(VIDEO) Justin Ress Has Always Wanted To Be Sprinter

2017 U.S. National Championships & Worlds Trials

June 27 - July 1, 2017
Indianapolis, Indiana
IUPUI Natatorium
LIVE RESULTS

NC State's ​Justin Ress​ may not have been on the radar of many a year ago, but he sure is now. The rising Wolfpack junior punched his ticket to Budapest in the 50m backstroke Thursday night at the 2017 Phillips 66 Nationals Championships and World Championship Trials. Oh by the way, he took down ​David Plummer's​ meet record of 24.52 with a blazing 24.41 -- notching the fastest time in the world this year.​ Even further? He took down the last two Olympic champions and current world record holder in the 100m backstroke in ​Matt Grevers​ and ​Ryan Murphy​. Not too shabby for a kid who came to NC State as a distance swimmer...​

In the interview above, Ress shares his thoughts on the accomplishment and how we felt about heading to Budapest for the World Championships.

Men's 50m Backstroke -- FULL RESULTS

World: 24.04 -- 8/2/2009 -- Liam Tancock 
American: 24.33 -- 12/5/2008 -- Randall Bal
U.S. Open: 24.36 -- 8/6/2015 -- Junya Koga
LC Nationals: 24.52 -- 6/27/2013 -- David Plummer
JR World: 24.94 -- 7/9/2016 -- Kliment Kolesnikov 

1) Justin Ress -- 24.41 (Qualified)(LC Nationals Record)
2) Ryan Murphy -- 24.64
3) Matt Grevers -- 24.67
4) John Shebat -- 24.88
5) Taylor Dale -- 24.93
6) Luke Kaliszak -- 24.97
7) Michael Andrew -- 25.01
8) Daniel Carr -- 25.30