JANET EVANS INVITATIONAL: KRAYZELBURG'S BEEN THERE, WON THAT EXPERIENCE IS EDGE IN HIS 100 BACKSTROKE VICTORY.Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer LONG BEACH - Young and fast swimmers filled the lanes of the men's 100-meter backstroke at the Janet Evans Janet Elizabeth Evans (born August 28, 1971) is a record-breaking American competitive swimmer. Born in Placentia, California, Evans started competitive swimming as a child. By the age of 11 she was setting National Age Group records in the longer events. Invitational. The lanes looked so full of talent that a theory jumped out that the event is the deepest and most talented for the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . Whether the 100-meter backstroke is the country's strongest event is open for debate, but there was no debating who was the strongest swimmer Sunday: world-record holder Lenny Krayzelburg Lenny Krayzelburg (Hebrew and Yiddish לעני קרײַזלבורג, Russian Ленни Крайзельбург) is an . He won the event in 55.28 seconds, holding off Randall Bal Randall Bal (born November 14, 1980 in Fair Oaks, California) is a backstroke swimmer from the United States, who represented his native country at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, where he won the gold medal in the 50 m backstroke. , who finished in 55.61. ``Absolutely,'' Krayzelburg said of the notion that his event is the deepest. ``I think there's about six people that have a legitimate shot to qualify.'' The difference for Krayzelburg, compared to the other U.S. talent, is his experience. He won the 100 and 200 backstrokes in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and also helped the U.S. win the 400 medley relay. Although at 28 he is getting old for a swimmer, his wiliness could give him an advantage. ``I think experience helps quite a bit,'' he said. ``In the finals, having the experience of being there helps. But on the other hand, all the guys who will be in the finals might not necessarily have the same experience, but they have international experience. So it really comes down to execution.'' Krayzelburg had nifty execution, which helped him earn the victory. Bal, on the other hand, made a mistake. Bal hit a lane line near the end of the race, and the mistake might have cost him the victory. ``I never get out of the pool and say, `If I didn't hit the lane line, I would have won,' '' he said. ``You can't do that. Hopefully, with more rest, I will swim on the surface and see the lane line out of my peripheral vision peripheral vision n. Vision produced by light rays falling on areas of the retina beyond the macula. Also called indirect vision. Peripheral vision .'' Three meet records were set Sunday. Two of those records came from Americans who attend Auburn. Mark Gangloff finished in 1 minute, 2.34 seconds to win the 100 breaststroke, and Eric Shanteau swam 2:02.44 in the 200 individual medley. The other meet record came in the 1,500 freestyle, in which USC's Kalyn Keller finished in 16:19.34. Despite records falling during each of the meet's four days, the temporary pool in downtown Long Beach might not have given the swimmers an edge. ``I don't necessarily think it's a fast pool,'' Krayzelburg said. ``I don't think the times have been that spectacular.'' Other winners included Cal's Michael Cavic (54.66 in the 100 butterfly) and Natalie Coughlin Natalie Anne Coughlin (born August 23, 1982 in Vallejo, California) is a United States swimmer and represented the United States at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. At the 2004 Summer Olympics, she won two gold medals, two silver medals, and a bronze. (1:00.80 in the 100 backstroke), and Stanford's Tara Kirk Tara Kirk (born July 12, 1982 in Bremerton, Washington) is an Olympic swimmer in the United States. She set the world short course meters record in the 100 meter breaststroke, winning the event at the 2004 Women's NCAA Championships swimming for Stanford University. (1:08.50 in the 100 breaststroke), Amanda Beard Amanda Ray Beard (born October 29, 1981 in Newport Beach, California) is an American Olympic swimmer and model. Beard made her first Olympic appearance at the 1996 games at the age of 14. (2:15.22 in the 200 individual medley) and Erik Vendt Erik Vendt (born January 9, 1981 in North Easton, Massachusetts) is a swimmer from the United States who won a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics and the 2004 Summer Olympics. (15:11.19 in the 1,500 freestyle). Beard hopes to qualify in the 100 and 200 breaststroke, the event in which she is the strongest. As for the medley, she said, ``If I don't make it, it's never been my best event, so whatever.'' Joe Stevens, (562) 499-1338 joe.stevens(at)presstelegram.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Australia's Adam Lucas competes in the 200-meter individual medley during the final day of the Janet Evans Invitational. Cristina Salvador/Staff Photographer |
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