Hansen Lowers Own Meet Record in 100 Breast

VICTORIA, British Columbia, Aug. 18. BRENDAN Hansen not only posted the only sub-minute time of finals in the 100-meter breaststroke at the 2006 Mutual of Omaha Pan Pacific Championships, he also lowered his meet record of 1:00.17 set during prelims with a 59.90.

After setting the world record in the event with a 59.13 at the ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships earlier this month, Hansen's attempt at breaking it in two consecutive meets came close.

Meanwhile, Australia's Brenton Rickard captured silver in 1:00.39, while Japan's Kosuke Kitajima snared bronze in 1:00.90.

At the end of the race, the United States moved its medal total to 14 (9G, 5S), while Japan increased its second-place tally to nine (1G, 2S, 6B). Australia sat in third with seven (1G, 2S, 4B).

Canadian Hayden Upsets Lezak in 100 Free

World record-holder Brendan Hansen of the United States won the 100-meter breaststroke with the only sub-1 minute effort at the Pan Pacific Championships on Friday night.

He finished in 59.90 seconds to set a Pan Pac record, topping the meet record of 1:00.17 he swam in morning preliminaries.

He was chased the whole way by longtime rival Kosuke Kitajima of Japan, who said his pre-meet training had been disrupted by a fever and sore throat that required hospitalization.

Brenton Rickard of Australia took the silver in 1:00.39 and Kitajima settled for bronze in 1:00.90.

Hansen didn't make a run at lowering the world record he set Aug. 5 at the U.S. national championships in Irvine, Calif. That week he also lowered his world mark in the 200 breaststroke.

"Mentally, to come off a major meet like I did in the United States and then to come up here and try and compete, it's been really tough," he said.

Hansen Wants Perfection

U.S. swimmer Brendan Hansen has been swimming so well lately he won the gold medal in the 100 breaststroke in course-record time and looked positively disgusted with himself after the race.

Hansen said he could have knocked more than a half second off of his winning time if he hadn't made "age-group mistakes" such as rushing his stroke. Hansen's time of 59.90 gave him an easy victory over Australia's Brenton Rickard (1:00.39) and Japan's Kosuke Kitajima (1:00.90) but it fell short of his world record (59.13).

"I made a few mistakes early in the race that cost me," Hansen said. "No matter how good you are, how good you get, you always make mistake. I've got to find a way to fix them."

Team USA takes golds in Day 2

Like the 100m free, the women's 100m breaststroke was a nail biter with the United States in one-two positions. Tara Kirk touched out teammate Megan Jendrick by only two one-hundredths of a second, clocking a 1:07.56 for gold. Sarah Katsoulis of Australia took third.

Brendan Hansen then charged off the blocks to break the PanPac record he set during prelims Friday by taking first in the men's 100m breaststroke finals with a time of 59.90. Australia' Brenton Rickard and Japan's Kosuke Kitajima followed behind for silver and bronze, respectively. Team USA's Scott Usher took fourth.

Night two recap from Timed Finals

"I'm pretty happy with that," said Hansen. "It's hard to come off our nationals just a few weeks ago, but any chance you've got to go under a minute, is great." After doing his best at trials, Hansen had to make some quick adjustments. "You have to renegotiate your goals, but I just wanted to come here and swim fast and have fun."

Phelps, Hoff Win 3rd Golds at Pan Pacs

"It's not just `The Michael Phelps Show," American Brendan Hansen said. "Everyone is stepping up and doing their job."

snip

World record-holder Hansen won the 100 breaststroke with the only sub-1 minute effort.

He finished in 59.90 seconds to set a Pan Pac record, topping the meet record of 1:00.17 he swam in morning preliminaries.

He was chased the whole way by longtime rival Kosuke Kitajima of Japan, who said his pre-meet training had been disrupted by a fever and sore throat that required hospitalization.

"It was hard to be able to come back to this level," he said through a translator. "With this finish, I'm not really satisfied."

Brenton Rickard of Australia took the silver in 1:00.39 and Kitajima settled for bronze in 1:00.90.

Hansen didn't make a run at lowering the world record he set Aug. 5 at the U.S. national championships in Irvine, Calif. That week he also lowered his world mark in the 200 breaststroke.

"I was rushing my stroke too much and not getting my legs into it," he said. "I was a little jittery having those guys in the final. I made a few mistakes early that cost me five, sixth-tenths of a second."

Phelps and friends blitz meet

Brendan Hansen of the United States, the world record-holder in the 100 breaststroke, qualified in 1:00.17, setting a championship record. He bettered the old mark of 1:00.34 set by Olympic champion Kosuke Kitajima of Japan, who was third-quickest.

I'll post more as it comes. WHEEE! GO BRENDAN!