Bedford Buzzing With Excitement After Win

Barbara Bedford spoiled Jenny Thompson’s bid for a 21st individual national title and a third title in the U.S. Swimming Championships at Fresno, winning the 50-meter freestyle final Saturday night.

Bedford, who won the 100 backstroke Friday, finished in a lifetime best of 25.64 seconds, three-hundredths of a second ahead of Thompson.

“I had a lot of caffeine before the race,” Bedford said. “I had three cups of coffee, so I was about 10 levels ahead of what I usually am and that’s pretty high anyway.”

Bedford, 25, also had a lifetime best in the 100 backstroke on Friday night.

“It is really nice to do that, especially at my age,” Bedford said. “Coming in, I knew that Amy [Van Dyken] was out and the race was up for grabs. Jenny is an incredible competitor and I certainly wasn’t expecting to top her.”

Bill Pilczuk won the men’s 50 freestyle in 22.62.

Cristina Teuscher won the 200 individual medley in 2:14.18, her second title of the championships. Teuscher also won the 400 freestyle.

Tom Wilkens won the men’s 200 individual medley with a personal best of 2:01.80.

Diana Munz swept the women’s distance events, winning the 1,500 freestyle in 16:16.0, the fastest time in the world this year.

Munz, a 16-year-old high school junior from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, won the 800 freestyle earlier in the week. Brooke Bennett, the 1996 Olympic champion in the 800 free, was second in both races.

Erik Vendt won the men’s 1,500 freestyle in 15:10.50, the fastest by an American since 1992.