records galore at long beach

The US Olympic team has firmly staked its claim to be the number one squad at the forthcoming Olympics as a further three new world records were established at their Olympic Team Trials in Long Beach California.
Brendan Hansen, who had earlier in the week set a new 100m breaststroke record of 59.30, removed the 200m world record as well, knocking over half a second of Kosuke Kitajiima’s existing record in 2:09.09. Hansen is now an overwhelming favourite for the men’s breaststroke events in Athens. Meanwhile Amanda Beard did her best to achieve the same status in the women’s events as she reclaimed her 200m breaststroke world record form Australia’s Leisel Jones, posting 2:22.44. That swim knocked over half a second off the mar that Jones had posted only two days previously.
Elsewhere, Aaron Peirsol showed he is not going to surrender his backstroke supremacy to challenge Michael Phelps without a battle as he bettered his own world record in the final of the event, cruising home in 1:54.74, the first man ever under the 1:55 mark. Phelps came in second in 1:55.86, but may have had half an eye on two other events he was contesting in the same session. Whether the Batimore teenager will take up his place in the event remains to be seen, with his coach Bob Bowman cryptically commenting “I don’t think Michael’s going to be swimming for second” ahead of the final.