Encore Swim: Texas Pros Put on Show With SCM Invite; Tara Kirk Sets ARs

AUSTIN, Texas, March 9. WITH the All-American Long Course Championships put in the books this year, many of the top swimmers in the nation remained an extra day to participate in the charity SCM-meet called Encore Swim, put on by the Texas Pros. Tara Kirk, however, proved to be the shining star with three American-record swims throughout the meet.

The men's 100 freestyle heats opened up with some lightning fast times. Adam Ritter of Tucson Ford finished first out of the first heat with a time of 47.54. Garrett Weber-Gale of Longhorn, who has had a breakout weekend, missed the American record by a whisker with a swift time of 46.29. That missed Ian Crocker's national standard of 46.25 set in 2004. Weber-Gale did, however, become the second-fastest American in the event.

In the women's 100 free, Kara Lynn Joyce of Athens Bulldog went off with a 53.10 to win her heat. That performance finished just a bit off Dara Torres' American record of 52.79 set in Berlin last November.

Ian Crocker of Longhorn put together a strong time of 50.40 in the men's 100 fly, but the time won't count as some of the shenanigans started with Peter Verhoef and Simon Burnett having some fun in the next lane as they shared duties as his competition.

In the women's 100 fly, Mary DeScenza of Athens Bulldog got her hand to the wall first with a time of 58.49.

Brendan Hansen of Longhorn then missed Ed Moses' world record by a scant .3 seconds with a blistering 57.77 to win the 100 breast. Moses will remain the world-record holder in the event with a time of 57.47 set in 2002.

The first big-time records of the night went down in the women's 100 breast as Kirk of Stanford Swimming notched a 1:04.30 to surpass her own time of 1:04.79 set in 2004 at the NCAA Championships. She was under world record pace of Leisel Jones (1:03.86) at one point as she went out in 30.13.

The 30.13 also surpassed Kirk's American record of 30.29 set during her previous national record swim in 2004.

"I heard everyone cheering," Kirk said. "But, I was fading. It felt really good going from long course the last few days into short course. There's another wall in there, and that's really awesome. The 50 felt great, and that's the way I did it the last time. We'll see what I can do in the 50 later tonight."

David Cromwell, one of the organizers of the event, picked up a rare triumph over teammate Aaron Peirsol with a time of 51.19 in the men's 100 back as Peirsol touched in 51.21.

In a 100 IM exhibition throw back swim that featured some old school stroke stylings, Peirsol stopped the clock first in 1:17.72.

Cromwell and Hansen then had a personal grudge match over 50 meters as the pair had a breast/back showdown, where each swam 25 meters of each stroke. Cromwell won in 26.02, while Hansen finished in 26.31.

Ritter came back with another strong swim as he picked up a win in the men's 100 IM with a time of 53.52, while Eric Shanteau of Longhorn placed second in 54.51.

Kirsty Coventry of Longhorn, who has been having an excellent run of late, snatched the women's 100 IM title with a time of 1:00.35. She touched out teammate Tanica Jamison, who finished second in 1:00.96.

Matt Grevers of Tucson Ford jumped into the title-winning action as he smoked the men's 50 fly with a time of 22.94. He actually beat American record holder Ian Crocker, who finished second in 23.27. Crocker still holds the national record with a 22.71 from 2004 in Indianapolis.

Grevers joined Kaio Almeida (22.60), Crocker and Geoff Huegill (22.74)under 23.00. His previous best had been a 23.56 from the 2006 World Short Course Championships.

Hansen, who already had a pair of swims during the event, emerged from the men's 50 breast with a time of 26.93. That time would have put him into the 26 club with the likes of Oleg Lisogor (26.17), Ed Moses (26.28) and Alessandro Terrin (26.60), but he was disqualified for a one hand touch. Dale Rogers of Longhorn was the beneficiary of the DQ and won in 27.43.

Kirk continued her incredible day as she dropped her American record even further in the 50 breast with a time of 30.04, taking almost .1 seconds off her 30.13 from earlier in the day. That put her just short of Jade Edmistone's global standard of 29.90 set in 2004.

"I really like this format a lot," Kirk said. "It's more fun than regular meets. I was just trying to hit the wall just right. I don't swim short course all that often. I was going for Jade's record. But, oh well, maybe next time."

Cromwell, showing he really enjoyed the format, got the better of his teammate Peirsol again, this time in the 50 back. Cromwell hit the wall in 24.10 for the win over Peirsol's 24.15.

After posting a strong time in the 100 free, Joyce registered a winning time of 24.62 in the 50 to shut down women's competition at the meet.

In the men's 50 free, Neil Walker of Longhorn emerged from the first heat with a time of 22.13. Weber-Gale, however, upped the ante in the final swim of the event as he recorded a blazing fast time of 21.31. Nick Brunelli of Sun Devil Aquatics, however, remained the American record holder with his time of 21.18 set in 2005.

Crocker, one of the event organizers, took time out shortly after the meet for an exclusive conversation with Swimming World.

On the planning of the event:
"I think now that it is over, I can breathe. I was nervous the whole last week as we tried to get everything planned out and nailed down. There were a lot of things to organize, including having a band here along with some video elements on our scoreboard."

On how he felt the event went:
"At this point, I think the event went well. I think the crowd responded well. There was a lot of laughter in the stands, which isn't normal at a meet. So, that is special."

On Tara Kirk's record-breaking swims:
"We are so happy she could be here to do it at our event. She is swimming great, and setting herself up great for this summer. It's special that she was able to perform like she did here at our event. She donated her time to be here, and we thank her for that. This is the type of swimming we were trying to provide as part of the meet."

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