Destin Lasco of Cal Eclipses Ryan Murphy’s Freshman Record in 200 Back

2021 NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships

• When: Wednesday, March 24 – Saturday, March 27, 2021
• Where: Greensboro Aquatic Center / Greensboro, NC (Eastern Time Zone)
• Prelims 10 AM/ Finals 6 PM (Local Time)
• Short course yards (SCY) format
• Defending champion: Cal (1x) – 2019 results
• Streaming:
• Championship Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results

Cal freshman Destin Lasco clocked a massive 1:37.19 in heats of 200 backstroke on Saturday morning to pass Ryan Murphy as the fastest-ever freshman in NCAA history. Murphy went on to set the NCAA, NCAA Meet, U.S. Open, and American Records in the event in 2016 with 1:35.73, but in 2014, he swam 1:37.35 for the fastest-ever performance for a freshman.

Top Ten Freshmen in 200 Back

1. Destin Lasco, Cal – 1:37.19
2. Ryan Murphy, Cal – 1:37.35
3. Austin Katz, Texas – 1:37.53
4. Carson Foster, Texas – 1:38.41
5. Bryce Mefford, Cal – 1:38.48
6. Hugo Gonzalez, Auburn – 1:39.05
7. Ryan Harty, Texas – 1:39.17
8. Stuart Hennessey, NC State – 1:39.37
9. Patrick Mulcare, USC – 1:39.64
10. Jacob Pebley, Cal – 1:39.71

Lasco broke the pool record and posted the top time of the morning heading into finals tonight.

His previous best time in the event was the 1:38.13 he swam at 2021 Pac-12 Championships, leading a 1-6 Cal finish in the A final. This time, Lasco’s up-front 100 made all the difference. This morning he was out nearly .7 faster on the first 50, beat his second 50 by .1, took over .2 off his third 50, and came home just a tick slower than in February.

Lasco moves from #10 to #6 all-time in the 200 back, moving past Tyler Clary and just .38 shy of Ryan Lochte’s 1:36.81.

1. Murphy, Ryan – 1:35.73 – 2016 NCAA DI-Men
2. Shebat, John – 1:36.42 – 2019 NCAA DI-Men
3. Katz, Austin – 1:36.45 – 2019 NCAA DI-Men
4. Casas, Shaine – 1:36.54 – 2020 ST TEX First Chance Invit
5. Lochte, Ryan – 1:36.81 – 2007 Winter Nationals
6. Lasco, Destin – 1:37.19 – 2021 NCAA DI-Men
7. Clary, Tyler – 1:37.58 – 2009 NCAA DI-Men
8. Stewart, Coleman – 1:37.71 – 2020 ACC Champs men
9. Mulcare, Patrick – 1:37.80 – 2017 NCAA DI-Men
10. Carr, Daniel – 1:37.87 – 2020 PAC-12 Champs men (tie) / Vyatchanin, Arkady – 1:37.87 – 2013 Winter Nationals (tie)