Rouse Improves on His Trials Time in 100 Backstroke

Jeff Rouse simply wanted to swim under 55 seconds in the 100-meter backstroke Saturday at the Speedo Invitational, but he ended up with the fastest time in the world in 1996 with a first-place finish of 54.86.

It was a better time than he had at the Olympic trials, when he finished second in 55.15 behind Tripp Schwenk. Rouse is the world-record holder in the event at 53.86. “That was a really bad time [at the trials],” he said. “This gives me a lot of confidence.”

Tom Dolan, world-record holder in the 400 individual medley, was forced to withdraw from that event when he suffered a pulled back muscle early in the evening during the 200 freestyle.

Those winning Saturday were Whitney Hedgepeth (1:02.77) in the 100 backstroke, Cristina Teuscher (2:02.10) in the 200 freestyle, Josh Davis (1:51.54) in the 200 freestyle, Canadian Stephen Clarke (54.09) in the 100 butterfly, Misty Hyman (1:00.15) in the 100 butterfly, Eric Namesnik (4:23.50) in the 400 individual medley and USC’s Kristine Quance (4:46.88) in the 400 individual medley.

Quance easily defeated Whitney Metzler, who finished second in 4:53.67. Metzler finished second in the Olympic trials in the 400 individual medley behind Allison Wagner. Wagner did not race Saturday.

Quance’s appeal of her disqualification at the trials was denied Friday by U.S. Swimming, but she hinted at pursuing further action. “We do want to keep going with it,” Quance said.

Among those supporting her are Olympic stars Tom Jager and Janet Evans.

Jager was outspoken, saying: “The basis was there was no courage on the deck at the time. The whole episode should have been over in five minutes. This is not the first time. U.S. Swimming has had poor leadership for a long time.”