MEN’S 100 Breaststroke – 2014 Austin Grand Prix
Ross Murdoch extended his dominance in the breaststroke races in Austin, winning the 100 breast in 1:00.58. The 20-year-old Scot won the 200 with ease and looked to do the same in the 100. Although he came up a good margin short of American Mike Alexandrov off the start, it didn’t take long for the speedy Murdoch to erase that lead with his high-tempo stroke.
Alexandrov finished second competing for Trojan Swim Club, going 1:01.38. Tennessee Aquatics Brad Craig was third in 1:02.20.
Alexandrov’s Trojan training partner Glenn Snyders was fourth. The New Zealander went 1:02.35, and Stanford pro BJ Johnson was a few tenths behind. Sixth went to 2012 Olympian Scott Weltz in 1:02.78, and Craig Benson and Brandon Fischer rounded out the field.
In the B final 14-year-old Michael Andrew provided some fireworks, cutting a full second off his prelims swim and his lifetime-best to smash the National Age Group record of 1:04.74. Andrew went 1:03.83 – he seems to be getting better and better with more swims this weekend after a quiet start, and he’s still got two races left to swim tonight.