EAST MEADOW (New York), Oct 23: Team Stars & Stripes won the first ever Novo Nordisk Sprint Cup, held on Sunday at the Nassau County Aquatic centre in East Meadow, New York.

The meet offered $310,000 in prize money, the largest one-day payday in the history of swimming.

The U.S. team completed their overall win by capturing the meet’s final event, the men’s 4x50 metre freestyle relay in a world best time of 1:25.87.

Swimming’s world governing body FINA does not recognise world records in the 4x50 freestyle and medley relays, only world bests.

The previous world best was 1:26.78, set by the University of Texas at the 2000 National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Championships.

Aaron Ciarla led off the Stars & Stripes relay with 21.64 — a time that would have won the individual men’s 50 free. He was followed by Neil Walker (21.26), Nate Dusing (21.54) and Jason Lezak (21.43).

A world’s fastest had been needed as the World Team, sparked by Mark Foster’s anchor leg of 21.27, touched in 1:26.21.

Team European Union were third with 1:28.15.

The meet brought together 54 of the world’s fastest sprinters who, collectively, have won 37 Olympic medals, including 17 gold.

The World Team’s Geoff Huegill swam to an Australian national record in winning the 50-metre fly in 22.95, the second fastest time in history.

The EU’s Zoe Baker set a European and British national record with her 30.78 for the women’s 50 metre breaststroke in prelims. She came back to win the finals in 30.88.

Ed Moses set an American record in winning the men’s 50 metre breaststroke in 26.92 seconds.

Olympic champion Lars Frolander, who had the fastest prelim time — a national record 22.97 — was second. Mark Foster, who holds the world record of 22.87, did not make the finals.—Reuters