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FINA World Cup 6 - Day 2 Report

Jan 16, 1999

American medical student Jennifer Thompson tonight established her third world record of the 1998-99 World Cup series in the 100 metres individual medley on the second day of the Sydney meet at the Sydney International Aquatic Centre.

Thompson, 25, swam a time of 1:00.41 to eclipse the old mark of 1:00.43, set by Martina Moravcova (Slovakia) at the European Championships in Sheffield in December.

It is the third world record she has set during the World Cup series, which began in Rio Janeiro last November.

Thompson set world records in the 50 and 100m butterfly events at the College Station meet in Texas last month.

She started the night with a victory in the 100 metres freestyle in 53.34, just 0.01 outside the meet record of Franziska Van Almsick (GER) in Beijing in 1993 and 0.33 outside the world mark of 53.3, set by Le Jingyi (CHN) also in 1993.

The world record came three events from the end of the night and then Thompson wound up the first leg of the Australian World Cup tour with her fifth victory of the meet in the final event, the 50 metres butterfly, she won in 26.36.

Thompson will leave for Hobart tomorrow for meet seven of the Series at the Tattersalls Hobart Aquatic Centre, beginning Monday.

I guess I'm on a roll, said Thompson, when asked about her recent spate of world records.

I felt sluggish before the 100 metres freestyle and much better afterwards, but it wasnt until 10 minutes before the medley that I remembered it was a goal of this meet to go for the world record in this event.

When I touched the wall at the turn from backstroke to breaststroke I knew I would be on line for the world record.

In other events, Australias Ian Thorpe secured his ninth World Cup victory, when he came from behind to win the 200m freestyle ahead of Italys Massi Rosolino and Australian team mate Grant Hackett. It followed Thorpes win in the 400 metres freestyle on Friday night.

South African breaststroker Penny Heyns spoilt Australia's hopes in the 50m breaststroke, outclassing Helen Denman and Samantha Riley to secure the sprint breaststroke double.

However later in the program, without Heyns in the field, Riley led all the way to win the 200m breaststroke in 2:24.17 from China's Hui Ql (2:26.42) and Australia's Brooke Hanson (2:27.74).

Commonwealth Games gold medallist Joanne Malar (CAN) continued her dominance in the women's medley adding the 400m title to the 200m crown she won on the opening day of competition. Australia's Sarah-Jane Darcy was second with Sydney teenager Natasha Bowron third.