Hunter Armstrong Lowers Pro Swim Series Record with World-Leading 24.30 50 Back

2023 PRO SWIM SERIES – WESTMONT

• April 12-15, 2023
• FMC Aquatic Center, Westmont, Illinois
• Long Course Meters (50 meters)
• Event Central
• Pre-Scratch timeline
• Psych Sheets
• Live Stream
• Live Results
• Day 1 Finals Live Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Live Recap
• Day 2 Finals Live Recap

Hunter Armstrong broke the Pro Swim Series record in the 50-meter backstroke during his victory on Thursday night in Westmont, Illinois.

The 22-year-old American clocked a winning time of 24.30, lowering the previous mark of 24.49 set by Justin Ress at January’s Pro Swim Series stop in Knoxville. Ress placed second in this race with a 24.56, .26 seconds behind Armstrong and .07 seconds off his season-best time. At last summer’s World Championships, Ress (24.12) edged Armstrong (24.14) for the crown by just .02 seconds.

Armstrong’s new season-best time of 24.30 ranks as the top time in the world this season ahead of 18-year-old South African Pieter Coetze (24.36).

Armstrong’s lifetime best in the event is a 23.71 from last year’s U.S. International Team Trials, which still stands as the world record.

MEN’S 50 BACKSTROKE – FINALS

• World Record: 23.71 – Hunter Armstrong (2022)
• American Record: 23.71 – Hunter Armstrong (2022)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 24.49 – Justin Ress (2023)
• US Open Record: 23.71 – Hunter Armstrong (2022)

Top 8:

1. Hunter Armstrong (NYAC) — 24.30 (Pro Swim Record)
2. Justin Ress (MVC) — 24.56
3. Ryan Held (NYAC) — 25.25
4. Bjorn Seeliger (CAL) — 25.26
5. Gabriel Fantoni (ISC) — 25.46
6. Jacob Molacek (TFA) — 25.56
7. Berke Saka (TUR) — 25.64
8. Kai Van Westering (IU) — 25.66

Ryan Held took third in 25.25, which is much faster than he was in Fort Lauderdale, where the 27-year-old American didn’t break 26 seconds. He beat out Bjorn Seeliger for the final spot on the “podium” by a hundredth, as the 23-year-old Cal standout from Sweden touched in 25.26.