Napa High graduate Bard finishes fifth in women’s finals, three places short of Olympic berth

From The Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb. — Michael Phelps just missed setting another world record at the U.S. Olympic trials.

Natalie Coughlin and Aaron Peirsol showed him how to do it.

Racing about 10 minutes apart, Coughlin, a UC Berkeley alumna, and Peirsol broke their own marks in the 100-meter backstroke Tuesday on another lightning-quick night at the temporary pool in America’s heartland.

Coughlin, who won five Olympic medals in Athens, will surely be one of the biggest stars of the powerful U.S. swimming team, along with Phelps and Katie Hoff.

A day earlier, Coughlin watched her world record in the 100 back snatched away by Hayley McGregory in the preliminaries. Two minutes later, Coughlin took it right back. Twenty-four hours later, she went even faster.

“I knew I could go a 58,” she said.

After briefly holding the world record, McGregory failed to even qualify for the Olympics. She finished third in the final, edged out by Margaret Hoelzer’s time of 59.21. McGregory touched in 59.42.

Lauren Rogers picked up fourth place in 1:00.78, ahead of the 1:01.03 of Presley Bard and the 1:01.40 of Elizabeth Beisel, expected to challenge for a 200 back spot later in the week. Seventh went to Leila Vaziri (1:01.42) and eighth went to Katie Riefenstahl in 1:01.59.

Napa Valley Register Copyright © 2009