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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.-It was one of the most eagerlyanticipated nationals in years, with berths on no fewer than five USA national teams up for grabs-the Pan Pacs, World Championships, Pan Ams, USA vs. Australia dual meet and World University Games.

At the same time, a number of top coaches were less than thrilled with the site chosen to host this important meet. The mid-August weather in Fort Lauderdale (the meet was held Aug. 12-17) was downright oppressive, and the International Swimming Hall of Fame pool, with its 4-foot depth at both ends and its narrow, ten lanes was thought to be far from conducive to fast swimming. Nonetheless, the show, as it must, went on. The results were-in a word-spectacular!

Two world records and five American records were swept away in a tidal wave largely created by a new generation of American aquatic aces, though battled-scarred veterans gave notice that they have no intention of being dislodged from the lofty perches they've fought so hard to attain. If that were not enough, there were dramatic comebacks and stunning upsets galore, and sacred barriers were smashed. This was a meet that was definitely worth the price of admission-and a whole lot more!

Perhaps most encouraging for the future of U.S. swimming, the shootout in Ft. L. served as the confirmation of Natalie Coughlin and Michael Phelps as America's new young superstars.

M and N

The two teens did not take long to live up to the pre-meet hype. The excitement was almost palpable as Michael stepped on the blocks on Day One for his first race, the 200 meter individual medley. The lanky 17 year-old performed to perfection. Leading from the first stroke, Phelps destroyed a talented field, touching in 1:58.68-slashing Tom Dolan's American record by more than a full second, with history's third fastest swim. Only world record holder Jani Sievinen (1:58.16) has gone faster.

Michael's splits: 25.37, 55.21 (29.84), 1:30.43 (35.22), 1:58.68 (28.25).

There was no record for Natalie on the first night-just an exciting, come-from-behind victory in the 100 fly over "Comeback Queen" Jenny Thompson. Splitting 27.51 to JT's 27.14, the 19-year-old Nat came roaring back on the second 50 to touch in a PR 58.49 to Jenny's 58.83.

Outdueling the great Jenny Thompson-even a Jenny with only eight weeks' training under her belt-is pretty heady stuff for any teenager. But Natalie had something even more spectacular in mind.

Since 1994, the world record in the women's 100 meter backstroke had stood at 1:00.16, set at the 1994 World Championships in Rome by China's He Cihong. But He's mark was regarded by all knowledgeable swimming aficionados as suspect-after all, seven of her teammates had tested positive for steroids right after Rome, and He, herself, could manage only a pathetic 1:05.87 at the '96 Olympics in Atlanta, where drug testing was stepped up.

Two laps after Natalie had taken her mark, one more black mark in swimming's record book had been erased. In the process, Nat became the first woman ever to swim the distance under one minute. Her time: a staggering 59.58 seconds. It marked the first time an American woman had set the 100 meter backstroke world record in nearly 34 years.

Natalie's splits: 28.86,59.58 (30.72).

Na na na na, na na na na, "He, He, He," Goodbye!

There were two exciting battles, but no records on Day Three. Phelps went head-to-head in the 200 fly with Tom Malchow, the 2000 Olympic champion, while Natalie took on short course WR-holder, Lindsay Benko, in the 200 free.

Shooting to break his world mark (1:54.58), Michael could muster "only" the third-fastest time in history, 1:54.86, while Malchow touched almost a second behind. In the women's 200 free, Benko went out hard, but Coughlin reeled her in, touching in 1:58.20 to Benko's 1:58.56.

The fourth night of nationals was highlighted by one of the most exciting races in swimming history, as both Michael Phelps and Erik Vendt broke Tom Dolan's world record in the 400 meter individual medley. The night before, Michael had hinted that he and Erik were planning on doing "something pretty spectacular-I won't make any time predictions" in the medley. Ooowee, baby, did they ever!

In a tremendous race that saw Vendt charge from behind and the lead see-saw in the final 100 meters, it all came down to the very last stroke, with Phelps getting his hand on the wall in 4:11.09, 18-hundredths of a second ahead of Vendt. Dolan's record of 4:11.76 was set when he successfully defended his Olympic title in Sydney in 2000. Their splits:

While Michael was setting a world mark, Nat rolled to her fourth win in four tries. This time, the event was the 100 meter freestyle, and the 19-year-old Cal sophomore led all the way, splitting 26.26 at the 50 and touching the pads in 54.66, equaling the world's fourth fastest time this year. Lindsay Benko was second in 54.94, while third place went to local hero, Rhiannon (Rhi) Jeffrey, 15, whose 55.39 was a 15-16 national age group record.

The dynamic duo provided most of the fireworks on Day 5, too, each setting an American record. Michael flew to his third American record of the meet, overhauling Ian Crocker with 20 meters to go, and punching up a smoking 51.88 for the 100 fly. His time broke Crocker's American record of 52.25. Tying the second fastest swim ever, it just missed Australia's Michael Klim's global standard of 51.81.

Michael's splits: 24.75,51.88 (27.13).

Michael, who listened to rapper Eminem before the race, no doubt to whip himself into a killer mood, said: "There was no pressure tonight, and I wasn't nervous. I just went out and had fun"

Natalie stroked smoothly to her fifth title - a feat accomplished previously only by Tracy Caulkins in 1978, to whom Nat increasingly is being compared. And she broke the oldest national record in the books in the process. The teen sensation clocked 2:08:53 for the 200 back, 7-hundredths under Betsy

Mitchell's 2:08.60, set in 1986, and the fastest time in the world this year.

Natalie's splits: 29.73, 1:01.85 (32.12), 135.19 (33.34), 2:08.53 (33.34).

"It felt painful," Coughlin admitted afterward, "but it was my best time by three-and-a half seconds, though I haven't swum this race for four years. I didn't really have a plan for this race," she said. "Just go out and swim hard."

The Young and the Restless

Though Mike and Nat stole the show, there was a whole lot more shaking goin' on at the venerable ISHOF pool. Aaron Peirsol, only 18 himself, won two mano-d-mano duels with triple Olympic champion, Lenny Krayzelburg, now on the comeback trail.

The Texas-bound Peirsol docked a PR and world-leading 54.01 to Lenny's 54.48 in the 100 back, then went 1:56.21 to Lenny's 1:58.67 in the 200. Aaron was on world record pace through 100 meters, but a few run-ins with the lane lines cost him a shot at lowering his own global mark. For his part, Lenny looks well on the road to re-establishing himself as a mighty dorsal force on the world scene.

Here's a new name you'll want to remember: Larsen Jensen. The 16-year-old is one of the most promising distance swimmers to come along in many a moon, and he is a gutsy fighter to boot. The Mission Viejo teen was second in the 1500 (15:04.83) and fourth in the 400 meters (3:50.68).

When Mary Descenza, of the Academy Bullets, started crying after her win in the 200 fly, saying she'd had "a tough summer," she wasn't kidding. The 17-year-old freshman-tobe at the University of Georgia was diagnosed with a rapid heart arrhythmia just weeks before nationals, and underwent radio frequency surgery to reduce the electrical disturbance causing the arrhythmia. But Mary was all heart in Florida, winning her first national title in a PR 2:09.89. She also swam a PR 59.28 in finishing third in the 100.

They didn't win any events in Fort Lauderdale, but two young women who will be making a major impact on the international scene are sprinter Rhi Jeffrey and distance ace Hayley Peirsol, Aaron's kid sister.

The Vets

Despite the heroics by M and N, the party in Ft. L was much more than a rookie fest. Jason Lezak defended his titles in the 50 and 100 free; Erik Vendt was simply awesome in winning the 1500 and breaking the world mark in the 400 IM; Nate Dusing scored a phenomenal, classic "outside smoke" win in the 200 free with a PR 1:47.08; Klete Keller took the 400 with a fine swim; and Ed Moses and Brendan Hansen traded wins in the breaststrokes.

On the women's side, a trimmed-down Jenny Thompson had a spectacular comeback, placing second in the 100 fly and fourth in the 100 free; Diana Munz added two more distance titles to her collection; Maggie Bowen took both IMs; Haley Cope, who sneaked into the 50 free final by 1-hundredth of a second, scored a thrilling upset; and Amanda Beard and Kristy Kowal shared the gold in the breaststrokes.

Team Titles