U.S. Swimming Short Course Championships : Evans Sets U.S. Record in 1,000-Yard Freestyle

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. —  Janet Evans set an American record in the women’s 1,000-yard freestyle Saturday night at the U.S. Swimming Short Course National Championships.

Evans, a triple gold medalist in the 1988 Olympics, was timed in 9 minutes 25.49 seconds.

“Records are made to be broken,” Evans said, “I wanted to take it out easy, but still fast and not spin my arms. Sometimes I lose a record when I spin my arms.”

Pam Minthorn was second to Evans in the 1,000-yard freestyle, then came back to win the 200-yard butterfly in 1:56.01.

Jenny Thompson, 16, edged four-time U.S. Olympian Jill Sterkel to win the women’s 50-yard freestyle in 22.66 seconds. Steve Crocker won the men’s race in 19.52.

Derek Weatherford won the 100-yard backstroke in 49.08 seconds.

Hungary’s Tamas Darnyi won the men’s 200-yard individual medley in 1:47.55, and Belgium’s Jean-Marie Arnould took the 1,650-yard freestyle in 15:11.26.

Longhorn Aquatics of Austin, Tex., took the combined title with 456 points; the Little Rock, Ark. Racquet Club won the men’s team title with 230 points, and Dynamo of Atlanta was the women’s champion with 276.