Olympic gold medalist and World Record holder Hunter Armstrong won three events at the Pro Swim Series Westmont:
- 50 back – 24.30 (Pro Swim Series Record)
- 100 back – 52.59
- 100 meter free – 48.79
Is Hunter a 3-event threat at the U.S. World Championship Trials? I think he is. Right now, as the World Record holder, the 50 back is his to lose. A resurgent Ryan Murphy and a rising Shaine Casas present a big hurdle, but I like Armstrong’s chances training with Murphy every day in Berkeley. In the 100 free he’s on the bubble individually. Reports are that Caeleb Dressel is back in training. Hunter will certainly make the men’s 4×100 free relay. But who cares what I think? It’s all about what you think. Drop your comments below.
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US trails predictions for Armstrong
50 back 1st in 23.82
100 back 1st in 52.08
100 free 3rd in 48.17
He’s likely in 50 and 100bk based on how he’s swimming. And also 4x100fr relay. I could see him making individual 100 free too. I think there’s an outside chance he gets 3rd place in backstrokes but it would be a very unlikely set of circumstances. in the 100 my bet is on murphy for the second spot. In the 50 I think it’s Ress. I still cannot believe Casas is focusing on 50/1back with all this competition when the 2back and 2IM are so open. And even 1fly is more open than 1back unless you presume dressel will be fully back in form.
If Casas is patient, he will have years in his career where the 50/1back are easy… Read more »
Win all 3 at Trials ? No; can win both backstrokes (but neither are in any way a “lock”) but not seeing it in 100FR.
Top 3 in all 3 at Trials ? Plausible – yes; probable – it’s a stretch.
Make team (ie. individual in both back + 4×100) ? Can go along with that.
Just made the connection that if Murphy is Peirsol 2.0 (100/200 back and chill demeanor), then is Armstrong Grevers 2.0 (extra tall, skips the 200 back to dabble on the 400 free relay instead)?
I hope Dressel shows up for the relay but if not, it’s pretty exciting seeing a new look 4×100 team going into Paris and I have a feeling we are going to see a lot of time drops during trials: Armstrong, Casas, Curry, King, Alexey, Kibler, Smith, Held, Chaney there is a lot of depth.
Kind of crazy the American who won the World title in the 50 isn’t even mentioned here. C’mon Mel.
If he’s winning the US Trials 100m Free ….The US is weaker than we thought.
When Popovicism coming back?
No. Maybe the 50 back….long maybeeeee 100 back. More importantly can he show up and be consistent at worlds and follow up whatever he does at trials?