Hunter Armstrong Goes Sub-53 in 100 Backstroke at TYR Pro Swim Series Knoxville

Hunter Armstrong -- Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Hunter Armstrong Goes Sub-53 in 100 Backstroke at TYR Pro Swim Series Knoxville

Night three of the TYR Pro Swim Series in Knoxville, Tenn., was bookended by a pair of Olympic gold medalists from the Tokyo Games scoring wins, with Chase Kalisz opening up the meet with a title in an off-event before Ahmed Hafnaoui dominated the 400 freestyle in his long-awaited return to major competition. But the top men’s performance came in the 100 backstroke, where Hunter Armstrong blasted a very impressive effort in a come-from-behind win over American-record holder Ryan Murphy.

Men’s 200 Butterfly

Chase Kalisz has never raced the 200 butterfly in international competition, but he has recorded plenty of solid swims against U.S. competition over the years. He put together another strong performance Friday evening with particularly quick closing splits to overtake Cal’s Gabriel Jett. Kalisz was more than a second behind Jett at the halfway point, but a 29.97 split on the third 50 pulled him in front. He extended the lead down the stretch and won the race in 1:56.40.

Jett, who swam as fast as 1:54.37 this summer in winning the title at U.S. Nationals, was three seconds off that mark as he took second in 1:57.38. Jett is making a rare long course appearance in the midst of his sophomore season at Cal. Cardinal Aquatics’ Nick Albiero took third in 1:57.69, while his Louisville training partner (and 2021 Olympian) Zach Harting fell to sixth (1:59.81).

Event 14  Men 200 LC Meter Butterfly
==================================================================
        World: W 1:50.34  6/21/2022 Kristof Milak, HUN
     American: A 1:51.51  7/29/2009 Michael Phelps, USA
    U.S. Open: O 1:52.20  7/2/2008  Michael Phelps, Club Wolverine
     Pro Swim: P 1:53.84  6/14/2019 Gianluca Urlando, DART Swimming-SN
     Jr World: j 1:53.79  6/30/2017 Kristof Milak, HUN
   Oly Trials: T 2:00.49
    Name            Age Team              Prelims     Finals              
==================================================================
                        === A - Final ===                         
 
  1 Chase Kalisz     28 SUN-AZ            1:59.71    1:56.40T       
    r:+0.71  26.28        56.12 (29.84)
        1:26.09 (29.97)     1:56.40 (30.31)
  2 Gabriel Jett     20 Unattached-PC     1:58.74    1:57.38T       
    r:+0.67  26.09        55.10 (29.01)
        1:26.20 (31.10)     1:57.38 (31.18)
  3 Nicolas Albiero  23 CARD-KY           1:59.23    1:57.69T       
    r:+0.63  25.93        55.25 (29.32)
        1:25.73 (30.48)     1:57.69 (31.96)
  4 *Hector Ruvalca  25 AGS-GU            2:00.40    1:58.83        
    r:+0.68  26.40        56.52 (30.12)
        1:27.31 (30.79)     1:58.83 (31.52)
  5 Connor LaMastra  24 DYNA-GA           2:00.48    1:59.55T       
    r:+0.64  26.59        57.03 (30.44)
        1:27.73 (30.70)     1:59.55 (31.82)
  6 Zach Harting     25 CARD-KY           2:00.65    1:59.81T       
    r:+0.64  26.95        57.33 (30.38)
        1:28.42 (31.09)     1:59.81 (31.39)
  7 Henry McFadden   17 JW-MA             2:00.63    2:00.95        
    r:+0.76  27.25        57.96 (30.71)
        1:29.12 (31.16)     2:00.95 (31.83)
  8 Dare Rose        20 Unattached-PC     2:00.52    2:01.00        
    r:+0.64  26.39        56.62 (30.23)
        1:28.42 (31.80)     2:01.00 (32.58)

Men’s 50 Freestyle

NC State’s David Curtiss pulled off a win against a loaded field in the 50 free, knocking off many of the men he will face at March’s NCAA Championships in the 50-yard free by a significant margin. Curtiss got under 22 seconds as he touched in 21.97. Rounding out the top three were Cal teammates Bjorn Seeliger (22.33) and Jack Alexy (22.34), while Tennessee’s Gui Caribe and Mission Viejo’s Justin Ress tied for fourth in 22.37.

Jordan Crooks, the Tennessee sophomore who captured the short course world title in the 50 free last month, ended up sixth in 22.40, and veteran American sprinter Ryan Held was seventh (22.68).

Event 16  Men 50 LC Meter Freestyle
==================================================================
        World: W 20.91  12/18/2009Cesar Cielo Filho, BRA
     American: A 21.04  7/27/2019 Caeleb Dressel - also 6/20/21, USA
    U.S. Open: O 21.04  6/20/2021 Caeleb Dressel, Gator Swim Club-
     Pro Swim: P 21.51  3/7/2020  Caeleb Dressel, Gator Swim Club-
     Jr World: j 21.75  8/25/2017 Michael Andrew, USA
   Oly Trials: T 22.79
    Name            Age Team              Prelims     Finals              
==================================================================
                        === A - Final ===                         
 
  1 David Curtiss    20 NC State-NC         22.45      21.97T       
         r:+0.60                       
  2 Bjorn Seeliger   23 Unattached-PC       22.57      22.33T       
         r:+0.62                       
  3 Jack Alexy       19 Unattached-PC       22.42      22.34T       
         r:+0.62                       
  4 Guilherme Santo  19 Tennessee-SE        22.60      22.37T       
         r:+0.62                       
  4 Justin Ress      25 MVN-CA              22.68      22.37T       
         r:+0.59                       
  6 *Jordan Crooks   20 Tennessee-SE        22.63      22.40        
         r:+0.47                       
  7 Ryan Held        27 NYAC-MR             22.74      22.68T       
         r:+0.45                       
  8 Kevin Gillooly   23 MVN-CA              22.89      22.95        
         r:+0.60

Men’s 100 Backstroke

In 2021, Hunter Armstrong surprisingly qualified for his first Olympic team, and one year later, he broke the first world record of his career (50 back) before winning a pair of individual medals at the World Championships plus three relay medals. Armstrong already looks on track to sustain his momentum in 2023 after he swam a particularly quick in-season mark in the 100 back at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Knoxville.

Armstrong, the bronze medalist in the event at the World Championships, raced head-to-head against Ryan Murphy, the American-record holder, Worlds silver medalist and now Armstrong’s training partner at Cal. Armstrong turned at the halfway point three tenths behind Murphy, but his second-half speed is unmatched. He came home in 26.70, more than one second quicker than Murphy, and Armstrong finished in 52.68. For some comparison, there are some years when no American swims under 53 in-season at all. Armstrong just missed David Plummer’s 2016 Pro Series record of 52.40.

Murphy took second in 53.47 while National-Age-Group-record holder David Diehl placed third in 54.50, holding off the reigning NCAA champion in the 200-yard back, Cal’s Destin Lasco (54.85).

Event 18  Men 100 LC Meter Backstroke
==================================================================
        World: W 51.60  6/6/2022  Thomas Ceccon, hun
     American: A 51.85  8/13/2016 Ryan Murphy, USA
    U.S. Open: O 51.94  7/8/2009  Aaron Peirsol, Longhorn
     Pro Swim: P 52.40  2016      David Plummer
     Jr World: j 52.53  8/6/2018  Kliment Kolesnikov, RUS
   Oly Trials: T 55.69
    Name            Age Team              Prelims     Finals              
==================================================================
                        === A - Final ===                         
 
  1 Hunter Armstron  21 California Aq.-P    54.64      52.68T       
    r:+0.69  25.98        52.68 (26.70)
  2 Ryan Murphy      27 California Aq.-P    55.32      53.47T       
    r:+0.53  25.69        53.47 (27.78)
  3 Daniel Diehl     17 CUY-MD              55.30      54.50T       
    r:+0.59  26.37        54.50 (28.13)
  4 Destin Lasco     21 Unattached-PC       55.12      54.85T       
    r:+0.57  27.07        54.85 (27.78)
  5 Javier Acevedo   24 Canada              55.66      55.17T       
    r:+0.61  27.03        55.17 (28.14)
  6 Hunter Tapp      21 NC State-NC         55.28      55.24T       
    r:+0.66  26.41        55.24 (28.83)
  7 Nicolas Albiero  23 CARD-KY             55.92      55.92        
    r:+0.65  26.87        55.92 (29.05)
  8 Manuel Martos    22 Spain               55.96      56.33        
    r:+0.53  27.22        56.33 (29.11)

Men’s 200 Breaststroke

Most of the top men’s breaststrokers in the United States are missing this first Pro Series meet of the year, so Tennessee’s Lyubomir Epitropov was able to grab the win in 2:12.15. Miguel de Lara had the lead for most of the race, but Epitropov had almost caught up by the 150-meter mark, and he pulled ahead on the final length. De Lara took second in 2:12.78, and Brandon Fischer was third in 2:14.02.

Event 20  Men 200 LC Meter Breaststroke
==================================================================
        World: W 2:05.95  5/19/2022 Zac Studbblety-Cook, AUS
     American: A 2:07.17  6/30/2016 Josh Prenot, Cal Aquatics
    U.S. Open: O 2:07.17  6/30/2016 Josh Prenot, Cal Aquatics
     Pro Swim: P 2:08.95  2018      Andrew Wilson
     Jr World: j 2:09.39  7/27/2017 Haiyang Qin, CHN
   Oly Trials: T 2:15.99
    Name            Age Team              Prelims     Finals              
==================================================================
                        === A - Final ===                         
 
  1 *Lyubomir Epitr  23 Tennessee-SE      2:18.63    2:12.15        
    r:+0.68  30.62      1:04.15 (33.53)
        1:38.29 (34.14)     2:12.15 (33.86)
  2 Miguel de Lara   28 ANV Puebla        2:18.83    2:12.78T       
    r:+0.71  30.01      1:03.84 (33.83)
        1:38.21 (34.37)     2:12.78 (34.57)
  3 Brandon Fischer  34 TRIV-PC           2:16.93    2:14.02T       
    r:+0.74  31.25      1:04.27 (33.02)
        1:39.24 (34.97)     2:14.02 (34.78)
  4 Thomas Cope      25 CW-MI             2:17.75    2:15.83T       
    r:+0.64  30.74      1:05.05 (34.31)
        1:40.23 (35.18)     2:15.83 (35.60)
  5 Brayden Taivass  18 Canada            2:19.00    2:16.04        
    r:+0.63  30.77      1:05.37 (34.60)
        1:40.27 (34.90)     2:16.04 (35.77)
  6 Will Scholtz     18 LAK-KY            2:19.17    2:17.81        
    r:+0.75  31.36      1:05.96 (34.60)
        1:41.70 (35.74)     2:17.81 (36.11)
  7 Andrew Zou       17 TXLA-ST           2:19.60    2:18.40        
    r:+0.63  31.36      1:06.25 (34.89)
        1:42.21 (35.96)     2:18.40 (36.19)
  8 Trenton Julian   24 MVN-CA            2:19.52    2:21.19        
    r:+0.66  31.37      1:06.79 (35.42)
        1:43.96 (37.17)     2:21.19 (37.23)

Men’s 50 Butterfly

Ryan Held, competing for the first time since June’s World Championships and getting married in the fall, bounced back from a disappointing 50 free performance to earn the win in a tight final. Held came in at 23.93, just two hundredths ahead of Missouri’s Clement Secchi (23.95). Tennessee’s Gui Caribe was only four hundredths further behind in third place (23.99).

Event 22  Men 50 LC Meter Butterfly
==================================================================
        World: W 22.27  7/1/2018  Andri Govorov, UKR
     American: A 22.35  7/22/2019 Caeleb Dressel, USA
    U.S. Open: O 22.84  4/27/2022 Caeleb Dressel, Gator Swim Club-
     Pro Swim: P 23.11  2012      Matt Targett
    Name            Age Team              Prelims     Finals              
==================================================================
                        === A - Final ===                         
 
  1 Ryan Held        27 NYAC-MR             24.29      23.93        
         r:+0.58                       
  2 *Clement Secchi  22 Missouri-MV         24.36      23.95        
         r:+0.60                       
  3 Guilherme Santo  19 Tennessee-SE        24.10      23.99        
         r:+0.55                       
  4 Finlay Knox      22 Canada              24.22      24.09        
         r:+0.65                       
  5 Luke Miller      20 NC State-NC         24.52      24.20        
         r:+0.47                       
  6 Dare Rose        20 Unattached-PC       24.55      24.28        
         r:+0.58                       
  7 Jarod Hatch      24 MVN-CA              24.40      24.37        
         r:+0.61                       
  8 *Bjoern Kammann  21 Tennessee-SE        24.52      24.39        
         r:+0.53

Men’s 400 Freestyle

Now training at Indiana University, Ahmed Hafnaoui is looking to reclaim his place on the global scene after winning Olympic gold in the 400 free in 2021 and then missing the major competitions of 2022. In Knoxville, Hafnaoui faced off against another 400 free Olympic-medal winner from Tokyo, University of Florida-trained Kieran Smith. Smith started off the race in aggressive fashion, and he took a half-second lead after just 50 meters. Smith held onto a shrinking lead through 250 meters, but then Hafnaoui took over and exploded on the last two lengths to leave Smith behind.

Hafnaoui finished in 3:47.41, about four seconds shy of his Olympics time of 3:43.36, while Smith was second in 3:50.53. Bobby Finke, another former Florida Gator, finished third in 3:52.09.

Event 24  Men 400 LC Meter Freestyle
==================================================================
        World: W 3:40.07  7/26/2009 Paul Biedermann, GER
     American: A 3:42.78  8/10/2008 Larsen Jensen, USA
    U.S. Open: O 3:43.53  6/29/2008 Larsen Jensen, Trojan
     Pro Swim: P 3:43.55  2016      Sun Yang
     Jr World: j 3:44.60  4/1/2014  Mack Horton, AUS
   Oly Trials: T 3:55.59
    Name            Age Team              Prelims     Finals              
==================================================================
                        === A - Final ===                         
 
  1 Ahmed Hafnaoui   20 Tunisia           3:53.55    3:47.41T       
    r:+0.81  26.85        55.23 (28.38)
        1:24.39 (29.16)     1:53.38 (28.99)
        2:22.51 (29.13)     2:51.55 (29.04)
        3:19.76 (28.21)     3:47.41 (27.65)
  2 Kieran Smith     22 Ridgefield Aq-CT  3:54.41    3:50.53T       
    r:+0.70  26.23        54.77 (28.54)
        1:23.89 (29.12)     1:52.91 (29.02)
        2:22.36 (29.45)     2:51.95 (29.59)
        3:21.80 (29.85)     3:50.53 (28.73)
  3 Bobby Finke      23 SPA-FL            3:56.79    3:52.09T       
    r:+0.73  27.13        56.18 (29.05)
        1:25.68 (29.50)     1:55.21 (29.53)
        2:24.44 (29.23)     2:53.94 (29.50)
        3:23.36 (29.42)     3:52.09 (28.73)
  4 Zane Grothe      30 BCH-CA            3:56.04    3:53.97T       
    r:+0.55  27.12        56.64 (29.52)
        1:26.31 (29.67)     1:56.38 (30.07)
        2:26.22 (29.84)     2:56.14 (29.92)
        3:25.99 (29.85)     3:53.97 (27.98)
  5 Drew Kibler      22 CSC-IN            3:57.09    3:56.29        
    r:+0.66  26.30        55.02 (28.72)
        1:24.69 (29.67)     1:54.58 (29.89)
        2:25.25 (30.67)     2:55.72 (30.47)
        3:26.68 (30.96)     3:56.29 (29.61)
  6 Michael Brinega  23 Ohio St-OH        3:58.16    3:58.03        
    r:+0.75  27.35        57.40 (30.05)
        1:27.89 (30.49)     1:58.76 (30.87)
        2:28.88 (30.12)     2:59.64 (30.76)
        3:29.61 (29.97)     3:58.03 (28.42)
  7 Henry McFadden   17 JW-MA             3:57.07    3:58.79        
    r:+0.74  27.44        56.97 (29.53)
        1:27.00 (30.03)     1:57.39 (30.39)
        2:27.65 (30.26)     2:58.17 (30.52)
        3:28.77 (30.60)     3:58.79 (30.02)
  8 Trenton Julian   24 MVN-CA            3:58.52    4:05.43        
    r:+0.67  25.42        53.14 (27.72)
        1:23.43 (30.29)     1:55.43 (32.00)
        2:27.86 (32.43)     3:00.60 (32.74)
        3:33.87 (33.27)     4:05.43 (31.56)

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