2021 NCAA Division I Men’s Championships: Destin Lasco, Shaine Casas Showdown Set in 200 Back

Destin Lasco; Photo Courtesy: Luke Jamroz Photography

It’s going to take a torrid final day from the University of California if it is going to overcome Texas at the Division I Men’s Championships. The Golden Bears enter the final day 42 points in arrears, but Cal starts the first event of the day, the 200 backstroke, with three of the top four seeds in the field, a chance to reap significant points.

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NCAA Championships: 200 backstroke

Cal has been a dominant force in this event for many years. This year’s meet includes a rare run at the history set in 2016 when Ryan Murphy won the event in 1:35.73, setting the NCAA, meet and American records.

The evening’s showdown is set between Cal’s Destin Lasco and Texas A&M’s Shaine Casas. Lasco set the pace in the next-to-last heat, the Golden Bears freshman going 1:37.19 to down the pool record set in 2020 by Coleman Stewart of NC state (1:37.71).

Casas was three-tenths ahead of Lasco’s pace before through 150 before pulling back late. The top seed entering the race, Casas settled for the second seed in 1:37.23 as he tries to add a third gold medal to his record, joining the 100 back and 200 IM.

Cal’s points advantage didn’t quite materialize thanks to Texas playing spoiler. Cal has three A finalists, with Bryce Mefford fourth and Daniel Carr fifth. But the Longhorns snuck Carson Foster into the third spot, and senior Austin Katz is sixth.

A swim-off is required for the A final, with Florida’s Clark Beach and Virginia’s Justin Grender tying for eighth at 1:40.20.

Event 16  Men 200 Yard Backstroke
==================================================================
         NCAA: N 1:35.73  3/26/2016 Ryan Murphy, California
         Meet: M 1:35.73  3/26/2016 Ryan Murphy, California
     American: A 1:35.73  3/26/2016 Ryan Murphy, California
   U. S. Open: O 1:35.73  3/26/2016 Ryan Murphy, California
         Pool: P 1:37.71  2/29/2020 Coleman Stewart, NC State
    Name                 Year School               Seed    Prelims        
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Lasco, Destin          FR California        1:38.13    1:37.19P 
    r:+0.72  23.22        48.08 (24.86)
        1:12.65 (24.57)     1:37.19 (24.54)
  2 Casas, Shaine          JR TAMU              1:36.54    1:37.23P 
    r:+0.63  22.39        47.15 (24.76)
        1:12.35 (25.20)     1:37.23 (24.88)
  3 Foster, Carson         FR Texas             1:40.34    1:38.41  
    r:+0.68  23.26        48.23 (24.97)
        1:13.40 (25.17)     1:38.41 (25.01)
  4 Mefford, Bryce         SR California        1:39.85    1:38.55  
    r:+0.66  23.45        48.03 (24.58)
        1:13.01 (24.98)     1:38.55 (25.54)
  5 Carr, Daniel           SR California        1:38.81    1:38.63  
    r:+0.62  23.29        48.10 (24.81)
        1:13.33 (25.23)     1:38.63 (25.30)
  6 Katz, Austin           SR Texas             1:40.83    1:39.55  
    r:+0.64  23.44        48.83 (25.39)
        1:14.25 (25.42)     1:39.55 (25.30)
  7 Acevedo, Javi          SR Georgia           1:40.38    1:39.60  
    r:+0.72  23.68        48.77 (25.09)
        1:14.14 (25.37)     1:39.60 (25.46)
  8 Beach, Clark           SR Florida           1:40.83    1:40.20  
    r:+0.56  23.52        48.69 (25.17)
        1:14.11 (25.42)     1:40.20 (26.09)
  8 Grender, Justin        JR Virginia          1:40.63    1:40.20  
    r:+0.70  23.63        48.89 (25.26)
        1:14.42 (25.53)     1:40.20 (25.78)
 Swim-Off Required ----------------------------------------------

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