Evans Wins 400-Meter Individual Medley
Janet Evans of Placentia won the women’s 400-meter individual medley Friday at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.
Evans, 15, the world record-holder in the 800-meter and 1,500-meter freestyle, was timed in 4 minutes 44.99 seconds. She swam the event in 4:41.8 two weeks ago at the Senior Nationals at Clovis, Calif.
Bud McAllister, who coaches her for the Fullerton Aquatic Swim Team, said Friday at the Mission Viejo International Sports Complex that he had expected her to swim faster.
“I thought she would at least go 42 (4:42),” he said. “I’m sure she didn’t have much competition.”
Evans has experienced problems in the past with the individual medley, an event in which she must use the butterfly stroke, her weakest. But, McAllister said, “I’m not worried overall. Next summer, I’m sure she’ll be under 40.”
Tracy Caulkins set the American record in 1984, swimming the event in 4:39.24.
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