Eric Shanteau (Longhorn Aquatic) inflicted a 2:10.59 defeat on teammate and world record holder Brendan Hansen, on 2:11.60 on the final night of the Texas Grand Prix in Austin, and Kathleen Hersey (Swim Atlanta), 18, announced her candidature for a place on the US Olympic team in the 200m butterfly with a 2:07.13 effort.

Aaron Peirsol's 1:55.96 200m backstroke win for the Longhorns, over training partner David Cromwell's 1:58.75, would out a smile on the face of just about any specialist in the event out there.

Their clubmate Gar Weber-Gale raced to a personal best of 48.50, 0.03sec ahead of Matt Grevers (Tuscon Ford) and South Africans Lyndon Ferns 49.09 and Roland Schoeman, 49.10. Fifth for the third element of the 4x100m relay that will aim to defend their Olympic crown this summer, Ryk Neethling clocked 49.77.

Well back in the B final was Cullen Jones (Wolfpack Aquatic), on 50.93, and at the helm of the C final Simon Burnett (Tucson Ford, and GBR), on 50.59 with a month to go to his Olympic trials.

Fresh from taking down the 50m back world record, Hayley McGregory (Longhorn Aquatic) just touched out Mary Descenza (Athens Bulldogs) in the 200m backstroke 2:11.25 to 2:11.33.

In 15:14.29, the 1,500m went to Olympic silver medallist Larsen Jensen (Trojan Swim Club), still only 22, and Tara Kirk (STAN-PC) claimed the 200m breaststroke in 2:28.22.