U.S. swimmers’ new record

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33904, 25 July 1975, Page 20

U.S. swimmers’ new record

tXS.P A.-Reuter—Copyright i CALI (Colombia). The United States powered to a new world record and inflicted a fresh blow on their arch rivals. East Germany, in the second day of the world swimming championships.

’ The United States men’s ■ ' team of Jim Montgomery,' ' Andy Coan, John Murphy,' and Bruce Furness clipped ; o.32sec of its own world re-; ; cord for the 4 x 100 m relay,, ' clocking 3min 24.855ec. Earlier. 18-year-old Shirley! Babashoff. from California,' •the only United States; woman to hold a world record, fulfilled one of her pre-: championship hopes by beating Kornelia Ender from East Germany. The East German girl holds the world record for, the 200 m freestyle, but she! could do nothing over the distance to catch Miss Baba-

shoff when she sprinted for ‘the finish and beat her over the last two metres. Enith Brigitha (Netherlands) was third, Valerie Lee [(United States) fourth (2:04.15), SOnva Grav (Australia) fifth (2:05.16), Gail lAmundrud (Canada) sixth (2:05.58), Jenny Turrall (Australia) seventh (2:05.68), and Rebecca Perrot (New Zealand) eighth (2:06.72). The 14-year-old Wellington schoolgirl’s time was just I short of the New Zealand re- • cord she broke in the heats /earlier. N.Z. RECORD Her record-breaking swim

in the morning of 2:06.51 appeared to have sapped het energy for the evening final, ■but she managed a strong 'finish in the last 50 metres. ‘‘l did my best, and I think I swam well,” she said.

The team-coach, Mr Bert Cotterill, praised Rebecca’s performance. ‘‘She’s the fastest 14-vear-old freestyler in the world,” he said. She beat Jenny Turrall in the heats and broke the New ZeaHand record by o.3sec. The New Zealand team [captain. Mark Treffers, failed [to qualify for the 400 m injdividual medley final. The iNew Zealand champion was *o.ssec away from a qualifying time. Also failing to qualify was Allison Calder (Otago). She [clocked 2:09.44 in the 200 m freestyle preliminaries.

The East German girls hit 'back strongly to win the 100 m backstroke and the 100 m breaststroke, taking [their country level with the • United States tally of four swimming golds. Ulrike Richter won the gold medal in; 'the women’s 100 m back-! 1 stroke. Birgit Treiber (East! Germany) took the silver,! ■and Nancy Garapick '(Canada) won the bronze. Hannelore Anke (East Geri many) won the gold medal inf ■the women’s 100 m breast-1 'stroke, and finished more! [than a second ahead of iWijda Mazereeuw (Netherlands). Andras Hargitay (Hun-| gary) won the gold medal ini the men’s 400 m individual; • medley as he predicted. Only one world record has) fallen so far, and the Eastj • Germans are blaming the' 'strong winds which have! swept the pool.

DRUG SCANDAL j A doping scandal hit the championships when a Yugoslav water polo plaver failed jtwo drug tests. The entire squad was disqualified. Swimming officials said medical tests showed conclusively that Ratko Rudic [took an illegal stimulant before the game between Yugo-[ ; slavia and West Germany,! which the Yugoslavs won.' 9-7

The game was forfeited by Yugoslavia and awarded to; the West Germans. 5-0. The! change also meant that Yugo-i slavia has to play in the loser’s group, while West Germany moves up to thel winner’s group. •