Published: July 04, 2008 08:27 pm            

SWIMMING: Hesen sets American record in 50-meter backstroke

Jeffersonville native Ben Hesen’s pursuit to make the United States Olympic team came to an end on Friday. But he did not want to leave the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb., without producing some excitement.

In a time-trial race, Hesen set a new American and U.S. Open record in the 50-meter backstroke with a time of 24.71 seconds. It is the second-fastest 50 back time in the world this year. The 50 back is not an official Olympic event and will not be contested at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Also on Friday, the former Indiana University swimmer finished 66th in the 100 butterfly preliminaries in 55.03 seconds, coming up short of making Friday’s semifinals.

On Tuesday, Hesen finished fifth in the 100 backstroke final in a personal-best 53.68 seconds. He competed in the 200 backstroke on Thursday, but fell short of making the semifinals by finishing 26th in the preliminaries.

Last season as an IU senior, Hesen won the 100-yard backstroke championship at the NCAA Championships and won the 2008 Big Ten Swimmer of the Year award.

        

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