Record-breaking relief

ROME — Aaron Peirsol responded in a big way Friday at the FINA World Championships.

The former Newport Harbor High standout, who had suffered disappointment Monday, smashed his own world record in the 200-meter backstroke, breaking the former mark by more than a full second. Peirsol, who failed to advance in the 100 back final Monday, touched the wall in 1 minute, 51.92 seconds in the 200 back, wiping out the time of 1:53.08 he set at the national meet three weeks ago.

“I had a lot of waiting around to do during this meet, and to swim so well in that final makes me feel really good,� Peirsol told the Associated Press.

Japan’s Ryosuke Irie also went under the old record (1:52.51), but didn’t come close to Peirsol.

“I wanted to race,� Peirsol said. “I pulled out from the beginning and I was feeling all right. When I kept pulling away, there was even more of a fire to go a little faster.�

At the world championships, Peirsol’s record is one of 35 that have fallen.

He continues today in the preliminaries of the 50 back.

— From staff reports