2017 MEN’S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, March 22 – Saturday, March 25
- IUPUI Natatorium – Indianapolis, IN
- Prelims 10AM/Finals 6PM (Eastern Time)
- Defending Champion: Texas (results)
- Championship Central
- Psych Sheet
- Live stream: Wednesday/Thursday Prelims & Finals, Friday/Saturday Prelims / Friday/Saturday finals on ESPN3
- Live Results
100 BACKSTROKE
- NCAA record: Ryan Murphy (Cal), 2016- 43.49
- American record: Ryan Murphy (Cal), 2016- 43.49
- U.S. Open record: Ryan Murphy (Cal), 2016- 43.49
- 2016 NCAA Champion: Ryan Murphy (Cal)- 43.49
Cal’s Ryan Murphy is set to swim in his last NCAA Championships this week, and will look to defend his backstroke titles with a 4-peat. Last season, Murphy was dominant over the field, lowering the NCAA and American Records in the 100 back to a 43.49. Now a 2-time Olympic gold medalist and World Record holder in the 100 meter back, Murphy will look to put on one final record-breaking performance in the NCAA short course pool.
Murphy currently leads the nation with a 44.61. So far, 3 other swimmers have joined him in the 44-range: Penn State’s Shane Ryan (44.65), Alabama’s Connor Oslin (44.73), and Arizona State’s Richard Bohus (44.95). Alabama’s Luke Kaliszak (45.03) and Louisville’s Grigory Tarasevich (45.11) have nearly accomplished that as well.
Returning All-Americans in this event include Ohio State’s Big Ten champ Matt McHugh, NC State’s Hennessey Stuart, and USC’s Ralf Tribuntsov, who has a best time in the 44-range. Georgia’s Taylor Dale, who finished 9th in a blistering 45.13 last season, will also return this season. That makes up a loaded field, as we’ll have 9 of the top 25 performers in history in the field:
- #1 Ryan Murphy– 43.49
- #5 Shane Ryan– 44.65
- #7 Connor Oslin– 44.73
- #15 (tie) Richard Bohus/Ralf Tribuntsov– 44.95
- #18 Luke Kaliszak– 45.03
- #20 Matt McHugh– 45.07
- #22 Grigory Tarasevich– 45.11
- #23 Taylor Dale– 45.13
In addition, we have several returning B final scorers who could wind up in the top 8, including Texas’ John Shebat, NC State’s Andreas Schiellerup, LSU’s Logan Rysemus, and Arizona’s Chatham Dobbs. Some rising stars in the freshman class will also make a run at the top 8, including Harvard’s Dean Farris, NC State’s Coleman Stewart, Virginia’s Joe Clark, and Georgia’s Javier Acevedo.
TOP 8 PREDICTIONS
| Place | Swimmer | Team | Season Best | Lifetime Best |
| 1 | Ryan Murphy | Cal | 44.61 | 43.49 |
| 2 | Shane Ryan | Penn State | 44.65 | 44.65 |
| 3 | Connor Oslin | Alabama | 44.73 | 44.73 |
| 4 | Luke Kaliszak | Alabama | 45.03 | 45.03 |
| 5 | Grigory Tarasevich | Louisville | 45.11 | 45.11 |
| 6 | Richard Bohus | Arizona State | 44.95 | 44.95 |
| 7 | John Shebat | Texas | 45.72 | 45.36 |
| 8 | Andreas Vazaios | NC State | 45.32 | 45.32 |
Darkhorse: Denver’s Anton Loncar has been rising through the ranks, and busted out a personal best 45.68 at the Texas Invite this season. His improvement from his seed time at NCAAs last season was well over half a second, and he’s continued to drop down since then, so he’s likely placed his focus on making the NCAA final this time around.
Correction needed….Shane Ryan from Penn State is the 2017 Big Ten Champion & the Big Ten Record holder in this event. Thank you.
Swim Fan – no correction needed, as McHugh is the 2016 Big Ten Champ, so the assertion that he’s a “Big Ten Champ” is accurate.
Murphy gets 1st 2nd and 3rd(they take his two 100 splits from the 200)
Now a 2-time Olympic gold medalist and World Record holder in the 100 meter back
OK so I only talk in GIFs now.
Shouldn’t that be 3-time olympic gold medalist?