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Phelps cruises past competition in Santa Clara

Source: Agencies | June 14, 2009, Sunday | Print Edition

EVEN Michael Phelps can be wimpy about the weather.

The superstar from the Beijing Olympics clobbered the competition in the 200-meter butterfly at the Santa Clara International Grand Prix in California on Friday night.

Phelps touched first in 1 minute, 54.31 seconds, beating the field by 5.67 seconds.

He rarely swims outdoors, so the cool, windy evening wasn't exactly to his liking. Then he had to wait to retrieve his clothes after the event, when the basket containing them ended up at the other end of the pool.

"I'm freezing," he said. "It's a lot warmer in the water."

Phelps' time lowered the meet record of 1:55.93 set by Davis Tarwater last year, and earned him a US$100 reward.

"I felt awesome the first 50," he said. "I felt the wind the third 50. I was really happy with the time. It's my second-fastest in-season time ever. I'm in some kind of shape."

Phelps owns the world record of 1:52.03 set in Beijing, where he won a record eight gold medals.

David Mosko was second in 1:59.98, making him and Phelps the only men in the nine-swimmer final to go under two minutes.

As usual, Phelps was the center of attention in his second competition since returning from a three-month suspension handed down by USA Swimming. He was punished after a photograph of him using a marijuana pipe surfaced.

Friday's events were dominated by Olympians from the US and Australia.

Ryan Lochte earned a close victory in the 400 individual medley, an event requiring all four strokes that Phelps has discarded in favor of shorter distances. Lochte, the bronze medalist in the Beijing, won in 4:18.62, just ahead of Robert Margalis (4:18.84).

Like Phelps, Lochte took a major break after the Olympics, abandoning the pool for six months in favor of skateboarding and surfing.

"I was burned out," he said. "It's hard to get back into things. The first time I jumped in, I felt like I was an age-group swimmer again."

Leisel Jones of Australia, the silver medalist in Beijing, won the 200 breaststroke in 2:23.92.

Aussie Brenton Rickard, who was fifth in Beijing, won the 100 breaststroke in 1:01.44. His countrywoman, Meagen Nay, won the 400 freestyle in 4:08.74, ahead of Olympian Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe.
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