NC State teammates Justin Ress and Andreas Vazaios will not be competing in the 200 free for the Wolfpcack at men’s NCAAs. This news is somewhat surprising for Ress, but not so much for Vazaios. You can view the full pre-selection lists here.
Ress has been swimming the 200 free of late, but this year, he has opted to trade out the 200 free for the 100 back. His lifetime 200 best of 1:32.66 was a scoring threat, and potential A finals swim. His season best in the 100 back, on the other hand, is 47.02, and his lifetime best if 46.62. It looks like it will take about a 45.5 to make it back to finals at NCAAs this year. This news isn’t actually all that out of nowhere for Ress, however, who has had the most success in Long Course Meters (LCM) in the 100 back in recent seasons. He boasts a personal best of 53.26 LCM, which placed 3rd at US Summer Nationals last Summer.
The news for Vazaios, though, isn’t too surprising, since he didn’t swim the 200 free at NCAAs last season either. Still, Vazaios’ best time in the 200 free is 1:31.22, which is certainly fast enough for the A final at NCAAs, and has a decent shot at being top 3 as well. That best time is from leading off the 800 free relay at last year’s NCAAs, and some thought that maybe after seeing him go that fast, the 200 free would be one of his primary events this year.
Justin Ress Seeds:
- 50 free – 8th, 19.14
- 100 back – TBD, 47.02
- 100 free – 16th, 42.25
Justin Ress Previous NCAA Championship lineups:
- Freshman (2016): 800 free relay, 200 IM, 200 Back
- Sophomore (2017): 800 Free Relay, 200 Free Relay, 400 Medley Relay, 200 Free, 200 Medley Relay, 100 Free, 400 Free Relay
- Junior (2018): 800 Free Relay, 200 Free Relay, 50 Free, 400 Medley Relay, 200 Free (DFS), 100 Free, 400 Free Relay
Andreas Vazaios Seeds:
- 200 IM – 4th, 1:41.30
- 100 back – 25th, 45.85
- 200 fly – 8th, 1:41.03
Andreas Vazaios Previous NCAA Championship lineups:
- Sophomore (2017): 800 Free Relay, 200 IM, 400 Medley Relay, 100 Back, 200 Medley Relay, 200 Fly
- Junior (2018): 800 Free Relay, 200 IM, 400 Medley Relay, 100 Back, 200 Medley Relay, 200 Fly
Seems weird to enter Coleman Stewart, Justin Ress, and Andreas Vazaios in the same event. Anything short of 3 A finalists will be a disappointment.
agreed
I think part of it has to be about managing energy during such a brutal meet. 100 bk is a lot less taxing than the 2 free on the middle day.
Yeah. If Vazaios can go 1:31 in the morning of Day 3 I’d prefer to see him in that I think. But given he’s a little older than other swimmers at this meet maybe it is smart to give him more rest 😉
And it’s a crowded 100 back. You have to figure Stewart, Shebat and Farris are vitual locks for the A Final. The dude from Grand Canyon should go :44 also.
Not to mention Carr and Mefford from Cal, Poti from ASU, Waddell from Bama, Kaleoaloha from FSU, etc etc… what a loaded event.
What’s the relay implication? I’m certain that matters
Just covering their rear ends for when they finish 4th or 5th as to why they didn’t win the meet and have an excuse ready….
I want to start my pick em!
If Ress swims the 100 back NC State could have the national champion in the final, last years 3rd place finisher and the 2017 50m back national champ. Then they have Noah Hensley who could swim his butt off to get into the A- final or into the high B final. Could be major point run for the pack reminds me of when they got three guys into the 100 free final last year.
Going toe to toe with Texas backstrokers
Interesting. Sounds like Ress is scared of facing Mokhar!!
Ress isn’t afraid to race Matt Greavers and Ryan Murphy in the 100 back and 50 back at nationals so I doubt he’s afraid to race anyone at the colligate level.
Wrong!!!!!!!!!!
At this rate Seli and Townley are going to be just having a swim off for the 2 free.
Smart moves
Bring on NCAA’s
WOLF-
Excited to see what Ress can do in scy 100 Back!
Me too! Been waiting on this for years!
I don’t think his LCM success will transfer over… his walls and underwaters are not great. But I hope he proves me wrong
State has Jacob Molacek in the 200 free and two others with lower seeds that assuming Molacek makes finals that’s an improvement from last year.