Pan Pacific Championships, Irvine, California, day 3 finals:
Men and women 4x100m freestyle
Victories in both sprint free relays in times that set the standard for the new textile-only suits era helped take the United States tally to 21 gold among 39 medals after three days of racing. Australia are a distant but solid second, with 3 gold and 25 medals, the title of aquatic superpower safe in the hands of the hosts. No doubting who the man of the meet is: Ryan Lochte now has five golds in tow after CR wins in the 200m backstroke and as a member of the 4x100m free team led off by a 48.13 CR from Michael Phelps.
Men 4x100m freestyle
That 3:08.24 of Beijing 2008 is way out there ahead but there is more to come from the US quartet now leading the world once more.
A championship victory of 3:11.74, world No 1 this year ahead of 3:12.46 for Russia ahead of France, on 3:13.29 in Budapest last week, came off a terrific 48.13 championship-record opener from Michael Phelps that was 0.01sec inside the time in which teammate and team mate Nathan Adrian claimed the 100m solo crown in Irvine.
The splits of the men who hold the new textile global mark inside their 3:12.46 best of 2007 a year out from Shanghai 2011 world titles:
- Phelps - 48.13C 48.13; Lochte - 47.98; Lezak - 48.12; Adrian - 47.51.
The silver went to Australia in 3:14.30, bronze to South Africa in 3:15.93.
On that great start by Phelps, Lezak, who kept alive the prospect of eight golds for the greatest in Beijing, said: "For Michael to take it out like that really pumped us up." The ripples never stop, come rain or shine.
Said Lochte, five golds in tow: "he started off great - and we all did our part."
Trans-Atlantic medals:
- Pan Pacs: 3:11.74; 3:14.30; 3:15.93
- Euro 1-3: 3:12.46; 3:13.29; 3:15.07
Records
Shiny suit era
- WR: 3:08.24 USA
- ER: 3:08.32 FRA
February 1 2008
- WR: 3:12.46 USA
- ER: 3:14.04 ITA
Russia 2010 matched US 2007 WR
Women 4x100m freestyle
That 3:31.72 world mark of the Dutch in Rome is a very long way away and may stay that way for a while yet but a 3:35.11 championship record for the United States set the tone for the next back-to-the-future era.
The splits of the quartet that swam inside the 3:35.22 that stood as the world record to Germany before shiny suits came along:
- Coughlin - 54.25; Hardy - 53.43; Weir - 53.85; Vollmer - 53.58
Australia took silver in 3:38.06, bronze to Canada in 3:38.14.
Trans-Atlantic medals:
- Pan Pacs: 3:35.11; 3:38.06; 3:38.14
- Euro 1-3: 3:37.72; 3:38.57; 3:38.81
Records
Shiny:
- 3:31.72 NED
February 1 2008
- 3:35.22 GER
