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The United States has jumped out to a commanding lead over the European E-Stars on both the men’s and women’s side after the first session of competition on the first day of the 2009 Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool. The American men lead 48-13 and the women lead 41-20.

The American contingent took advantage of probably their last opportunity to swim in polyurethane super-suits by breaking Five SCM World Records. The suits will be banned for all FINA approved competition beginning in 2010.

Both American 400m Medley relays blew past the old World Records, which incidentally were both previously held by Canadian relays.

First was the women’s combination of Margaret Hoelzer (57.47), Jessica Hardy (1:03.58), Dana Vollmer (54.37) and Amanda Weir (52.55) for a total time of 3:47.97. The previous Canadian Mark stood almost 2 seconds slower at 3:49.95. The E-stars squad of Great Britain's Gemma Spofforth, Germany's Caroline Ruhnau, Italy's Ilaria Bianchi and Germany's Daniela Samulski were disqualified and thus scored no points for the event.

Dana Vollmer effectively carried the relay to the World Record time. A look at the comparative splits shows that she was the only American who carried a faster split than her Canadian counterpart, but that was enough to carry the USA to an easy record:
U.S.: Margaret Hoelzer (57.47), Jessica Hardy (1:03.58), Dana Vollmer (54.37) and Amanda Weir (52.55): 3:47.97
Canada: Katy Murdoch (56.88), Annamay Pierse (1:03.39), Audrey Lacroix (57.29) and Victoria Poon (51.89): 3:49.95.

In the men’s 400m Medley relay, there were actually 2 World Records set. Backstroker Nick Thoman, who is a relative newcomer to the international scene, announced his presence by breaking the individual World Record in the 100m backstroke with his leadoff leg. That performance wiped out the 48.97 tie between Arkady Vyatchanin and Stanislav Donets that was set in Istanbul last week.

His teammates kept up his World Record pace and finished at 3:23.33, well under the old Record of 3:24.67. The comparative splits for this race tell a much different story than the women’s, as the American men came under the old splits in every leg of the relay:
U.S.: Nick Thoman (23.37, 48.94), Mark Gangloff (57.03), Michael Phelps (49.93) and Nathan Adrian (44.81)
Canada: Jake Tapp (50.60), Paul Kornfeld (57.18), Joe Bartoch (50.18) and Brent Hayden (45.37)

In perhaps the most impressive swim of the day, American Julia Smits erased the World record in the women’s 400m I.M. Smits finished in 4:21.04, well under the record of 4:22.88 set by South African Kathryn Meaklim. Smits was even further under her own personal best (and American Record) of 4:25.87 set in 2008 in Toronto.

17-year old American high school Senior Dagny Knutson finished second in 4:24.31, which is also under the old American Record. Hannah Miley of Great Britain finished 3rd for the E-stars in a European Record time of 4:24.51.

After 4 World Records in the first 3 events, the men’s 400m I.M. was the first of the meet without one, although Tyler Clary did set an American Record in 4:02.02. Jack Brown (4:03.57) and Alex Vanderkaay (4:05.22) completed the American sweep of the event. Thomas Haffield of Great Britain finished 4th in 4:05.78.

The E-stars won their first race of the meet in the women’s 100m freestyle. European Record holder Fran Halsall of Great Britain won in 51.54, with American Dana Vollmer coming in 2nd (52.16) and German Daniela Schreiber finished 3rd (52.73). Despite not winning the event, Dana Vollmer broke Dara Torres’ American Record of 52.79.

In his first individual race of the meet, Michael Phelps finished third in the 100m freestyle in 46.99. Nathan Adrian stole the show with an American Record of 45.42, and Italy’s Marco Orsi picked up second place in 46.59.

The E-Stars women won their second straight event when Elizabeth Simmonds took the 200 back in a European Record of 2:00.91. American Margaret Hoelzer finished 2nd in 2:02.72, just ahead of teammate Elizabeth Pelton in 2:02.78. Both times cleared Natalie Coughlin’s American Record of 2:03.62 set all the way back in 2001.

The American men swept the men’s 200m backstroke with Matt Grevers leading the way in 1:48.74. Thoman finished well back in 1:50.05 and Aaron Piersol was 3rd in 1:51.08. Christopher Walker-Hebborn of Great Britain finished 4th in 1:52.61.

Not wanting to be outdone, the American women followed that up by taking the top 3 spots in the 200m breaststroke, but this one had a World Record. Rebecca Soni’s swim of 2:14.57 wiped off the old mark of 2:15.42 set by Australian Leisel Jones at the Berlin stop of this year’s World Cup. On any other day, Katy Freeman’s time of 2:17.50 would’ve been an amazing swim, as it was still more than 3 seconds under Tara Kirk’s American Record (2:20.70). Ariana Kukors finished 3rd in 2:23.03, and Caroline Ruhnau of Germany finished 4th in 2:23.06.

Mike Alexandrov, who was born in Sofia, Bulgaria, competed at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics for his native country. In an interesting quirk of the rules, Alexandrov (Northwestern) set a USA National Record at the 2007 NCAA Championships in the 100y breaststroke because he was able to represent the U.S. in international competition, as a result of his dual citizenship. This was despite the fact that he had only ever represented Bulgaria in international competition.

The rule has since been changed so that only those currently representing the United States can set American Records, but Alexandrov’s record was allowed to stand.

In late 2008, however, Alexandrov decided that he would officially change his nationality for the purposes of competition to American, and the 2009 Duel in the Pool was his first chance to compete for the United States in a major international competition. He made the most of this chance by securing the men’s 200m breaststroke in 2:03.72. Italy’s Edoardo Giorgetti finished 2nd in 2:03.80, and American Sean Mahoney placed 3rd in 2:04.28.

Fran Halsall won her second individual event of the day for the E-stars by finishing the 100 fly in 55.71. Americans Christine Magnuson (55.81) and Dana Vollmer (56.00) cleared the old American Record of 56.32.

In his 3rd event of the day, Phelps took first-place points in the 100 fly with a time of 50.46. Germany’s Benjamin Starke finished second in 50.51 and Great Britain’s Michael Rock took third in 50.61.

In the women’s 400m freestyle, American Allison Schmitt upended Briton Rebecca Adlington. Despite Adlington being favored to win the race, Schmitt won 3:55.89 to 3:59.04. Schmitt’s time was well under the old American Record of 3:59.53, which was set by Lindsay Benko in 2003. Knutson finished third in a time of 4:01.21.

In a relatively uneventful finish to the first day, American Peter Vanderkaay won the men’s 400m freestyle (3:35.54), with Italy’s Federico Colbertaldo finishing 2nd (3:38.54) and American Michael Klueh finishing 3rd (3:39.94).

The Dual meet scoring for the 2009 Duel in the Pool awards 5-3-1-0-0-0 points for 1st-2nd-3rd-4th-5th-6th place respectively in individual events, and 7-0 for 1st-2nd in relay events. Each team is allowed 3 entries in individual events and 1 in relay events.

See our article about the format of the 2009 Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool