PRO SWIM SERIES – KNOXVILLE
- January 11-14, 2023
- Knoxville, Tennessee
- LCM (50 meters)
- Prelims/Finals
- Prelims: 9:00 AM (EST)
- Finals: 6:00 PM (EST), Day 1 4:00 PM
- Meet Central
- Live Results
- Psych Sheets
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- Day 3 Prelims Recap
- Day 3 Finals Heat Sheets
Hunter Armstrong’s winning time of 52.68 in the 100 backstroke finals on Friday night at the Pro Swim Series was the second-fastest ever in the month of January.
Only Japan’s Ryosuke Irie has been faster in January, when he clocked a 52.59 on his 30th birthday in 2020. Armstrong, 21, only missed David Plummer’s Pro Swim Series record by .28 seconds.
MEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE — FINALS
- World Record: 51.60 – Thomas Ceccon, ITA (2022)
- World Junior Record: 52.53 – Kliment Kolesnikov, RUS (2018)
- American Record: 51.85 – Ryan Murphy (2016)
- U.S. Open Record: 51.94 – Aaron Peirsol (2009)
- Pro Swim Series Record: 52.40 – David Plummer (2016)
Top 3:
- Hunter Armstrong (California Aquatics) — 52.68
- Ryan Murphy (California Aquatics) — 53.47
- Daniel Diehl (CUY) — 54.50
Armstrong finished nearly a second ahead of Ryan Murphy (53.47), who edged Armstrong for the silver medal at last summer’s World Championships. The pair have been training partners at Cal since last May, when Armstrong followed former Ohio State coach Matt Bowe to Berkeley with his focus on long-course training. Another Cal swimmer, Destin Lasco, placed fourth with a 54.85, so he clearly has no shortage of formidable training partners.
Armstrong’s early-season speed is a strong indicator that his decision last April to retire from NCAA swimming early and turn pro is paying off.
On Thursday, he earned a runner-up finish in the 50 back with a 24.70, a couple tenths behind Justin Ress’ new Pro Swim record of 24.49. Armstrong, the world record holder in the 50 back, also finished behind Ress in the event at last summer’s World Championships.
Armstrong is taking on a double on Saturday with the 200 back and 100 free on his slate.
I did not actually expect to read a 51.something time but 52.68 was still puzzling after that flashy headline.
In the rain, on a train, fastest reaction time in 100 backstroke in January coming up next.
ESPN stat
Hunter Armstrong in long course >>>> Hunter Armstrong in short course
But was it the fastest time ever on Friday the 13th
Expect that headline will change with there being a January Worlds next year.
It feels like a lot of really excessive qualifying.
I mean I suppose it’s good! But I don’t really know what it portends. (Second fastest swim on the second Friday of the first month of the calendar year…)
True
Coaching staff should’ve put him as MR lead off and US would’ve won at LC worlds
Then he’ll just have to beat Murphy in the individual next time.
Murphy is so proven that it would be hard to defend that decision if he doesn’t swim amazing
Murphy has been subpar these pase 2 world’s in the MR.
That headline still scares me even when I see it months later. Great title
https://staging.swimswam.com/hunter-armstrong-retires-from-ncaa-swimming-will-turn-pro/