The Ron Johnson Invitational on the campus of Arizona State University featured 2004 Olympic champion Darian Townsend racing multiple times in the two-day meet, as the 31-year-old chased Masters world records in the short course meters competition.
Townsend managed to lower one world record in the 30-34 age group, blazing through the 400 IM Saturday with a 4:13.68. He trounced the previous record of 4:19.69 by Tamas Kerekjarto from 2009. Townsend was looking to earn a sweep of the IM world records in the 30-34 age group, but settled for just missed Kerekjarto’s mark of 1:57.68 in the 200 IM with a 1:58.67. Townsend still owns the world record in the 100 IM with a 53.75.
Townsend, who became an American citizen last year, is looking to swim for the United States at the 2016 Olympics. That would mark his fourth trip to the Olympic Games to go along with the three appearances for South Africa. Townsend won his Olympic gold medal in the 400 free relay at the 2004 Games, and was a semifinalist in the 200 IM at the 2008 Olympics.
Another world record fell at the meet Saturday. Swimming World senior writer Jeff Commings posted a 28.34 in the 50 breaststroke, which beat the world mark of 28.52 he shared in the 40-44 age group with Steve West.
Full meet results expect to be released shortly.