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1997 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships - Day 3

Poll Posts Fastest 400 Free Time In Five Years

 

Paul Quinlan


Women's 400 Freestyle

Brooke Bennett, USA, went into the final of the 400 free as the fastest qualifier (4:10.68), while Claudia Poll, CRC, swam controlled and relaxed to post 4:13.06 in the prelims.

In the final, Poll led from the first ten metres with Bennett at her shoulder and Joanne Malar, CAN, right with them. As the race progressed, Poll and Bennett looked more and more impressive: at the 200, Poll was 2:01.72, Bennett 2:02.8, with Diane Munz, USA, in 2:05.48. Joanne Malar was still close to third in 2:06.14.

At 300 metres, Poll was still controlling the race in 3:04.01, one and a quarter body lengths ahead of Bennett (3:05.89), with Munz (3:10.25) and Malar (3:10.99) further back.

Poll held her classic high-elbow two-beat kick technique until the last 50 metres, when she turned on the six-beat kick to bring home the last lap in style and swim the best women's 400 since Janet Evans went 4:05.85 in 1993. Poll finished in 4:06.56.

Bennett finished in 4:09.77 for the silver, a personal best, and Munz took bronze in 4:14.03 ahead of Malar (4:15.17). Poll's swim is now the fifth all-time best for the event.

Jaime Cail, 16, won the B Final in 4:16.16 over Canada's Andrea Schwarz (4:16.84).


Men's 400 Freestyle

Grant Hackett, AUS, had the slightest of margins over Chad Carvin, USA, and John Piersma, USA. At the 100, Hackett (54.06) pulled ahead of Piersma. Carvin was in third with Danyon Loader, NZL, fourth in 55.72, followed by 14-year-old Aussie Ian Thorpe (55.91).

Hackett looked impressive with his long stroke, turning in 1:51.62 at the 200. Carvin was back in second (1:53.73), with Piersma third (1:53.78).

At 300 Hackett split 2:49.98. Carvin was a close second in 2:52.59, with Thorpe now third in 2:53.11, ahead of Piersma.

Thorpe overtook Carvin with one lap to go. The 17 -year-old Hackett finished in a best time of 3:47.27 and a 1997 top world ranking. At 14, Thorpe ranks number two in the world with 3:49.64. Carvin took bronze in 3:50.40 ahead of teammate Piersma (3:51.81).


Ian Thorpe takes some last minute advice from coach
For larger 64k photo click on image. Photo © Darrin Braybrook/SPORT The Library


Carvin said following the race, "I went into the race with the intention of teaching this young guy (Hackett) something, but I think the two young Aussies took me to school."

Ugur Tanner, USA, won the B Final in 3:53.59 over Jason Samuelson, AUS, in 3:56.02.


Women's 100 Butterfly

Jenny Thompson, USA, is an accomplished technician in all phases of the race-start, stroke, turn, and finish. She is also a great competitor and can find that bit extra when it's called for at any part of the race.

In the 100 fly, Misty Hyman, USA, stayed underwater for 35Êm in her extended breakout, but it was the Japanese champion Ayari Aoyama who touched first at the turn (27.02 to Hyman's 27.51). Jenny Thompson, USA, split 27.68, followed in fourth by Huijue Cai, CHN, in 28.08.

Aoyama was looking set for a win until the experienced Thompson challenged at 90 metres, finally touching out the diminutive Japanese swimmer. Thompson set a meet record of 59.00; Aoyama was second in 59.35. Cai stole the bronze from Hyman, who was 1:00.13 for fourth.

The B Final went to Richelle Fox, USA, in 59.52 over Julia Ham, AUS, in 1:01.53.


Men's 100 Butterfly

Neil Walker, USA, and Michael Klim, AUS, matched each other underwater for 25 m, but it was the American who touched first at the 50 in 23.89, followed by teammate Nathaniel Dusing (24.30) and Klim (24.60). Takashi Yamamoto, JPN, was in fourth in 25.18.

The second lap saw a strong challenge from Klim. He managed to overtake Dusing but Walker stayed in front to swim 52.76, a new meet record that moves him to third on the all-time best list. Klim clocked 52.94 to improve his standing on the all-time best list from seventh to fourth. Dusing held on for the bronze with 53.26 over Yamamoto's 53.56.


Women's 200 Backstroke

Lea Loveless-Maurer, USA, went out strongly (30.67) and turned just ahead of Mai Nakamura, JPN, in 30.69. It was Loveless-Maurer all the way to the 100 mark (1:03.84 to Nakamura's 1:03.88). Miki Nakao, JPN, was having her own battle with Meredith Smith, AUS, for the bronze (1:04.57 to 1:04.63).


Women's 200 Backstroke: Lea loveless-Maurer, USA, Mai Nakamura, JPN and Miki Nakao, JPN
For larger 64k photo click on image. Photo © Matthew Strand


Japanese champion Nakamura took the victory in 2:11.40 over veteran Loveless-Maurer (2:12.25). Third was Nakao in 2:12.8, then Smith (2:14.81).

It was a strong showing by the host nation in this event. The swim improved Nakamura's standing on the all-time best list from 22nd to 18th.

Barbara Bedford, USA, won the consol in 2:13.60 ahead of Noriko Inada, JPN, in 2:14.52.


Men's 200 Backstroke

Lenny Krayzelburg, USA, led the event from start to finish, splitting 28.41, 58.26, and 1:28.25 for a fourth all-time best time of 1:57.87. Not bad for someone who was unheard of in the sport 18 months ago.


Backstroke sensation Lenny Krayzelburg, USA
For larger 64k photo click on image. Photo © Darrin Braybrook/SPORT The Library


Brad Bridgewater, USA, challenged his teammate over the first two laps but then had a different battle on his hands with Mark Versfeld, CAN (58.86), who stole the silver in 1:59.61. Both Krayzelburg and Versfeld set new national records. Bridgewater split 58.75 for his bronze in 2:00.04.


Women's 4X100 Freestyle Relay

The US women's team led each leg to come out winners in 3:43.77.

The race for the lesser medals was between Australia, Canada, and Japan, the Aussies leading their Commonwealth opponents until the 250, when the Canadians moved into second place and stayed there until the finish. Australia just held off a strong finish from Japan to take the bronze. The times were: USA 3:43.77, CAN 3:46.57, AUS 3:47.49, and JPN 3:47.58.


Men's 4X100 Freestyle Relay

Michael Klim's 49.15 gave the Australians a handy lead of 0.71 seconds over the US team (Scott Tucker) at the first takeover. Richard Upton held that lead to split 1:39.26 to the USA's 1:39.52. Canada (1:40.81) led New Zealand (1:41.71) at the 200.

The Aussies and Americans continued their fight, with the Australians slipping back at the 300; It was USA (2:29.21), AUS (2:29.47), CAN (2:32.17), and NZL (2:32.72).

The US men's team took the gold in 3:18.18, with the Australians second in 3:19.33, a new Commonwealth record. New Zealand finished strongly (3:22.49) to steal the bronze medal from Canada (3:23.40).






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