 | Andreas Vazaios (NC State) | 45.85 | 44.81 |
| 8 | Zane Waddell (Alabama) | 44.77 | 44.77 |
Like Stewart to break 44 to win.
Dean 44 low for second.
God king dean farris is going to take that W.
Waddell only eighth after going the second-fastest 50 in history on a half-taper? Stacked field, but one has to think he’ll be a contender for the title if a full rest can translate into him holding his speed better.
Shebat, Katz, Harty, Stewart. Lets make this happen #HOOKEM
Lord Conaton will be wearing a drag suit in prelims. Should still make the A final. Hopefully the guys next to him don’t get too intimidated when they see his ribless stature.
Shebat and Katz are worth mentioning, but I’m surprised Texas’ top seed in the 100 back this year doesn’t get a mention (Ryan Harty).
In fact, NC State and Texas could account for 6 of 8 finalists in this event.
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I read this comment and assumed it was about Dean Farris… As a Stanford fan, I was happy to see it was about a Stanford swimmer instead.
What about the other Patrick ginger, Mr. Mulcare?
Katz no A final?
He’smore of a 200 guy and this event is stacked. He could pop a 44.7 though. Never know.
He came 4th last year didn’t he? I don’t think he’ll be top 3 but he could definitely make it in top 8
There are so many 44s, and his best is 44.99. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he made it in. But I could only pick 8 to make it…