Daniel Diehl Blasts 53.11 100 Back To Crack 17-18 National Age Group Record

2022 U.S. OPEN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• November 30-December 3, 2022
• Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, North Carolina
• Long Course Meters (50 meters)
• Start Times:
  • Prelims: 9 AM (ET)
  • Finals: 6PM (ET)
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It was only a matter of time, but Daniel Diehl officially took hold of the U.S. boys’ 17-18 National Age Group Record in the 100 backstroke (LCM) on Friday.

Competing in the prelims of the U.S. Open in Greensboro, N.C., Diehl blasted his way to a time of 53.11, erasing the nine-year-old NAG record of 53.38 set by six-time Olympic medalist Ryan Murphy in 2013.

Diehl breaking Murphy’s record was essentially a forgone conclusion after he went under the mark while he was still 16, having broken the 15-16 NAG back at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships in August in 53.27. That swim marked the third time Diehl reset the 15-16 NAG record, which he initially took hold of from Murphy in March 2022 when he went 53.59 to break Murphy’s 53.76 swim from 2012.

Having aged up in October, the now 17-year-old Diehl rocketed out to an opening split of 25.87 during the U.S. Open prelims, the only split in the field sub-26, but he really made inroads on the back-half, closing in a blistering 27.24 to mark the quickest in the field by more than a second.

Relative to his previous best time, the second 50 was the difference-maker for Diehl, as he closed almost half a second quicker.

Split Comparison

*Splits for Diehl’s 53.59 swim are unavailable

The YMCA of Cumberland product maintains his place as the 14th-fastest American of all-time, and will have a chance to become the 12th U.S. man sub-53 in tonight’s final.

All-Time U.S. Performers, Men’s 100 Backstroke (LCM)

1. Ryan Murphy, 51.85 – 2016 Olympic Games
2. Aaron Peirsol, 51.94 – 2009 Summer Nationals
3. Hunter Armstrong, 51.98 – 2022 World Championships
4. Matt Grevers, 52.08 – 2012 Olympic Trials
5. David Plummer, 52.12 – 2016 Olympic Trials
6. Nick Thoman / Shaine Casas, 52.51 – 2009 U.S. Open / 2022 Speedo Southern Sectionals
7. –
8. Randall Bal, 52.59 – 2008 Eindhoven Open
9. Justin Ress, 52.73 – 2022 International Team Trials
10. Bryce Mefford, 52.87 – 2021 Olympic Trials Wave II
11. Jacob Pebley, 52.95 – 2016 Olympic Trials
12. Michael Phelps, 53.01 – 2007 Summer Nationals
13. Ben Hesen, 53.03 – 2012 Olympic Trials
14. Daniel Diehl, 53.11 – 2022 U.S. Open
15. Ryan Lochte, 53.37 – 2008 Olympic Trials

Despite only having recently turned 17, Diehl is one of just four swimmers to go under 54 seconds in the boys’ 17-18 age group.

All-Time U.S. Performers, Boys 17-18 100 Backstroke (LCM)

1. Daniel Diehl, 53.11 – 2022 U.S. Open
2. Ryan Murphy, 53.38 – 2013 Summer Nationals
3. Michael Taylor, 53.77 – 2016 Olympic Trials
4. Gunner Grant, 53.89 – 2019 World Juniors
5. Jack Aikins, 54.03 – 2021 Olympic Trials Wave II

After placing 31st in the 100 back at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials at the age of 15, Diehl has made a massive leap over the last year and a half. After his 15-16 NAG record swim in March, he finished eighth in the 100 back at the International Team Trials in April, and then won the event at the Junior Pan Pacs in August while adding three more gold medals on the American relays.