Ryan Murphy’s Blistering Backstroke Leads USA to Mixed 400 Medley Relay World Record at 2015 FINA World Championships

Ryan Murphy places first in the prelims of the 100 backstroke.

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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Ryan Murphy led Team USA to a monster world record in the mixed 400-meter medley relay during prelims at the 2015 FINA World Championships.

In heat 2, the Russian foursome of Daria Ustinova (59.89), Kirill Prigoda (59.99), Daniil Pakhomov (51.52) and Veronika Popova (54.47) set a time of 3:45.87 to break Australia’s world record of 3:46.52 from the BHP Aquatic Super Series.

Team USA, however, followed in heat 3 to smash Russia’s short-lived world record as Murphy (52.18), Kevin Cordes (58.33), Kendyl Stewart (57.78) and Lia Neal (54.04) clocked a top time of 3:42.33.

Comparative Splits

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Murphy’s 100-meter back leadoff is well ahead of the 52.40 Mitch Larkin used to win the individual world title in that event last night, and is .01 faster than Aaron Peirsol’s meet record of 52.19 from 2009. Murphy’s time will not stand as the meet mark, however, as individual records cannot fall during mixed events.

The swim vaulted Murphy into fourth all time in the 100-meter back’s history.

All Time 100 Back

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Meanwhile, Great Britain (3:44.39), Germany (3:45.39), Italy (3:46.03), China (3:47.48), Hungary (3:49.50) and Canada (3:49.60) also made the championship finale.

SCHEDULED EVENTS

Women’s 50 back
Men’s 100 free
Women’s 200 fly
Men’s 200 IM
Mixed 400 medley relay

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Coach

8 years ago

Bootsma was in a Russian hospital for a few days with 102 fever. That should explain the No Show this morning.

Kara Lennon

8 years ago

Ryan Murphy thought you retired