Natalie Coughlin (USA), world record holder at 59.21, clocked on February 17, raced into the lane rope at the Stanford Grand Prix but emerged with a 59.44 result. The sub-minure performance has become habit.

The floodgates have opened to a generation of sub-minute women 100m backstrokers but the woman who led the way is planning for the next push. 'I wish I didn't run into the lane line at the end,' Coughlin told the San Francisco Chronicle. 'That's the difference between swimming outdoors and indoors. There's nothing to judge off. It's a big difference. I'm very, very happy. This is the first year I've gone under one minute in-season. Coming into the meet, I was tired and broken down so my expectations weren't high. It's been a long time since I've had such a big drop (in times) ... I'm very far ahead of where I've ever been in-season. I'm very confident going into the next several months.'

Coughlin, who won the 100m free in 53.94 and the 200m medley in 2:10.88 at Stanford, believed that the outlook for a sensational summer was bright.

Elsewhere, 6ft 6 Klete Keller took the 200m freestyle in 1:46.56 and predicted a blistering final at trials. 'This one is a hotly contested event at trials because they take six people. It's extra-competitive. You can make the team going 1:46-high. It's going to be fast,' Keller told the SF paper.