SWIMMING: Hesen bests own 50-meter backstroke American record

By MATT CRESS
Matthew.Cress@newsandtribune.com

July 06, 2008 12:34 am

— Former Jeffersonville High School and Indiana University star Ben Hesen might not be a part of this year’s United States Olympic team, but he’s still finding ways to leave his mark on the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha, Neb.
In a 100-meter backstroke time trial on Saturday, Hesen swam a time of 24.70 seconds over the first 50 meters to best his own American record by one-hundredth of a second. He was clocked at 24.71 on Friday in a 50 backstroke time to break the American record.
Saturday’s time is the second-fastest recorded in the world this year, trailing only Liam Tancock’s world record of 24.47 in April. The 50 back is not an official Olympic event.
It’s been an eventful week for Hesen, as he was fifth in the 100 backstroke final Tuesday after swimming a personal-best 53.68. He needed to finish in the top two to make the squad at this year’s Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Hesen did not make the semifinals of the 200 backstroke, finishing 26th in the preliminaries on Thursday. Hesen also swam in the 100 butterfly, but did not advance out of the preliminaries after ending up 66th in 55.03 on Friday.

Photos