
Japanese teenager Shiho Sakai set a short-course world record in the women's 100-metre backstroke on the final day of Japan's national championship Sunday. Sakai touched the wall in 56.15 seconds to take 0.36 off the mark set by American Natalie Coughlin in November 2007. "Before the race I was thinking about going for the world record," said Sakai. "But I was still surprised when I saw the time and am very happy."