PALO ALTO (California), Aug 5: World record-holder Jessica Hardy won the women’s 100m breaststroke title on Thursday at the US swimming championships.

Hardy won in 1min 6.81sec, well outside her world record time of 1:04.45.

But she was comfortably in front of Ann Chandler, who was second in 1:07.17.

Hardy withdrew from the 50m freestyle, opting not to double up on events as she did on the last day of the world championships on Sunday in Shanghai, where she won individual gold in the 50m breaststroke.

“I’m not happy with the time, but I’m really grateful to have a good race,” Hardy said.

Hardy acknowledged she was feeling the strain of the national championships following so closely on the heels of worlds – a schedule that prompted top swimmers including Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin to skip the US meet.

“The whole meet is a cruel joke,” Hardy stated. “It’s kind of awful having nationals this close to worlds.”

Nathan Adrian, who finished out of the medals in fourth at last week’s worlds, won the men’s 50m freestyle in 21.84sec. His time at the US meet would have been good enough for silver in Shanghai.

Elizabeth Beisel captured the national title in the same event. Beisel led from start to finish and won in 4:34.78.

Leading results: Men’s: 100m butterfly: 1. Timothy Phillips 51.69; 2. Tyler McGill 51.84; 3. Davis Tarwater 51.94.

50m freestyle: 1. Nathan Adrian 21.84; 2. James Feigen 22.03; 3. Garrett Weber Gale 22.04.

Women’s: 100m breaststroke: 1. Jessica Hardy 1:06.81; 2. Ann Chandler 1:07.17; 3. Ellyn Baumgardner 1:08.20.

50m Freestyle: 1. Lara Jackson 24.98; 2. Madison Kennedy 25.09; 3. Kara Lynn Joyce 25.19.

400m individual medley: 1. Elizabeth Beisel 4:34.78; 2. Madeline Dirado 4:37.88; 3. Natalie Adams 4:42.99.—AFP