Tired Thorpe wins third gold

Coughlin, Lezak and Peirsol get wins for America

YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) -- Natalie Coughlin, Aaron Peirsol and Jason Lezak had the perfect replies for Ian Thorpe as the United States took a commanding lead Monday on the medal standings at the Pan Pacific swimming championships.

The 19-year-old Aussie won the 200-meters freestyle in Monday's first final, his third gold medal in Yokohama, before Coughlin won the women's 100 backstroke and Peirsol and Lezak led American 1-2 finishes in the men's 100 backstroke and 50 freestyle.

Halfway through the six-day meet, the Americans led with eight gold medals. The Australians, who had four gold medals on the opening day, were next with six.

Coughlin, who set the world mark at the U.S. trials in Florida earlier this month, swam the second sub-1 minute women's 100 backstroke in history, clocking 59.72 seconds to collect her second gold medal of the meet. She finished two bodylengths clear of Australia's Dyana Calub.

"The start tonight was a lot better than yesterday," said Coughlin, who won the 100 butterfly on Sunday night. "I was a lot more excited tonight and it showed in the race."

Peirsol grabbed America's second gold of the evening in the men's 100 backstroke, surging ahead of compatriot Randall Bal on the second length and touching in 54.22 seconds, 0.23 seconds ahead of Bal. Japan's Tomomi Morita was third in 55.29. World champion Matt Welsh of Australia had been disqualified after winning his semifinal on Sunday night.

Lezak won the blue-ribbon 50 in 22.22, with world champion Anthony Ervin second in 22.28 and early leader Brett Hawke of Australia claiming bronze in 22.40.

"I'm very happy with the result," said Lezak. "I got off to a good start and then had to make some adjustment over the final 25."

His fast-finishing teammate in the next lane wasn't on top of his mind, Lezak said.

"I don't really think about who is in the next lane because there's not a lot of time to think out there."

In the first final of the night, Thorpe, who'd won the 400 freestyle and anchored the winning 4x100 freestyle relay team Saturday, clocked 4 minutes, 44.75 seconds to set a meet record in the 200 freestyle.

He set the world record in the 200 (1:44.06) at last year's world championships in Fukuoka and just missed setting a new mark here. Fellow Australian Grant Hackett was second in 1:45.84 while American Nate Dusing took the bronze in 1:48.11.

"I was happy with the time and happy with the result," said Thorpe. "I'm pretty tired at the moment to be honest -- I'm doing well so far and hope it continues for the rest of the meet."

Thorpe won six golds at the 2001 world championships in Fukuoka and a record six gold medals at last month's Manchester Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England.

Thorpe, who is rumored to be thinking about switching coaches after the Pan Pacs, said coming into this event that it would be difficult to break a world record given his tough schedule this summer. After the Manchester Commonwealth Games in England earlier this month, the Australians flew back home before coming to Japan.

The host nation struck gold again when Tomoko Hagiwara prevailed in a thrilling showdown with Americans Gabrielle Rose and Maggie Bowen in the women's 200 individual medley.

Hagiwara clocked a time of 2:13.42, well off the world mark set by China's Yanyan Wu in 1997 but good enough to give the local fans a charge following Kosuke Kitajima's gold the previous night in the men's 100 breaststroke.

Rose touched in 2:13.93 for the silver while Bowen, who was disqualified after an illegal turn in the semifinals but reinstated after an appeal, took bronze in 2:14.28.

"I heard the crowd cheering and knew I had to do well," said Hagiwara. "I came into the race as a challenger and I think my efforts have been rewarded."

American Michael Phelps posted 1:56.15 in the men's 200 butterfly semifinals and was looking to improve on his world record in the final. His teammate and Olympic champion Tom Malchow had the next fastest time of 1:56.15.

Australia's Jim Piper led qualifiers in the 200 breaststroke, followed by American Brendan Hansen and Canadian Mike Brown.

The women's 200 freestyle final Tuesday should be a duel between Americans Lindsey Benko and Diana Munz, who won their respective semifinals, while defending champion Jenny Thompson will be hoping to improve in the final of the 50 freestyle.

The veteran American led the first semifinal before she was overhauled by Jodie Henry, who set an Australian record 25.29. American Tammie Stone went 0.03 faster in the next race to lead qualifiers into the final -- one of six gold-medal events on Tuesday's program.

 

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