IRVINE, California, May 24. ROSE Bowl Aquatics' Jason Lezak provided some serious fireworks on the final day of the Janet Evans Invitational as he threatened the American record in the men's 100 free over long course meters.
In another head-to-head battle, Lezak smashed California's Nathan Adrian. Lezak took a run at Michael Phelps' American record of 47.51 in the men's 100 free, but settled for a smoking time of 47.80. Adrian could not keep up as he finished second in 49.14. Jason Dunford completed the top three in 50.38.
Katy Freeman raced to a winning time of 2:26.75 in the women's 200 breast. The victory was a serious upset with Trojan's Keri Hehn (2:27.53) and Rebecca Soni (2:27.55) finishing behind her. Soni is the current world record holder in the event with a 2:20.22 from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Mission Viejo's John Criste followed with a win in the men's 200 breast. He posted a 2:14.60, while California's Sean Mahoney (2:15.75) and Stanford's Curtis Lovelace (2:17.74) placed second and third.
North Bay's Deborah Roth came from behind to beat California's Lauren Rogers, 1:03.50 to 1:03.91, in the women's 100 back. North Coast's Kendyl Stewart claimed third in 1:05.02. Trojan's Peter Marshall thought he had the win in the men's 100 back with a 54.19 performance, but drew a disqualification. Stanford's Eugene Godsoe wound up the winner in 55.12 with Nova's Derya Buyukuncu taking second in 55.55. California's David Russell finished third in 56.11. Marshall's time was later changed to an exhibition effort.
In another heavyweight battle, Trojan teammate and Olympians Ous Mellouli and Tae Hwan Park put on a show in the men's 1500 free. Stanford's Chad La Tourette joined them as well as all three cleared 15 minutes. Mellouli wound up winning in 14:55.43 as he went toe-to-toe with Park. Park placed second in 14:57.06 with La Tourette finishing third in 14:57.48.
Another fun battle took place in the women's 200 fly with Trojan's Katinka Hosszu holding off Stanford's Elaine Breeden, 2:08.26 to 2:08.94. Trojan's Lyndsay De Paul completed the podium in 2:13.48. Trojan's Hidemasa Sano continued his strong meet with a swift 1:56.69 to win the men's 200 fly. Stanford's David Mosko placed second in 1:59.22, while Stanford's Joshua Charnin-Aker placed third in 2:01.54.
California dominated the women's 100 free with a 1-2-3-4 finish. Dana Vollmer claimed gold in 55.03, while Hannah Wilson took second in 55.58. Madison Kennedy (56.69) and Erica Dagg (57.06) picked up third and fourth.
California's Tara Thomas, Heather White, Vollmer and Dagg won the women's 400 medley relay in 4:20.88, while Rose Bowl Aquatics' Shane Tusup, Ray Chao, Chris Myers and Lezak captured the men's 400 medley relay in 4:01.66.
Open water ace Chloe Sutton of Mission Viejo won the women's 800 free with a meet-record time of 8:31.29.
OCRegister.com Article with videos.
OCRegister.com Interview With Ous Mellouli
OCRegister.com Video of Last Lap of Men's 1500 Free
OCRegister.com Interview With Jason Lezak