2020 ACC MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- When: Wednesday, February 26th to Saturday, February 29th Prelims 10:00 am | Finals 6:00 pm (1650 prelims Saturday at 4:00 pm)
- Where: Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, North Carolina (Eastern Time Zone)
- Defending Champion: North Carolina State University (NC State) (29x, 5th-straight) (results)
- Streaming: ACC Network
- Championship Central: Here
- Detailed Timeline: Here
- Psych Sheets: Here
- Live Results
- Saturday Finals Heat Sheets
North Carolina State senior Coleman Stewart swam a 1:37.71 in the 200 yard backstroke on Saturday to claim his 3rd-straight conference title in the event. In the process, he took more than eight-tenths of a second off the old ACC Conference Record in the event.
The old conference record (and NC State school record) belonged to Hennesey Stuart, who swam a 1:38.56 for NC State at the 2016 NCAA Championship meet. The old ACC Championship Record was a 1:39.05 which was done by Louisville’s Grigory Taraseich at the 2017 ACC Championship meet.
The time also jumps Stewart into 7th-place in the all-time event rankings in the 200 back. The time also ranks him 3rd in the NCAA so far this season (Shaine Casas, 1:37.20; Austin Katz, 1:37.35).
Stewart’s previous best time was a 1:38.81 that he swam for a 4th-place finish at last year’s NCAA Championship meet.
Comparative Splits:
| Coleman Stewart | Hennesy Stuart | Grigory Tarasevich | Coleman Stewart | |
| New ACC Record | Old ACC Record | Old ACC Meet Record | Previous Best | |
| 50y | 22.97 | 22.67 | 23.60 | 23.09 |
| 100y | 47.60 (24.63) | 47.30 (24.63) | 48.51 (25.01) | 47.84 (24.75) |
| 150y | 1:12.09 (24.49) | 1:12.62 (25.32) | 1:13.21 (25.20) | 1:12.95 (25.11) |
| 200y | 1:37.71 (25.62) | 1:38.56 (25.94) | 1:39.05 (25.24) | 1:38.81 (25.86) |
It was Stewart’s ability to close this race that made the difference in the record-setting swim. As compared to his previous best time, where he opened in 47.84 and closed in 50.97, on Saturday he opened in 47.60 and closed in 50.11.
Stewart won the 100 back on Friday, his 3rd-straight title in that event as well, in addition to this 200 back win. That gives him 6 total individual ACC titles in his career.
All-Time Top 10 Performers, Men’s 200 Yard Backstroke:
- 1:35.73 – Ryan Murphy, Cal, 2016 NCAA Championships
- 1:36.42 – John Shebat, Texas, 2019 NCAA Championships
- 1:36.45 – Austin Katz, Texas, 2019 NCAA Championships
- 1:36.81 – Ryan Lochte, Gator Swim Club – 2007 Winter Nationals
- 1:37.20 – Shaine Casas, Texas A&M – 2020 SEC Championships
- 1:37.71 – Coleman Stewart, NC State – 2020 ACC Championships
- 1:37.58 – Tyler Clary, Michigan – 2009 NCAA Championships
- 1:37.80 – Patrick Mulcare, USC – 2017 NCAA Championships
- 1:37.87 – Arkady Vyatchanin, Russia – 2013 Winter Nationals
- 1:38.21 – Eugene Godsoe, Stanford post-grad – 2012 OK Elite Meet
Even bearded!
“Bearded”
This could be the best race at NCAAs next month. And 1:35 is a long ways off, but with three guys within two seconds this year of Ryan Murphy’s record, never say never!
It’s the last day and such a leg killer after a long meet with all the relays Casas and Steward will do. Katz won’t have all the relays, but will have the 500 free. Murphy’s 1:35 was incredible because, in addition to his individual events up to that point, his relays splits were off the charts. Frankly, I don’t know how the guys do it.
Phenomenal swim. It’s his senior year and he’s leaving his best in the pool now. Awesome stuff.
I know Casas is ahead… who’s the other guy?
Austin Katz. 1:37.35 from the Minnesota Invite.
Austin Katz