NASHVILLE (TENNESSEE), July 29: In one of the most bizarre nights at a US National Swimming Championship, a series of mishaps caused the meet to be delayed four times and a men's 100-metres freestyle final to be invalidated and raced again yesterday.

Three power failures, caused by severe electrical storms, and a broken pool bulkhead the facing at one end of the pool that holds the swimmers' touch pads in place turned the event into mass confusion last night at the Tracy Caulkins Pool. Racing was delayed two hours, 26 minutes.

``We are getting a message that the finals are not meant to be swum tonight,'' said Olympic gold medallist Brooke Bennett, who won the 400-metre freestyle two hours after it was originally scheduled.

Bennett, 17, won her 11th national title in 4 minutes, 11.34 seconds, the seventh fastest time in the world this year.

``The lights went out, what, three times?'' Bennett said. ``And now the bulkhead falls apart. Let's take a hint here. It's just bizarre. I have never been at a meet where the lights went out.''

During the men's 100-metres freestyle final the pool's bulkhead pulled away from the edge of the pool midway through the race, forcing swimmers to touch unevenly.

Swim coaches tried to pull the bulkhead back in place while the race was in progress.

A pin popped off causing the bulkhead to pull a foot (30 cm) apart from lane 8. It stayed attached to lane 1, forcing the bulkhead to angle out, making for an uneven finish line and a 36-minute delay. The men's 100-metre freestyle was re-raced as the final event of the night after seven consolation and bonus finals.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.