Phelps flops, Lochte shines at Pan Pacs
Source: Agencies |
August 21, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
WORLD champion Ryan Lochte of the United States delivered the performance of the evening to win the men's 400 meters individual medley at the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California, on Thursday.
With Michael Phelps having failed to qualify for the final earlier in the day, Lochte swam under world record time for the first two legs of the energy-sapping race before surging home in four minutes, 7.59 seconds.
Compatriot Tyler Clary touched second in 4:09.55 with Brazil's Thiago Pereira third in 4:12.09 at the William Woolett Jr Aquatics Center.
Lochte, who clinched the world title last year in Rome where Phelps notably skipped the event, began the race with a storming display over the butterfly and backstroke legs before falling off the pace in the breaststroke.
"I just went out fast and tried to hold on for dear life," the 26-year-old told reporters. "I'm just going out there, having fun and racing. Whatever the outcome is, I'll take it."
World record holder Phelps failed to qualify from his heat earlier after competing in the event for the first time since the 2008 Olympics.
Although the multiple Olympic gold medallist was fourth-fastest in the morning heats, he was beaten by Lochte and Tyler. Only two swimmers from each country were allowed to compete in the eight-man final.
American Nathan Adrian won a close battle for the men's 100 freestyle, powering to the finish in a Pan Pac record time of 48.15 seconds, while compatriot Rebecca Soni produced the third fastest time ever in the women's 100 breaststroke.
"You're putting every ounce of effort you have into that last bit," said Adrian, who was in fourth place at the turn before surging to the front to clock the world's fastest time this year.
Two-man limit
Canada's Brent Hayden was second in 48.19 with Brazil's world record holder Cesar Cielo third in 48.48. World champion Cesar, who scraped through into the final in lane eight after other countries had reached their two-man limit, led after the first 50 before being overhauled.
Soni held off Australian veteran Liesel Jones in the women's breaststroke with a Pan Pac record time of 1:04.93.
Triple Olympic gold medallist Jones, who put on a strong late surge, was second in 1:05.66 with fellow Australian Sarah Katsoulis third in 1:07.04.
Japan's quadruple gold medallist Kosuke Kitajima won the men's 100 breaststroke with a time of 59.35 seconds, having also dipped under one minute in the morning heats.
American Natalie Coughlin triumphed in the women's 100 freestyle for a third successive time at the Pan Pacs while Australia's Sophie Edington stormed to victory in the women's 50 backstroke in a meet record time of 27.83 seconds.
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