Peirsol sets 200m backstroke world record

INDIANAPOLIS, July 11 (UPI) -- INDIANAPOLIS, July 11 (UPI) -- Aaron Peirsol set a world record Saturday in winning the 200-meter backstroke at the USA Swimming Championships.

Peirsol, reigning Olympic silver medalist, finished the race in 1 minute, 53.08 seconds to shave nearly a second off Ryan Lochte's (1:53.94) mark set in Beijing last summer.

Lochte came in second place Saturday, 1.13 seconds off Peirsol's pace, while Tyler Clary was third.

It was the second world record set by Peirsol this week. He reclaimed the world record in the 100-meter backstroke Wednesday.

Eric Shanteau, who has overcome testicular cancer in the last year, won the 200-meter breaststroke in 2:08.01, bettering his own American record.