2020 JANIS HAPE DOWD INVITATIONAL
- Thursday, December 3-Saturday, December 5
- Teams: University of North Carolina, NC State, Virginia Tech, Duke, Wolfpack Elite
- Koury Natatorium, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Format: Short Course Yards (SCY)
- Prelims/Finals
- Prelims @9AM Central, Finals @5PM Central
- 2021 NCAA Qualifying Times
- Results on Meet Mobile: “UNC ‘Janis Hape Dowd’ Invitational”
Coleman Stewart made one more run at the American Record in the 100 yard backstroke Saturday at the 2020 Janis Hape Dowd Invitational hosted by the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Though he did not break the record that was set in 2016 by Cal’s Ryan Murphy, this is Stewart’s second sub-44 100 yard backstroke in as many days and the third of his career.
On Friday, Stewart posted a 43.62 making him the 2nd-fastest performer all-time and giving him ownership of the 3rd-fastest performance all-time. Stewart’s time tonight does not change his position on the all-time performers list though it does make him and Murphy the only two swimmers to have ever broken 44 multiple times, each of them having done it three times.
Compared to the short list of other men that have been sub-44 in the 100 backstroke, Stewart has stood out as having the slowest opening 50 but near-record pace closing 50s. Saturday, however, Stewart took it out fast–faster than Murphy when he set the American Record in 2016 and faster than Dean Farris when he won the NCAA title in 2019.
Saturday, as the lone swimmer in his time trial, Stewart exploded a 20.77 to his feet on the opening 50. For comparison, Murphy was 20.96 when he set the American Record at 43.49, whereas Farris was 20.85 when he won NCAAs in 43.66 in 2019, just ahead of Stewart who placed 2nd in 43.98 that year.
Murphy’s 43.49 was his second time breaking the American Record in the 100 backstroke though, and his opening 50 the first time he did it was a 20.90 en route to a 43.51.
Stewart’s Splits Each Time He’s Been 43
| STEWART 12/04/2020 | STEWART 12/05/2020 | STEWART NCAAs 2019 | |
| 1st 50 | 21.10 | 20.77 | 21.38 |
| 2nd 50 | 22.52 | 23.05 | 22.6 |
| Total Time | 43.62 | 43.82 | 43.98 |
Stewart was obviously much faster out of the gate on 12/05/2020, though he faded much more than we’ve seen him do in the past on the second 50. Even so, the effort resulted in Stewart’s second-fastest performance ever and the 5th-fastest 100 yard backstroke in history.
Sub-21 Opening 50 Split Comparison
| MURPHY 2016 – INDIVIDUAL | MURPHY 2016 – RELAY | FARRIS 2019 | STEWART 12/05/2020 | |
| 1st 50 | 20.96 | 20.90 | 20.85 | 20.77 |
| 2nd 50 | 22.53 | 22.61 | 22.81 | 23.05 |
| Total Time | 43.49 | 43.51 | 43.66 | 43.82 |
Stewart now owns 5 of the top-10 fastest performances in history in the 100 yard backstroke, two of which were done in the past two days.
TOP-10 PERFORMANCES: MEN’S 100 YARD BACKSTROKE
- Ryan Murphy – 43.49
- Ryan Murphy – 43.51
- Coleman Stewart – 43.62
- Dean Farris – 43.66
- Coleman Stewart – 43.82
- Shaine Casas – 43.87
- Coleman Stewart – 43.98
- Ryan Murphy – 43.99
- Coleman Stewart – 44.04
- Coleman Stewart – 44.06
Murphy, Stewart, and Farris have all been on this list for at least one year each; Shaine Casas, on the other hand, joined just weeks ago when he cranked out a 43.87 in the 100 yard backstroke in November.
TOP-10 PERFORMERS: MEN’S 100 YARD BACKSTROKE
- Ryan Murphy, 43.49
- Coleman Stewart, 43.62
- Dean Farris, 43.66
- Shaine Casas, 43.87
- Nick Thoman, 44.07
- Zane Waddell, 44.10
- Zachary Poti, 44.14
- Mark Nikolaev, 44.33
- John Shebat, 44.35
- Matt Grevers, 44.49
At ’19 NCAA – Coleman doubled with the 100 fly
Is Coleman shaved?
Well that Murphy record was his peak year. Hasn’t hit his Rio 100 back time since then. Doubt he could hit that 100 SCY time now either. His neck got to thick for his head.
he was faster than his gold medal time in Rio at pan pacs in 2018
Look up the f’in WR. It’s from Rio. As I said, no best time in 4 years.
He’s gonna do it one more time so he can have the most swims under 44 and beat murph at that
We’re in the middle of pandemic… Athletes are battling uncertainties… and all you noobs are taking a shot at someone who actually performing at high level and trying his best.
Hey Coleman, take another shot or two or three. I’d love to see someone break Murphy’s record. Keep going and good luck!
Happy Sunday.
Yeah well people have nothing better to do. I think this is great for the sport. Keep it up Coleman. And Murphy. And whoever else wants to be the best in the world
I agree. Thank you for saying that despite all the noise in these comment sections. From everything I’ve experienced, these guys do read these threads, or at least hear about them.
So in other words, he couldn’t sustain it….
Bitching first 50
News flash: opening speed \neq closing speed
Stewart > Murphy
Delusional.
Did you read the article… it states otherwise
Must be difficult not knowing how to read or comprehend numbers
Murphy sitting pretty on his 3 Olympic gold medals and 100 backstroke WR.
Agreed. Coleman’s 100 back time > Murphy’s.