Ryan Murphy of Cal threw down the fourth fastest time this season in the 100m backstroke with a 52.57 performance which doubled as the fastest 100 back ever recorded on Canadian soil.
2015-2016 LCM Men 100 BACK
MURPHY
51.85*WR*OR
| 2 | Mitchell LARKIN | AUS | 52.11 | 11/06 |
| 3 | David PLUMMER | USA | 52.12 | 06/27 |
| 4 | Jiayu XU | CHN | 52.31 | 08/08 |
| 5 | Matt GREVERS | USA | 52.54 | 12/03 |
Murphy was out like a rocket in 25.54, coming back just as strong in 27.03 to finish the performance over a second ahead of Cal teammate Jacob Pebley who was a 53.85.
Pebley’s time also cracked the top 25 world rankings, tying him for the 14th spot this season with Vlad Morozov.
Murphy told SwimSwam earlier that he didn’t have as long a rest as he usually does heading into NCAAs, and that he’s been right back in training for the 2016 US Olympic Trials in late June.
According to Murphy, he was in the gym for a lift session on Tuesday between prelims and finals, meaning that he wasn’t entirely fresh tonight.
The time makes Murphy the third fastest American man this year, and the third American man to crack the top 5 world rankings in this event.
David Plummer was a 52.51 this season and Matt Grevers was a 52.54. Having three swimmers in the top five shows the overall strength of the American men in the backstroke races.
In order to make the 2016 US Olympic team, it’s going to be a dogfight between these three with the possibility of Pebley and a few others to step up into the mix.
As someone who swam next to Ryan Murphy when he went sub 44 for the first time I would have to say that he is going t break the world record and win gold. He will handle any pressure just fine.
I had a dream last night that Ryan Murphy was on wr pace in the 200 back at trials but faded in the last 50 to go 1:53.00. Not sure why I was dreaming about the 200 back, it’s one of my least favorite events. That would be awesome if it came true though.
BayArea Swim, sorry for my lack of vocabulary.
I think you have well understood what I meant.
If not, take as example Ryan Murphy’s 52.18 in the prelims of the useless mixed 4X100 medley relay at worlds last year and you will easily understand. He was in an outside lane, with no pressure and swam very relaxed.
Look at the final of the same useless event later in the day and you will easily understand. He was in lane 4 and led-off the US relay “only” in 53.31 against British CWH and Chinese Xu.
Same in the men’s 4X100 medley relay final. Lane 4, very good first 50 but struggled at the end against Lacourt and Larkin… Read more »
He has learnt a lot for sure at Worlds and he was pissed on getting 5th on the 200 back. Excited to see what he can do.
Bobo,
I fully understood what you meant. But saying that Murphy can break WR in clear water and no pressure doea not mean much.
A whole number of backstrokers can also break WR while in clear water with no pressure: Larkin, Grevers, Lacourt, Plummer, Irie, etc etc.
By the way, were you not the one who in 2013 stated with full certainty that Murphy will rule backstroke starting from 2014?
What happened?
at world’s, ryan had not been training for the 100 back, since only qualifying for the 200, so it was a total shock that he swam it so fast. also, in the remaining races, he wasn’t 100% physically. with his recent results on very little rest, i’m betting he’s going to go very fast.
Bobo, you’ve been saying this a lot recently and without a doubt, that all did happen last summer. Hopefully Murphy has learned from it and it’s seems like he has.
But I do want to point out that it seems pretty common for these youngsters to struggle after a breakout swim like Murphy’s 52.1. Pretty much every youngster on the map right now has struggled at big meets (maybe not as high profile as worlds, but still big meets) following some high profile swims. A few examples at the top of my head:
– Clark Smith NCAAs
– Joseph Schooling 2012 Olympics
– Caeleb dressel struggled about a year after he dropped that 18.9. (Although he… Read more »
By the way and with a few days late, here’s the new update of my 2016 US olympic team barometer.
Not trials results. But who will represent USA in Rio.
Of course much depends on Missy Franklin’s intentions (still that crazy 200 free/100 back double?), Natalie Coughlin’s intentions (100 back?) but especially on Ryan Lochte’s intentions. Will he swim the 200 free? Will he swim the 400 IM? No idea right now. It can make big differences.
Much depends on Katie McLaughlin’s health too. I really hope she can fully defend her chances at trials.
MEN
50 free. Caeleb Dressel/Nathan Adrian
100 free. Caeleb Dressel/Nathan Adrian. Plus Michael Phelps/Michael Chadwick/Maxime Rooney/Jack Conger for the relay
… Read more »
No Will Licon?
Still going with Clark Smith after his major struggles at NCAAs? If he can handle the pressure of trials I agree with your pick, but I’m not sure he can.
Don’t sleep on Andrew Wilson Either! He’s been training with Longhorn Aquatics all season, and I doubt he’s rested much since Summer Nats.
I agree…go Andrew!!!!
Bobo,
It looks like you have no real upsets in the Men’s portion!
Have to agree with other commentators that Andrew Wilson is primed to just go Scott Weltz on everybodys face. He’s been dropping time like a 10 year old for the past four years. Doesn’t seem to be slowing down and he recently went 59 at a meet where I have to guess he wasn’t rested at all. And I actually think his 200 chances are just as good, maybe better.
Side note: Remeber Scott Weltz? Incredible. Absolute paragon of the swimming success story. Still one of my favorite moments in swimming history.
Interesting predictions. No real breakthroughs here though – wonder if we’ll see any surprises from the likes of Reece Whitley, Ryan Hoffer, Michael Andrews, etc. Tough call with Clark Smith after his NCAAs but we know he has the ability.
Although I have to laugh. Anytime someone says “Ryan Murphy will win!!!” you’re a bit of a wet blanket and respond saying he only performs in clear water, no pressure, yada yada yada. But here you have him predicted to win 😉
Murphy has everything to break the world record this year. In clear water and with no pressure he can be tremendous. But I repeat it doesn’t necessarily mean he will be olympic champion. Or even he will be in top 2 at trials. I want to see him beat the best in a big fight. And it starts at olympic trials against both veterans Grevers and Plummer.
In clear water and no pressure, I can be humongously tremendous.
We have heard that many times already . let him swim his races
Could not agree more with this.
The reason is that the same tired comment sounds like making excuses for Murphy.
same with the women,s 100 back. If Australia could send more than 2 it would be ridiculous. Emily seebohm, Madison Wilson, minna Atherton and newcomer Kylie McKeown.
This event would be unbelievable if the Americans could send more than two to Rio; but even with two it’s going to be ridiculously competitive. 51.5 or below in Rio seems completely possible. Great to knock out another 2009 WR.
Yup WR is going down before we even hit Rio