Johns Creek (GA) senior Michael Taylor came within a tenth of a second of the national public high school 100 back record, hitting the 3rd-fastest time in high school history at 45.53.
The swim came at the Georgia High School State Championships. The state’s best competed in prelims Friday night and finals Saturday afternoon at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center. Taylor swam in the class 6A-7A state meet.
Taylor was 45.75 in prelims, coming within a half-second of the record. In finals he gave the record its closest shave since it was set in 2011. That 45.53 comes just .04 seconds behind the national public school record of 45.49 set by David Nolan back in 2011. Nolan’s high school record swims were considered out-of-this-world legendary at the time, and both the record and Taylor’s swim still hold up extremely well at the college level. Taylor’s time would have placed him 5th at last year’s NCAA Championships.
Taylor now sits #3 in high school history, behind public school record-holder Nolan (45.49) and independent school and overall high school record-holder Ryan Murphy (45.34), who has gone on to American records, NCAA titles and an Olympic gold medal plus a world record.
Taylor swam to a big 200 free earlier in the meet. His 1:35.16 was a state record, and within a second and a half of the national high school record.
The boys team title went to Brookwood by just 24.5 over Mill Creek. Brookwood didn’t win a single event, but cruised on depth. Andrew Huenniger led the way with a second-place 100 fly and third-place 200 free.
One other state record on the boys side went to Jack Dalmolin in the 100 breast (54.89).
Walton High’s girls won in 6A-7A. Evan Arsenault, Gabbie Gauntt, Melissa Cox and Emma Cole broke the state 400 free relay record in 3:24.44 to cap the win. That came after the team’s 200 free relay of Jasmin Hoffman, Cox, Gauntt and Arsenault went 1:33.50 to break another state record. Meanwhile Cole won two individual state titles, in the 200 free (1:46.73) and 100 free (49.45).
Johns Creek freshman Addie Farrington also broke a state record, going 1:01.92 in the 100 breast.
And unlike Nolan he’s a better a long course swimmer so very promising to see him so fast in yards.
He’s a better long course swimmer. I believe his underwaters are average. They are improving but there’s still a good margin of improvement.
Don’t know about average. Watched these races this weekend and they are very strong.
to be honest, when swimming against kids with not as much talent, you look better. put him in with the best backstrokers in the world, his underwaters need some help. just a different level.
Surprised he signed with Florida. Cal would have seemed more of a backstrokers dream at his level plus with Murphy likely training there still….
Heard he’s good friends with former ghsa backstroke Ethan young from dalton who also swims for cal
Taylor is in great hands. UF has produced some of the most dominant backstrokers in NCAA history (Lochte and Spofforth), their women went 1-2-3 in the 200 back at NCAAs not that long ago, and they’ve had World and Olympic backstroke champions and medalists on the men’s and women’s side in the past 10 years. He’s also going to make sure their medleys don’t miss a beat with Blyzinskyj graduating this year (he came in at a 49 high and went 45 last year).
The best backstroker to rise in Usa for sure .
With Destin Lasco. 😉
Yes
I’m so excited about the hope for team USA retaining the Olympic backstroke title.
Taylor 100 Back – 45.53, Taylor 100 Free 400 Free relay lead-off – 45.01
Something tells me he can be a little bit faster in that 100 haha.
He went 44.8 yesterday’s prelim 4 free relay as leadoff
Not much time between that 100 back and that final relay
That includes a start off the blocks vs a backstroke start! What if he started off the blocks, then just turned over and swam a 100 back?
Will Michael have another chance to beat the record? So close!