16 year-old Destin Lasco of Pleasantville Aquatics set a new National Age Group record in the 100 yard backstroke tonight at the Middle Atlantic Senior Championships in York, PA. Lasco’s time of 45.93 broke the previous record of 46.65, set by Michael Thomas back in 2014.
Comparative splits:
Thomas, 2014: 22.70/23.95
Lasco, 2018: 22.61/23.32
Video courtesy of Dimitar Petrov
Note: the YouTube video says that Lasco’s time was a 46.93, but a photograph we received of the official results, as well as Meet Mobile, confirm that the time was a 45.93.
Lasco went out just a bit under Thomas’s record pace, but really hammered it on the home on the back half of the race, where he was over six-tenths of a second faster. Thomas was our #3 recruit in the high school boys class of 2015, and he just wrapped up his junior season for the California Golden Bears, who he helped lead to a 2nd-place finishing at last week’s NCAA Championships.
Tonight’s 100 back was not Lasco’s only fast swim of the week. He’s set personal bests in the 100 breast (from 58.56 to 55.90) and the 400 IM (from 4:01.53 to 3:48.22) and anchored Pleasantville’s winning 400 free relay in 42.95. He also swam the 500 free tonight about 25 minutes after swimming the 100 back, finishing in 2nd, just a few seconds off of his best time.
Lasco’s 100 back time tonight not only would’ve qualified him for the men’s NCAA Division I championships, but it actually would’ve put him tied for 16th in prelims, making Lasco one of the rare 16 year-old boys who already has NCAA scoring times.
He’s slated to swim the 200 back, 100 free, and 200 IM tomorrow. The 200 back NAG record is probably the one that is in most danger, as Lasco’s best time of 1:41.97 is only a second shy of the record time of 1:40.90, set by Ryan Murphy back in 2011, and Lasco knocked eight-tenths of a second off his best time today en route to setting the NAG record in the 100 back.
Is that a Daktronic system??? hahahahaha
Yes it is!
Solid underwaters !! This kid has it all
3:48 in the 400IM…
Note the flipper-like feet in the photo.
He’s going to be quite a catch for some college team with his ability to swim so many events.
First thought as well, damn, wait until he grows into them feet.
If you had asked me which future cal bear held the 15-16 nag record in 100 back, I would not have guessed Mike Thomas.
Congrats to Lasco – great to see his back improving so much!
Yeah Mike T was quite the backstroker in hs now he is quite the 3:37.75 400 imer and 1:39.95 flyer
Dam, I’ll have to check him out at some of his HS meets next yr
His backstroke is so incredibly smooth wow
I’m . . . speechless.
😎
And a few days ago I wondered where was Destin Lasco since last December. 😆
He answered in the best possible way with another NAG record.
That kid is crazy special. I tell you that for years and years now. I irritate some of you with that. But a truth is a truth. His technique is almost perfect. His endurance is there. His best stroke has always been backstroke but his freestyle is a beauty too. And now he starts to improve a lot his breaststroke and the result is a big time drop in the 400 IM, my favorite event.
Congrats to Mr Lasco and to his coach… Read more »
However, Bobo, this was just a “bathtub” swim. Surprised you’re so impressed.
No surprise. A week ago he advised Katie Ledecky to compete in SC to set a few world records in “bathtub” competition.
Bobo so glad you see what all of us in Middle Atlantic Swimming have seen for years!
I thought you were speechless…..
Good observations indeed and yes, Dimitar was an outstanding open water marathon swimmer … he is also one great young coach who has done so much for the aquatic community of south Jersey. Congrats and stay tuned….
He had a big HS season. Broke 3 or 4 more national SCM records (I know not the same as a SCY record, but still swimming fast and improving throughout his season)… then went 1:44 200 IM, 4:24 500 free, 19.9 split on 200 FR and 43.3 split on 400 FR at HS states