Flash! Lenton Breaks World Record in Short Course 200 Free -- November 20, 2005
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Photo and Story By Stephen J. Thomas
SYDNEY, Australia. 19 November. AUSSIE sprint star Libby Lenton proved her outstanding 800 freestyle relay split at the World Championships in Montreal was no flash in the pan when she dominated the women’s 200 freestyle final on the first night of the FINA World Cup (SCM) meet at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.
Lenton has been known for her powerful sprinting ability, reflected in her 50 freestyle win in Montreal and Olympic bronze in Athens, but tonight the 20-year-old proved she has the staying power for the 200-meter race, and how!
Lenton was under world record pace from start to finish clocking 1:53.29 to slash 0.75 off American Lindsay Benko’s old mark set in Moscow in 2002.
Lenton’s splits:
25.80 (-1.46), 54.40 (-1.74), 1:23.72 (-1.53), 1:53.29 WR
Not content with that stunning performance Lenton later in the program clocked the second-fastest 50 freestyle in history, splashing 23.85, just 0.26 outside Sweden’s Therese Alshammar’s world mark. Alshammar finished in third place tonight (24.60) behind Dutch flyer Marleen Veldhuis (24.25).
Not to be outdone, Lenton’s training partner Leisel Jones clocked the second fastest time in history over the 100 metres breaststroke stroking 1:04.84, just 0.05 outside American Tara Kirk’s world mark.
Two other Australian records were set on the night. Tay Zimmer won the women’s 50 backstroke in 27.47 and Adam Lucas gave the Aussie men a boost clocking 54.26 to finish third in the 100 IM behind South African world record-holder Ryk Neethling (51.81) and a previous global record-holder, Germany's Thomas Rupprath (53.69).
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