1999 World University Games: Day 2

From www.usa-swimming.org
PALMA DE MALLORCA, Spain – The U.S. Swim Team team went six for six in the medal count, including five golds, on the second night of competition at the World University Games.

Mark Warkentin continues to lead the Americans, earning two more gold medals with wins in the 800m freestyle, in meet record time, and the 800m free relay. On day 1, Warkentin won the 200m free. With two more events to go, the 400m free and 1500m free, the Santa Barbara, Calif., native has a chance to pass Matt Biondi’s and Martina Moravcova’s (Slovakia) record of four golds at the World University Games.

Warkentin shattered the World University Games record in winning the 800m free, posting a time of 8:00.81, over six seconds faster than his previous best. The old WUG mark was 8:04.80, set by Turlough O’Hare of Canada in 1993. Warkentin is now the 17th-fastest American ever in this event.

Warkentin also anchored the U.S.’ winning 800m free relay. The U.S. led Ukraine by a narrow 14-hundredths of a second when Warkentin dove in. His split of 1:50.70 secured the team’s win. Eric Godsman (1:52.52), David Hartzel (1:51.82) and Mark Leonard (1:52.29) helped the US. team to the winning time of 7:27.33, more than a second better than runner-up Ukraine (7:28.49).

Warkentin may be leading the medal count, but Jeff Somensatto (Annandale, Va.) challenged him for the swim of the night. Somensatto won the 200m butterfly in 1:58.69, making him the ninth-fastest American ever in that event. Kim Black (Syracuse, N.Y.) earned gold in the 200m free (2:02.85) and Beau Wiebel (Hagerstown, Md.) won the 400m individual medley (4:21.58). Wiebel’s time makes him the 16th-fastest American ever. Black and Wiebel both attend the University of Georgia. Amy Balcerzak (Sharon, Pa.) took the bronze in the 200m breaststroke (2:32.50) to complete the medal haul. Her prelim time of 2:32.10 this morning makes her the 24th-fastest American in the 200m breast.

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