Wilkens, Munz Turn in Career Performances

Tom Wilkens and Diana Munz turned in sensational performances on the final night of competition at the USA National Swimming Championships on Saturday.

Wilkens, whose 2:01.01 at the Pan Pacific Championships last August was the world’s fastest time in 1999, flirted with the world record in the men’s 200-meter individual medley before settling for the victory in a career-best 2:00.67--the seventh fastest time in history.

Wilkens led a very fast field with fast-closing Tom Dolan second in 2:01.21, his best time since 1994, and Ron Karnaugh third in 2:01.62, his best time since 1991.

Munz, who missed the 1999 Pan Pacific event after suffering a back injury in a July auto accident, battled stroke-for-stroke with 1996 Olympic gold medalist and 1998 world champion Brooke Bennett before pulling away to win the women’s 1500-meter freestyle in 16:03.30.

Only Janet Evans, who holds the world record (15:52.10) has swum faster.

“I had no idea what pace I was swimming at,” Munz said. “When I touched the wall, I was very shocked.”

It was the third victory of the meet and another lifetime best for Munz.

Neil Walker also captured his third title of the championship when he easily won the men’s 50-meter freestyle in 22.10 seconds, the fastest time by an American in a decade and good enough to break Matt Biondi’s 1992 meet record.

Dara Torres, hoping to qualify for her fourth U.S. Olympic team berth this year, scored her second victory of the meet by winning the women’s 50-meter freestyle in 25.09, a career best.