USA Swimming Grand Prix, Stanford: Natalie Coughlin Makes Statement

STANFORD, California, April 6. ONE last night of swimming gave the fans something to cheer about at the USA Swimming Grand Prix held in Stanford. On top of the plethora of pool records, Natalie Coughlin matched what used to be a world record in the 100 back.

Women's 100 back
World-record holder Natalie Coughlin scared her global standard of 59.21, but settled matching her previous world record of 59.44 as she won her pet event. The time is among the top five of all time.

Only two swimmers have swam faster than Coughlin's 59.44 this year as Anastasia Zueva set the European record with a 59.41 and Kirsty Coventry won the Missouri Grand Prix with a 59.42.

She was all alone as Lauren Rogers provided her nearest competition with a 1:02.74. Leona Jennings finished third in 1:03.14. Julia Smit also took fourth in 1:03.56.

Men's 100 back
Hongzhe Sun put together a strong dorsal event with a winning readout of 55.13. He wound up knocking off David Russell, who placed second in 55.87. Eugene Godsoe missed a backstroke sweep when he finished third in 56.32.

Women's 200 free
Kim Vandenberg got after the pool record of Kelly Stubbins when she hit the wall in 2:00.13 in 2007, but Vandenberg came up just short with a winning time of 2:00.37.

Kate Dwelley earned second place with a time of 2:00.79, while Karlee Bispo took third in 2:01.37, as she touched out Ariana Kukors (2:01.38) for the medal spot.

Men's 200 free
Klete Keller obliterated the pool record with a winning time of 1:46.56. He surpassed the 1:50.09 set by Jayme Cramer back in 2005, while also coming ever so close to his lifetime-best effort of 1:46.13 set at the 2004 Athens Games. The time is also the second-best in the world this year behind only Michael Phelps' 1:45.71 from the Missouri Grand Prix.

Andy Grant placed second, also under the pool record, with a time of 1:49.86, while Shaun Phillips earned third in 1:52.10.

Women's 100 fly
Dana Vollmer blew up the pool record with a time of 58.59. The time smashed the 59.23 set by Tanica Jamison in 2004. Vollmer's effort is the 10th best in the world this year, and came close to her lifetime-best effort of 58.35 set at the 2007 Duel in the Pool.

Elaine Breeden snagged second place with a sub-minute effort as well when she hit the wall in 59.64. Dana Kirk picked up third with a time of 1:00.14, while Kim Vandenberg took fourth in 1:00.22.

Men's 100 fly
Fernando Silva surfaced with the win when he clocked a time of 54.81 in the 100 fly. Patrick Simpkins placed second in 55.20, while Jan Tichy and John Dwelley tied for third with matching 55.89s.

Women's 400 IM
Another pool record didn't stand a chance as Ariana Kukors' 4:45.41 from 2004 went down. Caitlin Leverenz shattered the record with a time of 4:40.50, which is the eighth-fastest in the world this year. The swim also lowered Leverenz' lifetime-best time of 4:40.70 set at the Missouri Grand Prix.

Kukors, meanwhile, slipped under her former record with a second-place 4:44.35, while Julia Smit touched third in 4:47.48.

Men's 400 IM
Vanni Mangoni swept the IM events with a time of 4:26.03 in the longer distance event. Josh Charnin-Aker placed second in 4:27.73, while Scott Weltz took third in 4:33.90.

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