USA Swimming National Championships: Cullen Jones Sets American Record in Dramatic 50 Free Swimoff for Rome – SwimmingWorld.TV Interview Included
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INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, July 11. WITH the "Ecstasy of Gold" playing over the public address system adding to the drama of the western-style showdown, the crowd erupted to the introductions of SwimMAC-Carolina's Cullen Jones and Longhorn's Garrett Weber-Gale as they prepped for the men's 50 free swimoff.
Jones did more than just take the second U.S. spot at the World Championships in the men's 50 free away from Weber-Gale, he also snatched his national record. Jones blazed to the wall in 21.41 for the fourth-fastest time in the year this year. He stands behind Fred Bousquet (20.94), Cesar Cielo (21.14) and Alain Bernard (21.23).
Jones' time cleared Weber-Gale's American mark of 21.47 set at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials.
"I went to Mare Nostrum and swam against Alain Bernard and had to do the same thing," Jones said of the swimoff. "I've done it before, and I was pretty confident. This is a friendly rivalry, but it is a rivalry."
Weber-Gale finished in 21.70 on the disappointing end of the swimoff.
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