The United States capped a record-filled opening night at the Pan Pacific Championships by breaking the world record in the mixed 4x100 medley relay on Wednesday, touching in 3:36.70 to finish the session with a statement swim.
The quartet of Will Modglin, Van Mathias, Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglass delivered the mark, with Walsh and Douglass closing out a huge individual day of their own before teaming up for the relay.
Modglin started things off by splitting a 53.40 on the backstroke with 100 breaststroke American record-holder Van Mathias to follow. Mathias really kicked it into gear with his 57.30 split, putting the U.S. team in world-record contention.
Walsh took over at the halfway mark, further extending the Americans’ lead. Douglass brought it home in a blistering 51.01 split to secure gold and the fastest time in history.
The dominant performance in the mixed medley relay may be a preview of what's to come in Team USA's relays throughout this week's Pan Pacific championships.
🚨 NEW WORLD RECORD 🚨
Team USA just STARCHED the World Record in the Mixed 4 x 100 Medley Relay with a 3:36.70!!! 🥶
Modglin – 53.40 (Back)
Mathian – 57.30 (Breast) 😵💫
Walsh – 54.99 (Fly)
Douglass – 51.01 (Free) 👀 pic.twitter.com/qcAlLgIVF8
Australia took silver in the relay in 3:39.30, with a squad of Iona Anderson, Josh Williamson, Bradley Temple and Ashleigh Harris. Canada rounded out the podium in 3:43.22 behind Ingrid Wilm, Josh Dawson, Finlay Knox and Taylor Ruck.
The mixed medley, which requires two men and two women per team, with the country choosing the stroke order and gender combination for each leg, has become one of the most tactically interesting events in the sport.
The U.S. world record in the event was as fitting an exclamation point on a night already defined by fast swimming.
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