U.S. swim records fall

Press, 15 August 1988, Page 26

U.S. swim records fall

NZPA-Reuter Austin, Texas David Wharton and Angel Myers set United States records in qualifying for the Seoul Games on Saturday as the United States Olympic swimming trials came to a close.

Wharton, who has a 50 per cent hearing loss in each ear and wears a hearing aid out of the pool, broke the United States mark in the 200 m individual medley in two minutes 0.98 of a second.

“My time in this meet is another stepping stone to the Olympics,” said Wharton, who qualified for the 400 m individual medley earlier in the week.

The previous United States record was 2:02.23, set in 1986 by Pablo Morales. Morales, an Olympic silver medallist and the world record holder in the 100 m butterfly, failed his last chance at making the Seoul team when he finished twelfth in the event.

“The overriding feeling is one of confusion,” said a dazed Morales. "Right now I have a lot of questions without answers. I’m going to buy a ticket to somewhere to relax and think,” he said.

Myers broke the United States record in the women’s 50m freestyle by clocking 25.59 seconds to add to her earlier wins in the 100 m freestyle and 100 m butterfly. © Athletes who tested positive for banned substances at last month’s United States Olympic trials had been using herbal teas and over-the-counter medication, according to United States officials who indicated that no suspensions were likely.

The teas and medications contained small amounts of the banned substance ephedrine, a stimulant.