Shaine Casas Enters All-Time Top 10 Among Americans in 100 Back

2019 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• July 31 – August 4, 2019
• Prelims 9:00 AM (Pacific)/Finals 5:00 PM (Pacific)
• Avery Aquatics Center
• Stanford, CA
• Meet Site
• Psych Sheet
• Omega Results

Texas A&M rising sophomore Shaine Casas is now in the top 10 all-time among Americans in the 100 meter backstroke prelims on Saturday morning. Casas swam a 53.26 to qualify 1st into the final. That knocked more than a second off his previous best time that was done last summer in 54.51.

That time ties Casas with NC State post-grad Justin Ress as the 10th-fastest American in history in this event.

In his freshman season at Texas A&M, Casas was the nation’s fastest freshman in the 200 yard backstroke, finishing as the runner-up at SECs. He also finished 4th at SECs in the 200 IM and 7th in the 100 back. At the NCAA Championships, however, he made a surprise shift to the butterfly races. He didn’t score in the 100 fly, and was 11th in the 200 fly – again the highest-placing freshman in that race.

This week he’s swum both butterfly and backstroke races, though he’s placed much higher in the backstrokes so far:

Casas’ Results, 2019 US Nationals:

• 100 free – 49.17 – 17th
• 200 back – 1:55.79 – 2nd
• 100 fly – 52.15 – 17th
• 100 back – 53.26 – 1st (prelims)
• 200 IM – Sunday
• 50 Free – Sunday

His earlier swim in the 200 back ranks him as the 11th-fastest American of all-time. Casas is now in position to make the US National Team in both the 100 back and the 200 back.

All-Time Top 10, Americans, 100 LCM backstroke – All Ages

1. Ryan Murphy – 51.85 (2016 Olympics)
2. Aaron Peirsol – 51.94 (2009 USA Swimming National Championships)
3. Matt Grevers – 52.08 (2012 US Olympic Trials)
4. David Plummer – 52.12 (2016 US Olympic Trials)
5. Nick Thoman – 52.51 (2009 US Open)
6. Randall Ball – 52.59 (2008 Eindhoven Open)
7. Jacob Pebley – 52.95 (2016 US Olympic Trials)
8. Michael Phelps – 53.01 (2007 US Nationals)
9. Ben Hesen – 53.03 (2012 US Olympic Trials)
10. (TIE) Justin Ress – 53.26 (2018 US Nationals)/Shaine Casas – 53.26 (2019 US Nationals)