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Missy Franklin Interview Bombs Ryan Murphy after his 1:38.1 200 back

Video coverage presented by A3 Performance

Men’s 200 Back via Keith Report

Ryan Murphy, after a Ryan Lochte scratch in the final, was left with Lochte’s Gator Swim Club training partner Arkady Vyatchanin to gun-down big swims in this men’s 200 back.

Vyatchanin let Murphy take to the front in the first 50 yards. The two were fairly close through the second two 50′s, though Murphy was able to pick up a crucial few tenths on each lap.

In the last lap, the older and therefore more physically mature and experienced Vyatchanin, closed very well. Very few swimmers are able to close this 200 backstroke in under 25 seconds, and perhaps nobody is able to do it in the 24.39 that Vyatchanin came home in.

Murphy’s lead from the first 50 carried him though, as he was able to squeak out a win in 1:38.15 – a new 17-18 National Age Group Record (read more about that record here). Vyatchanin was 2nd in 1:38.22, as those swims rank as the third and fifth fastest, respectively, in the history of the event.

USC’s Alex Lendrum was 3rd in 1:42.29 followed by Indiana’s Eric Ress in 1:42.72. Those are two of a handful of competitors for this NCAA title, both seniors, which give’s Lendrum a bit of a psychological edge perhaps. Michigan State’s Jacob Jarzen took 5th in 1:43.10 (he was half-a-second better in prelims).

Arizona’s Michael Sheppard won the B-Final in 1:42.77.

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Matt
11 years ago

And how much faster could he have been had this not been his 2nd taper? Every other race he’s swum at the meet was slower than his equivalent at florida states. So it’s possible that there’s still even more time to drop right now.

bobo gigi
11 years ago

Ryan Murphy’s underwaters are already really good. It’s just those from Arkady Vyatchanin which are incredible. Ryan Murphy has swum 1.38.15. I predict he will be in 1.34 before the end of his collegiate career.

11 years ago

Huge swimmers are coming out for the moment ………… he is one of them !!! + Cordes , Shields , …..

rjcid
11 years ago

1 38 and hes not out of high school? That would win state for freestyle in mots states. And USA will win 200 back Olympic gold for the next 12 years. Dynasty?

Eve
11 years ago

prediction: #SwimRoyalWedding2020

Josh
Reply to  Eve
11 years ago

LOL it could happen. This is what he tweeted on July 30th after she won an Olympic gold:
“@FranklinMissy one year ago, you told me we would have wonderful backstroke babies. Now you’re an Olympic gold medalist. You rock!”

Eve
Reply to  Josh
11 years ago

oh, it is ON!!!!!

bobo gigi
Reply to  Eve
11 years ago

And both go to Cal next year!

coacherik
11 years ago

I didn’t see the race, but he has to work on his underwaters for the 200 back? Can’t imagine what would happen should his dolphin kick meets his standards for this race… March 2014 is going to be crazy. 1:36 low?

Lv2srf95
Reply to  coacherik
11 years ago

1:34. 22 low followed by 3 24 lows. 1:34.7.

Philip Johnson
11 years ago

Franklin has to be one of the most down to earth swimmers ever! did i sense an unusual amount of comfortness between the two? lol

liquidassets
Reply to  Philip Johnson
11 years ago

No I think she’s like that with everybody.

About Gold Medal Mel Stewart

Gold Medal Mel Stewart

MEL STEWART Jr., aka Gold Medal Mel, won three Olympic medals at the 1992 Olympic Games. Mel's best event was the 200 butterfly. He is a former World, American, and NCAA Record holder in the 200 butterfly. As a writer/producer and sports columnist, Mel has contributed to Yahoo Sports, Universal Sports, …

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