Maccabiah Games: Jason Lezak Shines, Israeli Record Falls

RAMAT GAN, Israel, July 19. THE men's 100 free featured the biggest fireworks of the first day of long course meter swimming at the Maccabiah Games. U.S. Olympic hero Jason Lezak put on a show for those in attendance.

Lezak, who has taken the Maccabiah Games by storm as the chief ambassador of the meet this week, clocked a swift time of 47.78 to win the men's 100 free. Israel's Nimrod Shapira Bar Or placed second in 49.02 to lower his Israeli record of 49.10 set at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Israel's Dan Perlman finished third in 51.10.

Andrea Murez of the U.S. won the women's 100 free in 56.44 with compatriot Naomi Javanifard taking second in 58.23. Israel's Efrat Rotsztein touched third in 58.38.

Rebecca Lewinson topped the women's 200 breast in 2:40.45, while Israel's Rony Shtein (2:41.15) and Julie Feingold of the U.S. (2:43.68) completed the top three. Israel's Tom Beeri claimed the men's 200 breast title in 2:16.94. Compatriots Daniel Malnik (2:17.50) and Jowan Qupty (2:24.43) finished second and third.

Haley Mitchell of the U.S. won the women's 200 back in 2:18.65 with Murez taking second in 2:19.97. Israel's Dekel Shahaff turned in a third-place 2:19.99. Israel's Itai Chammah took home the men's 200 back crown in 2:02.12, while compatriot Denis Gayvoronskiy took second in 2:03.75. Shaun Weinberg of the U.S. placed third in 2:05.44.

Israel's Amit Bechar held off Rachel Kessler of the U.S., 2:17.22 to 2:17.74, in the women's 200 fly. Israel's Roni Balzam claimed third in 2:19.83. Israel's Nimrod Hayet cruised in the men's 200 fly with a time of 2:00.47. Erez Feren took second in 2:04.00 with Andrew Langenfeld of the U.S. finishing third in 2:04.96.

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