EAST MEADOW - One World and four World Cup women's records were bettered on the first evening of finals at the 2001-2002 FINA World Cup 3.

Natalie Coughlin (USA) the 19-year-old University of California at Berkeley student was the star tonigth with two wins and a very close second. She won the 50 backstroke in 27.29, bettering the former World Cup record of 27.62 by Barbara Bedford (USA) from 2000.

Than she raced the 100 butterfly where she was in the lead for the first three and a half lengths only to be touched out by Martina Moravcoca (SVK) 57.43 to 57.44.

About 20 minutes later she swam the 200 backstroke and broke the World record with her 2:03.62 (29.49, 1:00.96, 1:32.70). The old record was 2:04.44 by Sarah Price (GBR) from last August. It's the third World record in the event since the end of July.

"It was really, really surprising..." Coughlin said after the 200. "I did not expect this. I was trying to work on my stroke and on my underwater kick. I saw that I was ahead but I did not see by how much. The last 18 months have been amazing...I have been loving every minute of it."

Coughlin won the gold last summer at the Long Course Worlds in the 100 backstroke and a silver in the 4x100 medley relay.

Another amazing performance from Martina Moravcova (SVK) winning three event in very tough races. First up was the 200 free which she won in 1:55.41. She bettered the old World Cup record of 1:55.50 by Yu Yang (CHN) from 2000.

Minutes later she came from behind to touch out Coughlin in the 100 fly with 57.43 and she completed thr tripple with a win in the 50 free in 25.14 over Katrin Meissner (GER) with 25.18.

After the final race Martina Moravcova said, "I am learning how to finish properly. I love racing in the World Cup Series. It is part of my training and I benefit a lot from these meets."

She has now won eight events competing in two World Cups in the current series. No doubt she'll be adding more wins tomorrow.

The fourth World Cup record fell to Xuejuan Luo (CHN) in the women's 100 breaststroke in 1:05.78 (just off the World mark of 1:05.40) bettering her old World Cup record of 1:06.18 from 2000. "I realized that I was close to the world record and I did the best I could to get into the wall quickly," Luo said.

Other women's winners Hua Chen (CHN) in the 800 free in 8:18.50, the fastest winning time in the last two years, just off the World Cup record of 8:17.74 from 2000. Amanda Beard (USA) won the 200 IM in 2:12.14 after finishing third in the 100 breast.

Neil Walker (USA) was the only men's double winner. He first swam in the 100 free with a third, then he won the 100 back with 52.71, an event in which he holds the World record of 50.75, and added a 100 IM win with 54.22.

"In short course meters," Walker said, "it's very important to have fast walls and a good dolphin kick and smooth pull-outs. That's what it is all about. I just got married in September and took my honeymoon in October so I am trying to get back into shape. I am focusing on my technique and that's helping. I wore my wedding ring tonight for good luck?and it was."

World record holder Ed Moses (100-200) was lucky to make finals in the 50 breast, as he was swimming in lane eigth. His time was 27.53, "This morning was my first race of the season," Moses said. "I have been working hard, training. Tonight I wanted to concentrate on racing. It was hard from an outside lane. When the race comes around you want to do your best in front of the crowd and under the bright lights."

He was upset in the 200 breaststroke by Jim Piper (AUS) with 2:09.58 and Moses with 2:10.18.

"It is great to be here" Piper said. "I am very happy to win. I was out there where I thought I should be. I have never raced Ed Before. He is a great competitor."

Other men's winners: Jason Lezak (USA) in the 100 free with 47.67. Josh Davis (USA) in the 400 free 3:46.05. Geoff Huegill (AUS) in the 50 fly 23.16. Franck Esposito (FRA) in the 200 fly 1:54.02. Tobias Oriwol (CAN) in the 400 IM in 4:16.14. Oriwol is a promising 16-year-old with veteran Ron Karnaugh (USA) a 35 year-old in second with 4:18.09.

14 countries shared in the medals after the first of two nights of competition.

In addition to Tobias Oriwol winning the 400 IM, Jennifer Carrol again bettered her 50 back Canadian record with a 27.83, bettering by 9/100ths her previous record from Edmonton last Friday. The thirs Canadian medal went to Laura Pomeroy in the 50 free with 25.47.