Shaine Casas Becomes #7 American All-Time in 100 BK; Youngest American Sub-53

2019 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Shaine Casas doubled down on his breakthrough performance in the 100 back this morning at US Nationals, not only winning the national title, but dropping another half second too. The 19-year-old posted a blistering 52.72 in finals tonight, winning the event by over a second, and significantly undercutting his personal best of 53.26, which he set this morning. Just a reminder, Casas entered this meet with a best time of 54.51, meaning he dropped nearly 2 full seconds over the course of the day.

Casas took the race out nearly at World Record pace. He flipped at 25.29, just off the WR split of 25.13. His performance this morning ranked him in a tie for 10th for Americans all-time. With his 52.72 tonight, Casas is now the 7th fastest American of all-time, and perhaps more notably, he became the first American teenager to break 53 seconds in the 100 back. Ryan Murphy was the previous fastest American teen, with a teenage best time of 53.20. There have been other teens around the world to break 53 seconds, but Casas is still one of the first. Japan’s Ryosuke Irie (52.24), China’s Jiayu Xu (52.34), Russia’s Kliment Kolesnikov (52.51), and Russia’s Evgeny Rylov (52.74) all broke 53 seconds as teenagers.

Casas’ Results, 2019 US Nationals:

  • 100 free – 49.17 – 17th
  • 200 back – 1:55.79 – 2nd
  • 100 fly – 52.15 – 17th
  • 100 back – 52.72 – 1st
  • 200 IM – Sunday
  • 50 Free – Sunday

In edition to being the 7th fastest American all-time and the fastest American teen ever, Casas is now ranked 17th all-time in the world, coming in just .01 seconds ahead of Great Britain’s Liam Tancock. Here is the current all-time top 10 for Americans:

All-Time Top 10, Americans, 100 LCM backstroke – All Ages

  1. Ryan Murphy – 51.85 (2016 Olympics)
  2. Aaron Peirsol – 51.94 (2009 USA Swimming National Championships)
  3. Matt Grevers – 52.08 (2012 US Olympic Trials)
  4. David Plummer – 52.12 (2016 US Olympic Trials)
  5. Nick Thoman – 52.51 (2009 US Open)
  6. Randall Ball – 52.59 (2008 Eindhoven Open)
  7. Shaine Casas – 52.72 (2019 US Nationals)
  8. Jacob Pebley – 52.95 (2016 US Olympic Trials)
  9. Michael Phelps – 53.01 (2007 US Nationals)
  10. Ben Hesen – 53.03 (2012 US Olympic Trials)

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Carter
4 years ago

I had the privilege of watching this guy at the texas 6a state meet in 2018, pretty crazy awesome how much improvement he has had in such a short time and its definitely super motivating to watch!

Dcswim
4 years ago

Shaine Casas is baby

Justhereforfun
4 years ago

Didn’t expect MP to be on that list…… especially since it’s his 7th/8th best event?

Dirtswimmer
Reply to  Justhereforfun
4 years ago

Fun fact: When he swam that time at the 07 nationals, it was only .03 from Aaron peirsol’s WR. He was also only a couple of tenths from 200 back WR there too.

Theroboticrichardsimmo so
Reply to  Dirtswimmer
4 years ago

A Phelps focus on the 100/200 back is the greatest thing never to have happened in swimming. I don’t know how long it would have lasted given what Piersol did from 2008-2009, but Phelps could have had both backstroke WRs and won some real hardware if he wasn’t already going nuts in the 100/200, 100/200 fl, 200/400 IM.

Let’s also not forget that Phelps set the AR in the 400 fr at age 18 in 2003 at 3:46.73 and there was a hot second when it seemed like that would be part of his international portfolio until he failed to make it past prelims in the event at 2005 World’s.

Team Rwanda
Reply to  Theroboticrichardsimmo so
4 years ago

Cool. Now let’s focus on Shaine

Swammer
4 years ago

And the American 100 back plot thickens.

pvdh
4 years ago

Thank you USA swimming selection procedures, very cool

Zanna
4 years ago

His 200 back is not too shabby either

Leftpaddleleftfinsucks
4 years ago

Colonel

ola
4 years ago

Whoop!