40-Year-Old Torres Sets American Record In Winning 50 Freestyle

Saturday, August 4th 2007, 6:49 pm

By: News On 6

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ Dara Torres, the oldest national champion in U.S. swimming history, set an American record in the 50-meter freestyle Saturday night in her bid toward a possible fifth Olympics appearance.

Competing in the pool in which she qualified for her first Olympics as a teenager in 1984, the 40-year-old Torres came in at 24.53 seconds, a personal best that beat her American record of 24.63 set in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Her 15th national championship came a quarter-century after her first. She also won the 100 freestyle on Wednesday, her first title at the U.S. Nationals since she came out of retirement last summer following the birth of her first child.

The former world record-holder at 50 meters, Torres beat Lara Jackson, who had a 25.27 in the finals.

Among other events on the final night of the five-day meet at the IU Natatorium, Katie Hoff, the world record-holder in the 400 individual medley, won the 200 IM for her third national title of the week; and Emily Brunemann, a Michigan sophomore who was fourth in the 800 freestyle, beat her previous best time by 8 seconds and won the women's 1,500 for her first national title.

Michael Phelps, who won two of his four titles Friday night, passed up Saturday's 200 individual medley but was entered in the meet's final event, the 400 medley relay. Ryan Lochte, the world record-holder in the 200 backstroke, won the 200 IM.