AUSTIN, Texas – Texas-Ex Ricky Berens set the American record in the 200-yard freestyle Thursday evening on day one of the American Short Course Championships at UT’s Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center.
Berens completed the initial 200 yards of the 500-yard freestyle in 1 minute, 31.31 seconds to claim the American record in the 200-yard freestyle. Berens’ former college teammate, Dave Walters, held the American record with a mark of 1:31.72 recorded at the 2009 NCAA Championships. Berens and Walters won gold medals in the 800-meter freestyle relay together at the Beijing Olympics before helping Texas to its 10th NCAA team title in 2010.
Berens split 21.43 on his first 50 yards and clocked 44.80 through the first 100. The two-time Olympic gold medalist split 1:08.06 through 150 yards before finishing in the record-setting 1:31.31.
Berens needed to complete the remaining 300 yards of the 500-yard freestyle for the American record to stand. He swam down through the final 300 and finished the 500 in 5:05.36.
