Men’s Swimming: Peirsol sets new record

AUSTIN, Tex. - There was hardly any doubt Aaron Peirsol would

become the national champion in the 200-meter backstroke. The bigger goal

for Peirsol, a Newport Harbor High junior swim standout who finished as

the silver medalist in the event in the 2000 Olympics, was setting a

world record.

Peirsol is now the U.S. Open record holder in the 200 backstroke as he

finished in 1:56.56 and the national title in the USA Swimming

Championships in Austin Saturday. Olympic gold-medalist Lenny

Krayzelburg, who is taking the year off, holds the World and American

record in 1:56.76.

As a result, Peirsol, a swimmer for the Irvine Novaquatics, qualified

for the World Championships, which will be in Japan in July. He will

compete in the 100 backstroke, as he won the national title Thursday, the

200 backstroke and he earned a spot on the 4x100 medley relay team.

Dave Salo, coach of the Irvine Novas, said Peirsol led throughout the

200 backstroke. Peirsol finished more than three seconds ahead of

second-place Marc Lindsay of the Athens swim club.

“We thought we had a chance of breaking the world record,” Salo said.

“(The U.S. Open record) is a good consolation prize. He was pretty happy

with that. There wasn’t ever a doubt that he would win the race.”

The U.S. Open record is the fastest time set in the United States by

an American or international swimmer and it is a 10-year-old record, Salo

said.