U.S. Short Course Nationals: Mike Alexandrov Downs Second American Record

COLUMBUS, Ohio, December 4. FOR the second time in as many nights at the U.S. Short Course Nationals, Tucson Ford's Mike Alexandrov downed an American record in the breaststroke discipline.

Alexandrov claimed his second American record in as many days with a 1:51.73 in the men's 200 breast. His effort clipped Brendan Hansen's 2006 national mark of 1:51.74 by the slimmest of margins to move Alexandrov to second all time in the event. Neil Versfeld owns the U.S. Open record with a 1:51.40 from the 2009 NCAA Division I Championships. Alexandrov's teammate Clark Burckle took second in 1:52.12 to move to sixth in the all time rankings, while South Florida's Vlad Polyakov finished third in 1:52.92. Last night, Alexandrov lowered his American record in the 100 breast with a 51.35.

Tucson Ford's Matt Grevers crushed the meet record in the men's 100 free with a time of 41.35. That performance wiped out the 41.75 set by William Copeland in 2008, and moved Grevers to third all time in the event behind only Cesar Cielo (40.92) and Nathan Adrian (41.08). Grevers previously stood 11th all time with a lifetime best of 41.85. Adrian settled for second tonight in 41.63, while USC's Vlad Morozov earned third in 42.12.

California's Caitlin Leverenz threw down a swift 2:06.55 to win the women's 200 breast. That swim moved Leverenz up to third all time behind only Rebecca Soni (2:04.75) and Tara Kirk (2:05.73). Santa Barbara's Katlin Freeman placed a distant second in 2:08.97, while Nittany Lion's Corrie Clark finished third in 2:09.40.

After setting the meet record with a 1:51.02 during prelims, USC's Katinka Hosszu grabbed the women's 200 fly title in 1:51.45. Hosszu's preliminary performance moved her to second all time in the event behind only Elaine Breeden's 1:49.92 from the 2009 Pacific 10 Championships. USC's Lyndsay De Paul placed second in 1:52.82 to move to 10th all time, while Sara Isakovic finished third in 1:54.51.

USC's Haley Anderson raced to victory in the women's 1650 free with a winning time of 15:48.64. That effort downed the 2007 meet record set by Alyssa Anderson of 15:58.73, and moved Haley Anderson to 10th all time in the event. Minnesota's Ashley Steenvoorden placed second in 16:01.33, while Cascade's Amber McDermott finished third in 16:13.02.

Trojan's Markus Rogan emerged from a strong finale with a winning time of 1:40.11 in the men's 200 back. The swim moved Rogan up to 12th all time in the event's history. Rex Tullius touched out Daytona Beach's Ryan Lochte, 1:40.62 to 1:40.65, for second-place honors in the finale.

Longhorn's Michael Klueh captured the men's 1650 free in a time of 14:40.62, while USC's Richard Charlesworth touched second in 14:58.03. Sarasota's Nick Caldwell snagged third in 15:05.03. Gator's Stephanie Proud touched out USC's Presley Bard, 1:52.62 to 1:52.70, for the women's 200 back title in an exciting comeback victory. Colorado Stars' Missy Franklin completed the podium with a third-place 1:53.32.

Trojan's Jessica Hardy clipped FAST's Kara Lynn Joyce, 47.81 to 47.96, in the women's 100 free. AGUA's Lia Neal placed third overall in 48.13. In an exciting finish, FAST's Robert Margalis overtook California's Thomas Shields, 1:42.49 to 1:42.79, in the men's 200 fly. Michigan's Dan Madwed finished third in 1:44.50.

In relay action, California's Erica Dagg, Hannah Wilson, Nathalie Lindborg and Liv Jensen won the women's 400 free relay in 3:14.50. USC's Vlad Morozov, Dimitri Colupaev, Emmett Walling and James White cruised to victory in the men's 400 free relay in 2:51.58. Morozov bettered his third-place time in the 100 free with a 42.06 leadoff.

Day Three Finals Results

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