ALEXANDROV SETS AMERICAN RECORD IN COLUMBUS

 COLUMBUS, Ohio – U.S. National Teamer Michael Alexandrov set an American record in the men’s 100-yard breaststroke Friday at the AT&T Short Course National Championships, turning in a time of 51.35. His performance bettered the former mark, which he set in 2007, by 21-hundredths of a second.
 
“I was aiming for a best time, and for me that would mean an American record,” Alexandrov said. “It’s an honor to have an American record. I’m just really excited. We have some great coaching at Arizona (where he swims with Tucson Ford Aquatics). Combine that with consistent training on my part, and that equals a recipe for success.”
 
In addition to Alexandrov’s American record, four other meet records fell in individual events on the second night of competition at The Ohio State University’s McCorkle Aquatic Pavillion. Olympian Matt Grevers broke two of them, in the men’s 100y butterfly and the 100y backstroke, while Jessica Hardy broke one in the women’s 100y breast and Hungarian Katinka Hosszu broke another in the 400y IM.
 
Grevers jumped out to a quick lead in both his races and hung on for the win. In the 100y fly, he held off a charging Tom Shields down the homestretch, out-touching Shields 45.07 to 45.33. He won the 100y back by a more comfortable margin, pacing the field in 44.82.
 
“For me, butterfly is a momentum swim,” Grevers said. “I knew I would have to go out fast, because I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold on. I was just praying I had a little left in the tank, and I did.”
 
Grevers went on to beat a solid field that included a number of U.S. National Teamers in the 100 back, including runner-up David Russell (45.58), bronze medalist Nick Thoman (46.34) and superstar Ryan Lochte.
 
“It’s a great feeling,” Grevers said. “I know a lot of guys are not shaved and tapered like I am, but it’s always nice to beat Ryan Lochte. It doesn’t always have to be an even playing field. He’s a tremendous athlete, and I always take a lot of pride when I can squeeze in a victory over him.
 
“I didn’t have a very good summer, and this proves to myself and my competition that I’ve still got it. It proves what I’ve been doing since August has been working and gives me a lot of confidence for the next year of training.”
 
Hardy touched in 58.41 to set the meet record in the 100y breast, about two-tenths of a second ahead of runner-up Annie Chandler, who finished in 58.63. Hardy qualified for the U.S. Pan Pacific Championships Team, the 2010 FINA Short Course World Championships Team and the 2011 FINA World Championships Team in sprint freestyle events, and was happy to have the opportunity to race breaststroke this week.
 
“I have not trained breaststroke in about a year, so for me to do that without my coach and I really working on it, I’m ecstatic,” Hardy said.
 
Both Hardy and Alexandrov will represent the United States at the FINA Short Course World Championships, Dec. 15-19 in Dubai, and are using this week’s meet as a tune-up for that competition.
 
“It’s a dress rehearsal,” Alexandrov said. “I wish this was short course meters so my stroke count would be the same, but it’s about the same tempo.”
 
Other first-place finishers in individual events Friday included Hosszu in the women’s 400y IM (4:00.03), Robert Margalis in the men’s 400y IM (3:40.37), Lyndsay DePaul in the women’s 100y fly (51.46), Missy Franklin in the women’s 200y free (1:44.23) and Rex Tullius in the men’s 200y free (1:35.03).
 
The AT&T Short Course National Championships continues tomorrow with prelims and finals of the 200y backstroke, 100y freestyle, 200y breaststroke and 200y butterfly. The 1650y free and the 400y free relay will also be contested.
 
For complete results from the meet, go to www.usaswimming.org/results.
 
Friday Night’s Medalists
 
Women’s 200 Medley Relay – 1. University of California “A,” 1:36.79 (Meet Record); 2. University of Southern California, 1:37.31; 3. University of Southern California “B,” 1:39.86.
 
Men’s 200 Medley Relay – 1. SwimMac Carolina, 1:25.12 (Meet Record); 2. University of California, 1:25.39; 3. University of Southern California, 1:26.88.
 
Women’s 400 IM – 1. Katinka Hosszu, USC, 4:00.03 (Meet Record); 2. Julia Smit, Stanford, 1:03.55; 3. Caitlin Leverenz, Cal, 4:05.04.
 
Men’s 400 IM – 1. Robert Margalis, FAST, 3:40.37; 2. Jack Brown, Ford, 3:46.94; 3. Matt Elliott, PAWW, 3:51.12.
 
Women’s 100 Fly – 1. Lyndsay DePaul, USC, 51.46; 2. Elaine Breeden, Stanford, 52.31; 3. Amanda Sims, Cal, 52.40.
 
Men’s 100 Fly – 1. Matt Grevers, Ford, 45.07 (Meet Record); 2.Tom Shields, Cal, 45.33; 3. Davis Tarwater, MAC, 46.41.
 
Women’s 200 Free – 1. Missy Franklin, Stars, 1:44.23; 2. Jasmine Tosky, PASA, 1:44.63; 3. Sara Isakovic, 1:44.66.
 
Men’s 200 Free – 1. Rex Tullius, 1:35.03; 2. Michael Klueh, TXLA, 1:35.14; 3. Clement Lefert, USC, 1:35.15.
 
Women’s 100 Breast – 1. Jessica Hardy, Trojan, 58.41 (Meet Record); 2. Annie Chandler, Ford, 58.63.; 3. Jillian Tyler, Minnesota, 58.78.
 
Men’s 100 Breast – 1. Michael Alexandrov, Ford, 51.35 (American, Meet Record); 2. Marcus Titus, Ford, 51.90; 3. Clark Burckle, Ford, 51.98.
 
Women’s 100 Back – 1. Presley Bard, USC, 51.82; 2. Gemma Spofforth, GSC, 52.13; 3. Olivia Smoliga, GTAC, 53.69.
 
Men’s 100 Back – 1. Matt Grevers, Ford, 44.82 (Meet Record); 2. David Russell, Cal, 45.58; 3. Nick Thoman, SwimMac, 46.34.
 
Women’s 800m Free Relay – 1. USC, 7:07.11; 2. Cal, 7:09.14; 3. Indiana University, 7:09.69.
 
Men’s 800m Free Relay – 1. USC, 6:22.61; 2. Ohio State, 6:27.81; 3. Cal, 6:29.26.