Beijing Olympic Games

Updated: 2008-07-03

(BEIJING, July 3) — Back-to-back records were set last night in the preliminary round of the men’s 100 freestyle at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials. Jason Lezak (48.15) first broke the previous American record of 48.17 in the third-to-last heat, only to be bested minutes later by Garrett Weber-Gale with a new low of 47.78. Lezak went on to take first seed in the semi-finals later that evening with a time of 47.58; Weber-Gale came in third at 48.35. While taking second-place in the morning prelims, Michael Phelps decided to withdraw from the event in order to concentrate on the 200m butterfly final.

Phelps took first place in the men’s 200m butterfly final with a time of 1:52.20 after setting the meet record in last night’s semifinals. Phelps was just eleven-tenths of a second behind his world record time of 1:52.09 set at the 2007 world championships. Gil Stoval (1:53.86) and Davis Tarwater (1:54.46) took second and third-place.

Taking first-place in the women’s 200m individual medley final with a time of 2:09.71, 19-year-old Katie Hoff adds her third win to a growing list of accomplishments at the U.S. trials. Hoff replaced the American record of 2:09.77 set by Natalie Coughlin just last month. Coughlin (2:10.32) came in second-place with Ariana Kukors in third at 2:10.40.

Tomorrow’s events include preliminaries and semifinals in women’s 100m freestyle, men’s 200m backstroke, women’s 200m breaststroke and men’s 200m individual medley. Finals will be held for the men’s 200m breaststroke, women’s 200m butterfly and men’s 100m freestyle.

FINALS RESULTS - Wednesday, July 2

Women’s 200m Freestyle- Final1. Katie Hoff (1:55.88) 2. Allison Schmitt (1:55.92)3. Julia Smit (1:56.73)Men’s 200m Butterfly- Final1. Michael Phelps (1:52.20)2. Gil Stovall (1:53.86)3. Davis Tarwater (1:54.46)Women’s 200m Individual Medley - Final1. Katie Hoff (2:09.71) 2. Natalie Coughlin (2:10.32)3. Ariana Kukors (2:10.40)