NC State junior Aiden Hayes ripped a 20.36 lead off split in the middle of practice during winter training with the Wolfpack. That would be tied for the 7th fastest performer in the event all-time.
As Hayes’ time was during practice, the time will not officially go into the record books, but it is a huge swim. Hayes’ time would tie Dean Farris as the 7th fastest performer in the event ever.
All-Time Top 10 Performers Men’s 50 Backstroke:
- Bjoern Seeliger (Cal): 20.08
- Kacper Stokowski (NC State): 20.16
- Adam Chaney (Florida): 20.19
- Ryan Murphy (Cal): 20.20
- Zane Waddell (Alabama): 20.22
- Junya Koga (Club Wolverine): 20.35
- Dean Farris (Harvard) / Aiden Hayes (NC State): 20.36
More known for his butterfly, Hayes won the NCAA title last spring in the 200 butterfly swimming a 1:38.79. He also finished 6th in the 100 butterfly in Minneapolis. He did not swim any backstroke at NCAAs last spring, but did split 20.75 on a 200 medley relay in high school.
Despite not competing in backstroke in Minneapolis, Hayes time trialed the 100 backstroke at ACCs last February. There he swam a 45.60. It took a 45.54 to make the 100 backstroke ‘B’ final at NCAAs.
Hayes did not swim on NC State’s 200 medley relay last spring that captured the NCAA title in an NCAA record time of a 1:20.67. Kacper Stokowski led off that relay in the exact same time Hayes just went, a 20.36. Stokowski won the NCAA 100 backstroke title in 2022 and was 2nd in the event in 2023. Stokowski is currently at NC State for his COVID-19 fifth year.
Hayes did not compete at midseasons this past November for the Wolfpack. He did attend the US Open Championships where he was highlighted by a 6th place finish in the LCM 100 fly (52.10).
the new Joe Schooling?
I’m guessing Stokowski goes the fly leg and Aiden leads off on the 200 medley.
Anybody happen to know if there is any other footage or times from this? Assuming if Hayes was dropping a timed 20.3 there was probably a lot of quick swims there.
*Rolls eyes* Oh boy, another hand timed practice swim that gets an article. Wait… A touch pad?
I can not wait to see what this translates to at conference and NCAAs.
I thought it could have been a hand-timed thing as well, so I timed it by watching the screen and got 20.30 before I realized that it looks like they used touchpads.
You can see the score board is rolling in the back of the screen.
Woulda been 18.9 at ASU.
why did his parents post this? were they at his practice? seems weird…
They screen-recorded off a video online.
I couldn’t find the original. Looks like they’ve moved off YouTube to a new service.
gotcha!
His parents have posted videos of his swims since he was like 8 years old, whether taken by themselves or screen recorded.
I went from, “aww, that’s cute!” to “oh wait, maybe that’s A Lot” back to “nah, that’s cute!” in the span of three seconds.
we all want to see this video – let’s not hassle the parent who posts it!
I’m FB friends with his uncle (I think that’s the relation at least) who was an assistant coach at my club team when I was in HS/college, so some of those videos have popped up in my feed for about that long. I can truly say I saw this kid coming before he got big, lol.
Reminds me of Foster’s parents.
How is that weird?
Two guys likely under 20.2 50 back and they still can’t find a sub 23 breaststroke leg
Betcha Hoover gets under come Feb/Mar. All he’s got to do is iron out his turn/finish timing, he hasn’t been playing 50 breaststroke relay guy for all that long.
1) What
2) Yeah
3) Okay!!!
4) Meltin Down – Ahhhhhh!!!
How old is Kacper. Seems he’s been around forever. Didn’t he start at Florida? Gotta be close to 24
Edit: checked and he turns 25 on Saturday… happy early bday.