As reported by Swimswam’s Troy Gennaro. Video edit by Coleman Hodges.
It was all Cal Berkeley on night 1 of the men’s NCAA Championships winning both the 200 freestyle relay and the 400 medley relay. Freshman Ryan Murphy put the Cal Bears in great position, leading the field after the backstroke leg with an incredible split of 44.91. Murphy’s lead-off leg will count as an official time, improving USA Swimming’s 17-18 National Age Group 100 backstroke record by .41. The previous national age group record holder was current Texas freshman, Jack Conger, with a 45.32. Murphy does not turn 19 until July of this year, and therefore has a few more months to chase down the NAG records.
Conger and Murphy are swimming different events tomorrow as Conger is entered in the 100 butterfly and Murphy is in the 100 backstroke, but you can expect a fantastic race on Saturday in the 200 backstroke. Conger and Murphy are both seeded top 8 and to make it even more interesting, Ryan Murphy owns the 200 backstroke pool record in Jack Conger’s new home pool.
NCAA record in the 100 back tonight?
American and NCAA records in the 200 back tomorrow?
And about long course, I predict he will swim 52.60 and 1.54.20 next summer.
His shoulders. Huge.
Taking what Eddie said in an earlier posted interview… These guys are the HS Varsity basketball team type athletes we used to never get.
It’s going to be a fun next generation.
Murphy – 43.4 100y back before he leaves Cal. After that…as a pro…who knows?
If he swims all 4 years, I could see that kind of time, but I could see him being done after next year’s NCAA to focus on Rio. That would be the best time for a future double olympic champ to cash in during the run up to the games.