SWIMMING : It’s Very Close, but Evans Gets Upset Again

Erika Hansen on Sunday became the second swimmer in as many weeks to defeat Olympic gold medalist Janet Evans in the 400-meter individual medley.

Hansen, who will be a sophomore at the University of Texas this fall, was clocked in 4 minutes 40.84 seconds, her fastest time ever, in upseting the defending national champion and American record-holder at the U.S. Long Course National Championships.

Evans, who lost to Summer Sanders in the Goodwill Games, finished less than one-fourth second behind Hansen in 4:41.07.

Evans’ U.S. record is 4:37.76. Sanders, who clocked the world’s best time this year at the Goodwill Games at 4:39.22, chose not to compete in the individual medley in favor of concentrating on several sprints later this week.

Hansen moved out to a 2 1/2-second lead in the opening leg, the butterfly, and held pace through the backstroke and breaststroke before Evans closed the gap in the freestyle.

Evans swam a 4:39.99 at the Goodwill Games, the second-fastest time this year behind Sanders.