U.S. Nationals: Isabelle Stadden Leads Four 59s in Women’s 100 Back; Justin Ress First in Men’s 100 Back

Isabelle Stadden -- Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

U.S. Nationals: Isabelle Stadden Leads Four 59s in Women’s 100 Back; Justin Ress First in Men’s 100 Back

Even with swimmers such as Regan Smith and Katharine Berkoff missing from U.S. Nationals, the women’s 100 backstroke is still one of the fastest and deepest events of the meet. In prelims, Isabelle Stadden posted the fastest time at 59.63, with Alabama’s Rhyan White just behind at 59.73. Stadden edged out White by two tenths to win the 200 back final Wednesday, and the two will match up again here.

Two swimmers got under the 1:00 barrier for the first time in the morning, with Nashville’s Gretchen Walsh swimming a time of 59.80 and Ohio State’s Amy Fulmer coming in at 59.87. Walsh posted a rare sub-1:00 performance in a practice suit, which she has been wearing for some races as a means of taking pressure off. Walsh, the 100 butterfly winner Friday, will likely don a racing suit for the final after her strong prelims swim.

Claire Curzan of the TAC Titans was back in the pool for the 100 back after scratching the 100 fly final with a non-COVID illness. She finished in 1:00.36 for the fifth seed, while Tennessee’s Kira Toussaint, an Olympic finalist last year for the Netherlands, was sixth in 1:00.46. Eagle’s Erika Pelaez (1:00.52) and North Carolina’s Sophie Lindner also qualified for the final (1:00.65).

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The top seed in the men’s 100 backstroke went to Mission Viejo’s Justin Ress, the world champion in the 50 back last month after his disqualification for fully submerging at the finish was overturned. In the two-length backstroke race, Ress broke 53 for the first time at International Team Trials in April as he finished third behind Hunter Armstrong and Ryan Murphy in 52.73. His prelims mark at Nationals was 53.50, comfortably earning him the top seed ahead of Adam Chaney, representing Mason Manta Rays and the University of Florida. Chaney finished in 53.97.

Swim Atlanta’s Jack Aikins, already a national champion in the 200 back, placed third in prelims in 54.22, touching out Alto’s Leon MacAlister (54.24) in their heat. Cal’s Destin Lasco (54.31), Lake Oswego’s Nick Simons (54.63), Indiana’s Brendan Burns (54.80) and Auburn’s Nathaniel Stoffle (54.90) also made the top eight.

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