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INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, July 11. TROJAN's Rebecca Soni could not replicate her monster final 50 meters (36.52) from her world record time at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but settled by smashing the U.S. Open record in the 200 breast.
Soni hit the wall in 2:20.38 – the second-fastest of all time. She was under world record pace through the first 150 meters with splits of 31.78, 1:06.82 and 1:43.13. Her world record swim had splits of 32.71, 1:07.46 and 1:43.70. However, Soni's global mark of 2:20.22 set in an epic upset of Leisel Jones at the 2008 Olympics withstood the charge.
Soni did wind up knocking off Amanda Beard's U.S. Open record of 2:22.44 set in Long Beach in 2004. Soni's performance also cleared Annamay Pierse's time of 2:20.71 from atop the world's best this year perch. Pierse clocked the time earlier this week at the Canadian World Championships Trials.
"I definitely have something to work on for Rome," Soni said. "I want to get that record again. It was nice and relaxed. I was really happy with it. I need to build the third 50 a bit more and race that final 15."
Soni's teammate Keri Hehn ripped off a personal-best time of 2:23.70 for second. Her time shattered her previous best of 2:25.73 and moved her into the top 15 all time. Wisconsin's Ashley Wanland finished third in 2:25.90 to knock two seconds from her personal best of 2:27.55.
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