{"id":477230,"date":"2021-06-15T18:32:06","date_gmt":"2021-06-16T01:32:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=477230"},"modified":"2021-06-15T20:13:05","modified_gmt":"2021-06-16T03:13:05","slug":"u-s-olympic-trials-veteran-ryan-murphy-newcomer-hunter-armstrong-punch-100-back-tickets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/u-s-olympic-trials-veteran-ryan-murphy-newcomer-hunter-armstrong-punch-100-back-tickets\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Olympic Trials: Veteran Ryan Murphy, Newcomer Hunter Armstrong Punch 100 Back Tickets"},"content":{"rendered":"

U.S. Olympic Trials: Veteran Ryan Murphy, Newcomer Hunter Armstrong Punch 100 Back Tickets<\/strong><\/p>\n

For nearly three decades, the equation for American men\u2019s backstroke has been plug and play. With stars like Aaron Peirsol, Ryan Lochte, Lenny Krayzelburg<\/strong> and now Ryan Murphy,<\/strong> that second spot hasn\u2019t just been coveted real estate. The rising tide has often lifted runners-up, even of the surprising variety, to Olympic glory.<\/p>\n

Hunter Armstrong,<\/strong> step on up.<\/p>\n

Murphy defended his crown by winning in 52.33 seconds Tuesday night. But Armstrong bested a field of competitors with his fast closing ability to that second spot in 52.48, the sixth-fastest time in the world.<\/p>\n

First Murphy, the reigning Olympic champion who took care of business. Under world-record pace most of the way, he settled for an improved time this season and leap-frogged Mitch Larkin<\/strong> into fourth in the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cNerves are motivating,\u201d Murphy said. \u201cI wake up every day with a sense of urgency and a lot of that is due to guys in this field.\u201d<\/p>\n