Maccabiah Games: Two Israeli Records Set; Jason Lezak Blazes in Relay

RAMAT GAN, Israel, July 20. TWO more Israeli records were set during the second night of long course meter swimming at the Maccabiah Games.

Amit Ivry opened the evening with an Israeli record of 58.50 in the women's 100 fly. The time cleared her mark of 59.02 set back in 2008. Naomi Javanifard of the U.S. (1:00.96) and Kristina Tchernychev of Israel (1:02.07) finished second and third.

Alon Mandel matched his Israeli record in the men's 100 fly with a 52.99. He set the previous standard at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Andrew Langenfeld finished second for the U.S. in 53.96. Nimrod Hayet took third in 54.38 for Israel.

Andrea Murez won the women's 200 free for the U.S. in 2:03.45. Efrat Rotsztein finished second in 2:05.78 with Danielle Arad taking third in 2:09.88. Denis Gayvoronskiy topped the men's 200 free in 1:51.70, while Andrew Novakoff touched second in 1:52.05. Iouri Samouilich wound up third in 1:52.33.

Israel's Amit Bechar won the women's 400 IM in 4:57.15, while Roni Balzam took second in 5:03.44 and Rachel Kessler of the U.S. placed third in 5:04.39. Gal Nevo (4:19.37) and Hayet (4:23.83) finished first and second in the men's 400 IM for Israel. Shaun Weinberg of the U.S. took third in 4:33.84.

Results from the 400 free relay do not include splits and are somewhat confusing, but it looks like a Jason Lezak-led team set a Maccabiah record with a 3:21.17 in the men's race. A U.S.-based team likely won the women's race in 3:53.55.

According to initial reports from Israel, Lezak scorched the field with a 47.57 anchor split. He went out in 22.18 on the final leg to clinch the gold for the Americans.

However, Swimming World Israel correspondent Dr. Buky Chass contacted us to let us know that the official split was a 47.56 with a 22.32 on the way out.

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