Shaw, Bentley Set U.S. Records : Fast Times Continue at Swimming Championships

CLOVIS — Amy Shaw of Mission Viejo and Steve Bentley of Fountain Valley, a USC student swimming for Concord Pleasant Hills, set American records Tuesday in the 200-meter breaststroke races at the Phillips 66/U.S. Swimming Long Course National Championships.

Shaw had set the American record in the morning during preliminary heats in 2 minutes 30.77 seconds, breaking the 2:31.15 set by Susan Rapp in winning the silver medal in the 1984 Olympics. Shaw then lowered her record to 2:29.78 in the final.

Bentley swam a 2:15.30 to break the record of 2:15.38 that Steve Lundquist set in this pool during the national long course meet of 1983.

“This is really a fast pool,” Shaw said. “I think there’s going to be more, too. Everybody seems to be up for this meet.”

Bentley caught the feeling. “The excitement for this meet was set in the first meet yesterday when Janet Evans set the world record in the first event (800 freestyle). I felt the blood go through me then, and I said to myself, ‘I’m going to do something, too.’ ”

Shaw’s American record time is the second-fastest in the world this year.

She scored the first points for the Mission Viejo Nadadore women in the team competition. At the end of Tuesday’s competition, Mission Viejo was eighth in the women’s standings and 10th in the men’s standings.

Mission Bay of Florida was second to Greater Pensacola Aquatics Club in the women’s standings and second to Concord Pleasant Hills in the men’s standings.

Mission Viejo lost many swimmers to Mission Bay after Coach Mark Schubert made the move to Florida in 1985. But Shaw, who has been with the Nadadores for seven years, said: “I never considered moving. I had no reason to leave because I’ve been swimming well there all along.”

Shaw’s first-place finish places her on the Pan Pacific team that will compete in Australia next month.

Debbie Babashoff of Fountain Valley, who finished fifth in the 800 freestyle on Monday night, was assured of a place on one of the national teams when Andrea Hayes won the backstroke event on Tuesday, because Hayes had finished ahead of her in the 800. Unless she finishes first or second in another event, Babashoff will compete in the Pan American Games at Indianapolis.

Overall, times were very fast. But the American world-record holders who swam Tuesday didn’t take full advantage of the fast water. Matt Biondi, who swam the fastest 100 meters in the world this year, was just a drip or two away from his own world record. A couple of other stars, though, seem to be saving themselves for ’88.

Biondi, who himself took some time off after his Cal season ended, said that he was eager to see how he would swim after a short break and a different training regimen. “I was a little disappointed, because I’m always going for the world record,” he said. “But you can’t expect every time you get in the water to set a world record.”

Biondi’s world record is 48.74, set at the national long course meet in Orlando last summer. Tuesday, he beat Craig Oppel of UCLA with a 49.34 in the final.

But Betsy Mitchell, the world-record holder in the 200-meter backstroke, finished seventh in the final won by Hayes.

Mitchell said: “I think the best way to swim fast in the Olympics next summer is to take this summer off. I came out to play, see my friends, take a physical break.

“I came to dabble and mingle. Finishing seventh in no way shakes my confidence.”

Rick Carey, the American record-holder in the 200-meter backstroke, finished third behind Scott Johnson and Dan Veatch.

Carey, who holds the world record in the 100-meter backstroke, hasn’t been at the top of his game since the Olympics but, at 24, he’s still ranked among the top 10 in the world.

Mary T. Meagher, the world-record holder in both the 100- and 200-meter butterfly events, is really taking the time off. She’s not even dabbling in the water. She’s working this meet as a press aide, leaving Melanie Buddemeyer to win the 200-meter butterfly in 2:12.27

Pablo Morales, the world-record holder in the 100-meter butterfly who also holds the American record in the 200-meter butterfly, finished fourth in the 200 behind Melvin Stewart, Bobby Patten and Bil Stapleton. Stewart’s 1:58.13 was the fastest time in the world this year.

Jenna Johnson, the American record holder in the 100-meter freestyle, was touched out by Dara Torres. Torres finished in 56.14 seconds, Johnson in 56.34.

Torres’ time was the fastest in the world this year.