Junya Koga Break 45 Seconds To Take 100 Back Title At USA Swimming Nationals

Photo by: Mike Comer/ProSwimVisuals.com

GREENSBORO – Junya Koga put a scare into Nick Thoman’s 100 back U.S. Open record of 44.07 two days after snatching his 50 back record, but the Japanese star fell short, winning with a 44.91.

That’s still a very quick time, tying him with Ryan Murphy for the fifth-fastest performance in history. He’s tied with Murphy as the third-fastest performer in history, with Thoman and Matt Grevers ahead of him. Koga was out with a quick 21.41 at 50 yards, but paid the price at the end.

James Wells of Badger, a former standout at Indiana University, placed second with a 45.92, just four tenths off his lifetime best which he posted at the 2013 Big Ten championships. It was enough to hold off Louisville sophomore Grigory Tarasevich, whose third-place time of 46.09 just missed the NCAA automatic cut of 45.62 but is the fastest swim done among college swimmers so far this season.

Geoffrey Cheah of Club Wolverine (46.42), Andrew Marsh of West Virginia (46.58), Sean Fletcher of Mason Makos (47.28), Rowan Williams of Ohio State (47.60) and Aaron Young of Louisville (48.19) also competed in the fast final.

Matt McHugh of Ohio State took the B final with a solid 47.31, while Steven Zimmerman was second with a 47.38. Pedro Oliveira took third with a 47.53.

Winning the C final was Tristan Sanders of Michigan with a 47.60. Thomas Nguyen was second with a 48.09 while Timothy Ware was third in 48.10.

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Jason V

9 years ago

Saw this guy swim for gold at the Asian Games in Seoul a couple of months ago.