The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Peirsol wins gold in 100m backstroke at Pan Pacific Championships
08.18.2010 | Men's Swimming and Diving
Aug. 18, 2010
IRVINE, Calif. -- Texas-Ex Aaron Peirsol competed in his hometown pool for the second time in two weeks and emerged with the gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke Wednesday on day one of the 2010 Mutual of Omaha Pan Pacific Championships.
Peirsol held fourth place after 50 meters at 26.04 but split 27.27 on the back half to win the gold in 53.31, which topped his meet record of 53.32 set at the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships. Japan's Junya Koga won the silver in 53.63, and Australia's Ashley Delaney won the bronze in 53.67.
Peirsol, a three-time U.S. Olympian, had qualified fourth during the preliminary round and was not scheduled to compete in the championship final. Peirsol was the third ranking American to qualify for the final, and given that the meet's rules allow for only two swimmers per nation, per championship final, Peirsol was initially slated to swim in the consolation final. But, American qualifier Ryan Lochte scratched from the 100m backstroke -opening a spot for Peirsol - to focus on the 200m freestyle.
Texas-Ex Ricky Berens notched a victory in the consolation final of the 200m freestyle, where he finished in 1:47.45. Berens registered a top-eight preliminary round showing but was slotted for the consolation final, given that he was the third American to qualify.
The premier international meet of the 2010 calendar year, the Pan Pacific Championships feature some of the world's top swimming nations, such as the United States, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Japan and Brazil. Hersey, a 2008 Beijing Olympic finalist in the 200m butterfly, also represented the USA at the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships.
The Pan Pacific Championships continue Thursday in Irvine.
