EAST MEADOW (New York), Nov 29: American Natalie Coughlin got her second world record in two days at the FINA World Cup meet, shaving more than a second off the previous women’s short course 100 metres backstroke mark on Wednesday.
Coughlin recorded a time of 57.08 seconds at Nassau County Aquatic Center to erase the previous mark of 0:58.45 set by Mai Nakamura of Japan on March 4 in Kanagawa, Japan.
On Tuesday night, Coughlin set a world record in the 200 metres backstroke with a time of two minutes 03.62 seconds to eclipse the old record of 2:06.09 set by China’s He Cihong in Spain in 1993.
Coughlin, who was named female performer of the competition, got her fourth victory at the meet when she set a U.S. record (25.83) in the 50 metres fly, the final race of the two-day competition.
Three American men won races Wednesday.
Ed Moses, who won the 50 metres breaststroke on Tuesday, added the 100 metres breaststroke, winning in 1:00.14.
Moses holds the world and U.S. records in the event. Only the World Cup record eludes him.
After winning the 100 metres backstroke and individual medley the night before, Neil Walker won the 50 metres backstroke Wednesday with a time of 24.42.
Jason Lezak took first in the 50 metres freestyle with a time of 21.86 after winning the 100 metres the day before.
Australia’s Jeff Huegil, who added the 100 metres butterfly after winning the 50 the night before, was named male performer of the meet.
Frenchman Xavier Marchand won the men’s 200 metres.
Martina Moracova of Slovakia won the 100 metres freestyle in 54.04, her fourth win of the meet.
Leading results:
Men’s 50m freestyle: 1. Jason Lezak (U.S) 21.86 seconds; 2. Bartosz Kizierowski (Poland) 21.96; 3. Fernando Scherer (Brazil) 22.28
Men’s 200m freestyle: 1. Romain Barnier (France) 1:46.13; 2. Josh Davis (U.S.) 1:46.76; 3. Scott Tucker (U.S.) 1:46.83;
Men’s 1500m freestyle: 1. Chris Thompson (U.S.) 14:50.92; 2. Ricardo Monasterio (Venezuela) 15:09.11; 3. Max Jaben (U.S.) 15:28.24
Men’s 50m backstroke: 1. Neil Walker (U.S.) 24.42; 2. Pablo Abal (Argentina) 24.93; 3. Michael Gilliam (U.S.) 24.98