Associated Press
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Natalie Coughlin broke her own American record in the women’s 100 freestyle while finishing second at the Santa Clara Grand Prix on Friday.
Coughlin finished in 53.39 seconds, bettering her previous record of 53.40 set March 2, 2007. Australia’s Cate Campbell, 15, won in 53.30 to set a U.S. Open record.
“I’ll take an American record … I’m not upset by that at all,” said Coughlin, a bronze medalist in the event at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
“Anytime I get a best time at something it’s really exciting, especially at mid-season. I felt really good this morning and I felt strong in practice so my coach (Teri McKeever) told me that I needed to break my record.
“I knew it was going to be a good time. I didn’t know it was going to be best time.”
Coughlin had won the event seven straight years before losing to Campbell.
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