Coughlin finished in 59.21 seconds, lowering her previous world record in the event by 0.23 seconds.

The world record was the second in two days at the meet: on Saturday, Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe set the mark in the 200-metre backstroke. Coventry broke a record that had stood for 16 years.

'I was thinking about barbecue and no warm down,' Coughlin said after the race. 'I really didn't expect it.'

Unlike most swim meets, the finals at the Missouri event are being held in the morning. The move is a concession to the schedule in the upcoming Beijing Olympics. -- AP