University of Florida senior Sara McLarty had every intention of retiring from competitive swimming after a disappointing Olympic Trials. She buckled under pressure in her best event, the 400 IM, missing even making the finals after having won a national title in the event just a few months prior.

McLarty had been a world-ranked junior triathlete before her career at Florida, and was planning to resume the sport when she was contacted by USA Swimming and offered the opportunity to swim for the red white and blue at this October's Short Course Worlds in Indy. Knowing that making a World Championship team is only exceeded by qualifying for the Olympic Games, McLarty postponed her retirement to train for Worlds.

Despite the fact that she's still in heavy training, McLarty put on a performance that may even further postpone retirement during the 10k at the Atlantic City leg of the FINA World Cup. McLarty swam to a win ahead of German juggernauts Britta Kamrau and Angela Maurer, who finished second and first respectively in the 2004 World Cup rankings. In a race that took over two hours, the win came down to a mere two seconds. Sara McLarty won her first World Cup race in 2h05m04s, over Kamrau's 2h05m06. Maurer was just behind in 2h05m08. McLarty won $4,000 for her first professional prize, and gave it to her parents for their tireless devotion and support. Sara will be back in action next at San Francisco's Tiburon Mile, where a win earns a prize of $10,000.

McLarty wasn't the only first time winner in Atlantic City. Alan Bircher, a 22-year old virtual unknown from Bath, England, also took his first-ever World Cup win. Bircher went out to a strong lead only to have to play catch up later in the race as more experienced swimmers passed him. In the last mile though, Bircher showed he had quite a bit left in the tank as he passed Australia's Grant Cleland and won by a convincing margin for a World Cup race. Bircher touched in 1h52m12s to Cleland's 1h52m25s. Further back was third place finisher Jakub Fichtl of the Czech Republic (1h52m55s), who fought hard to pass Stephane Gomez of France (1h53m00), who finished in 2nd overall in 2004.

MEN - 1. Alan Bircher (GBR) 1h52m12s; 2. Grant Cleland (AUS) 1h52m25s; 3. Jakub Fichtl (CZE) 1h52m55s; 4. St