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Coughlin sets another swimming world record

Daily Planet Wire Services
Friday November 30, 2001

Cal soph holds marks in both 100- and 200- meter backstroke 

 

EAST MEADOW, NY - Cal’s Natalie Coughlin again shined at the 2001 FINA World Cup in East Meadow, N.Y., setting a world record in the 100-meter backstroke Wednesday night. Her time of 57.08 bettered the old mark by more than a second and came on the heels of a world record performance in the 200-meter back on Tuesday night.  

Coughlin, a sophomore for the Golden Bears and the 2001 Pac-10 and NCAA Swimmer of the Year, was named the Female Performer of the Meet. She finished the meet winning four gold medals and a silver medal in five events.  

“I knew the 100 back was my strongest event,” said Coughlin. “I just knew if I could do it in the 200, then I was pretty sure I could go after the world record in the 100. It was just a matter of putting it together.”  

Coughlin then wrapped up the meet by winning her fourth event, the 50-meter fly, setting an American and U.S. Open record with a time of 25.83. Former Cal swimmer Haley Cope was fourth with a time of 27.24.  

Earlier this summer, Coughlin won the world title in the 100-meter back at the 2001 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. She also established a new American record in the 100-meter back with a time of 1:00.16, leading off a relay.  

Several other current Cal swimmers performed well at the FINA World Cup. In the 200 back Tuesday, senior Alice Henriques placed fourth with a time of 2:10.83 and freshman Amy Ng was eighth with a time of 2:19.14.  

On Wednesday in the 100 back, besides Coughlin’s victory, Cope placed second with a time of 1:00.84 and Henriques was eighth with a time of 1:02.73.  

In the 100 free, Cope was fourth and sophomore Danielle Becks was sixth. Becks also performed well in the 400 free, placing seventh. Ng was an impressive third in the 400 IM and Henriques was fifth in the 200 fly Wednesday.  

Junior breaststroker Staciana Stitts was also stellar at the FINA Cup, placing fifth in the 200 breast, sixth in the 50 breast and seventh in the 100 breast.