As American high school senior Ryan Murphy shifts his focus from the Olympic Trials, where he was a finalist, to his senior year of high school and the upcoming recruiting season, he displayed some outstanding versatility this weekend at the Florida Senior Champs.
He swam lifetime bests in 5 different events: the 100 free (50.77) in a relay leadoff; the 200 free (1:51.83); the 100 fly (54.41); the 200 fly (2:05.65 – prelims only); and the 200 IM (2:04.26). He also swam the 200 back in a 1:57.49, which is just a tenth off of his best time from the Olympic Trials.
Since the Olympic Trials, where he placed 6th in the 100 back, crushing the National Age Group Record, and 4th in the 200 back, Murphy has had a birthday and now competes in the 17-18 age group. Despite being one of the youngest swimmers in that age group, several of those times put him in the top-12 nationally, including the 200 IM time where he now ranks 11th in the elder group. His 200 backstroke time leads all 17-18 year olds in 2012.
He and DC-Area swimmer Jack Conger are neck-and-neck for the honor of top recruit in the class of 2012, and with this demonstrated improved versatility, Murphy has evened the debate up.
Of note, these swims were included in a fundraiser in honor of former Bolles coach Clare Blackwell, with fans across the country having pledged donations for every best time that a group of current and former Bolles swimmers posted at the end of this summer. Between this meet and the River City Champs in Jacksonville, the participants swam 17 personal bests to raise funds for researching childhood cancer.
Read more about the fundraiser here.
Eric Vanden Noort: 100 fr 400 fr 1500 fr
Ryan Murphy: 100 fr 200 fr 100 fl 200 fl 200 im
Kourtney Gavin: 50 fr 50 fl 100 im 100 bk
Kierstyn Harmeling: 50 fr 100 fr 400 fr
Britt Aubley: 50 fr 100 fl
Patrick Murphy 100 free 🙂 thanks dude. Well be in Austin this week!