SWIMMING : Evans Wins 45th National Title, Is Three Shy of Caulkins

Janet Evans took another step toward the national-title record of Tracy Caulkins, easily winning the 1,500-meter freestyle race Saturday night in the Phillips 66 National Swimming Championships.

Evans, 23, of Placentia was timed in 16:34.3 as she won her 45th national title on the final night of competition at the University of Minnesota Aquatics Center. She is three behind Caulkins, who won her titles in the late 1970s and early ‘80s.

“It would be a great honor to match Tracy’s title count,” Evans said. “I came here and did what I wanted to do. Now I have to keep on training. I’m looking forward to the Nationals this summer.”

Earlier in the meet, Evans won her 43rd and 44th titles, in the 800- and 400-meter freestyle events.

David Fox, 24, of Raleigh, N.C., won his third title of the competition, in the 50-meter freestyle. His time of 22.23 broke the pool record of 22.72 set by Australian Darren Lange in 1991.

“I really didn’t think I would be that fast this soon,” said Fox, who trains with U.S. Swimming’s resident national team in Colorado Springs, Colo. “Our team’s focus has been on this summer and on the Olympic trials in 1996, so it’s a bit of a surprise.”

Earlier, Fox won the 100- and 200-meter freestyle events.

Three other swimmers got their second titles of the meet Saturday:

--Sergey Mariniuk, 26, of Santa Clara won the 200-meter individual medley in 2:02.80, breaking the pool record of 2:04.01 set by Paul Nelsen in 1991. Mariniuk also won the 400-meter individual medley.

--Jennifer Parmenter, 14, of Granada Hills won the 200-meter individual medley in 2:17.10, after earlier winning the 400-meter individual medley

--Reeve Irvin, 16, of Charleston, S.C., won the 1,500-meter freestyle in 15:35.49. He also won the 400-meter freestyle.