Morales Sets World Record With Win in 100 Butterfly

Pablo Morales regained the 100-meter butterfly world record he lost to West Germany’s Michael Gross in the 1984 Olympics with a time of 52.84 seconds Monday night at the U.S. Swimming World Championship Trials.

“It was great to get the record back,” Morales said. “It’s a little more sweet now.”

The U.S. team that will compete in the fifth FINA World Championships at Madrid in August is being selected here. The first- and second-place finishers in each event automatically make the team, while the third- and fourth-place swimmers will swim in the Goodwill Games next month in Moscow.

Morales led from start to finish to reclaim the record. Matt Biondi was second with 53.28 seconds--just .05 off Morales’ old American-record time.

The eight-year-old American-record in the 400-meter individual medley was shattered by David Wharton, a 17-year-old high school student from Warminster, Pa., who covered the distance in 4:18.77. Wharton’s time is the fastest in the world this year.

Jeff Kostoff was second in 4:19.87.

A meet record was set by Betsy Mitchell of Marrieta, Ohio, in the 200-meter freestyle with a time of 1:59.27. Mary T. Meagher, who placed second Sunday night in the 100-meter freestyle, was second again Monday in the 200-meter free in 2:00.01.

Susan Rapp was the winner in the 200-meter breaststroke with a meet-record-tying time of 2:32.41.