Associated Press
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. ó Jessica Hardy won the 50-meter freestyle at the U.S. Open on Saturday, narrowly edging Lara Jackson.
Hardy finished in 24.90 seconds, with Jackson at 24.93. It was Hardy’s third medal of the week. Samantha Woodward placed third with a time of 25.29.
Hardy broke the world record in the 100 breaststroke on Friday night with a time of 1:04.45.
She set the world record in the 50 breaststroke with a split of 29.95 seconds in a 100 breaststroke time trial on Thursday. Hardy took second in the 100 freestyle on Wednesday.
Hardy is competing for the first time since serving a one-year ban because of a failed drug test that caused her to drop off the U.S. Olympic team last year.
In May, an arbitration panel found the failed test was caused by a contaminated nutritional supplement.
The World Anti-Doping Agency and FINA, swimming’s world governing body, have appealed to the Court for Arbitration of Sport and asked that Hardy be declared ineligible for the 2012 London Olympics. Hardy hopes CAS will rule by the end of the year.
She wore a Jaked suit Friday. It and other record-breaking polyurethane bodysuits will be banned by swimming’s world governing body on Jan. 1.
The eight finalists in the men’s 200 individual medley made a fashion statement by competing in briefs rather than the high-tech suits that have dominated the sport in the last year.
The swimmers received a standing ovation when they paraded on deck for the start of the race.
“Some of the us were joking around about wearing briefs if we made finals,” said Jack Brown, who won in 2 minutes, 2:13 seconds. “It was just something fun we did to end the meet and the summer season. I think the last time I wore a brief in a meet was when I was 12 years old, but it was definitely worth it.”
Chad La Tourette won the 800 free in 7:47.20, the fastest time ever on American soil.