Jenny Thompson Wins 20th Title

Jenny Thompson claimed her 20th individual national title Friday night, winning the 100-meter butterfly in the U.S. Swimming Championships at Fresno.

Thompson is the 16th swimmer to win 20 national titles in a career. She won the 100 freestyle earlier this week. She was ahead of world record pace at the 50-meter mark, but finished well off the record of 57.93 with a time of 59.74.

On winning her 20th title, Thompson said, “I feel privileged to be in that category but I don’t think I will swim long enough to get to the top of that list.” Tracy Caulkins won 48 titles to rank first.

Lenny Krayzelburg won his second race of the championships, winning the men’s 100 backstroke in 54.64. He won the 200 backstroke earlier in the week.

Barbara Bedford won the women’s 100 backstroke in 1:01.11, beating 1996 Olympic gold medalist Beth Botsford and Lea Maurer, who finished second.

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Olympic gold medalist Gary Hall Jr., suspended after testing positive for marijuana, is free to compete again.

The Swiss-based International Swimming Federation (FINA) informed Hall by letter Wednesday that it lifted the suspension. The letter was signed by FINA honorary secretary Gunnar Werner.

Hall, 23, was suspended last month by FINA, which said he tested positive for marijuana during a May 15 competition in Phoenix. FINA’s decision prevented Hall from participating in the recent Goodwill Games in New York.

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Katie Beth Bryant won the one-meter springboard in the U.S. Diving Summer Nationals at Atlanta, giving the LSU recruit a sweep of the spring and summer championships.

Bryant took the lead on the fourth of five dives at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center and held off Jennifer Dixon by 3.18 points.