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Thorpe gets closer to freestyle record

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Posted: Saturday March 20, 1999 11:09 AM

Thorpe came just .05 seconds away from setting the 400-meter freestyle world record. Al Bello/Allsport

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) -- World champion Ian Thorpe edged closer to the 400-meter freestyle world record held by fellow Australian Kieren Perkins when he won the national title Saturday.

With the dual Olympic 1500-meter champion Perkins back in fourth, Thorpe hit the wall at 3 minutes, 43.80 seconds -- just .05 away from the world record set at the 1994 world championships in Rome.

Thorpe, 16, has a shoe size to match his age, and his big feet made it tough for Olympic silver medalist Daniel Kowalski in the next lane.

"Swimming beside Thorpe tonight was like swimming in the surf," said Kowalski.

The national titles are being used as a selection trial for the PanPac meet which will be held in Sydney's 2000 Olympic pool in August.

 

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