Phelps captures 100-, 500-yard freestyles in Calif.

January 14, 2007

Michael Phelps won his first two races of the year, easily taking the 100- and 500-yard freestyles in the Southern California Grand Prix of Swimming last night in Long Beach, Calif.

Phelps of Rodgers Forge and several other Olympians are using the year's first meet to fine-tune their strokes under racing conditions in preparation for the world championships in March.

A goateed Phelps won the 100 free in 42.43 seconds over Ian Crocker, who finished in 42.88. The duo is better known for their butterfly rivalry.

"In the 100, I tried to go out as fast as I could, which still wasn't that fast, but it was my best time ever," Phelps said. "To do that and come back and do a 4:14 [in the 500], I'm pretty happy with that. Kaitlin [Sandeno] and I are both excited, and hopefully we can keep it rolling."

Phelps got in some distance work in the 500 free, leading all the way to win in 4 minutes, 14.57 seconds. He beat four of his Club Wolverine training partners in the eight-man final.

Ryan Lochte handed Aaron Peirsol a rare defeat in the 200 backstroke, although it came over short-course yards instead of Olympic meters.

Peirsol, the world-record holder, hasn't lost the event in meters since earning a silver medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

"I guess all those times he beat me, I had to give him one," Lochte said.

Taking it out quickly, Lochte finished in 1:40.99 and Peirsol touched in 1:42.02.

"I knew he's a good back-half swimmer, so I had to go fast," Lochte said. "I was feeling a lot of pain."

The always laid-back Peirsol didn't seem too concerned about the defeat, pointing out that yards and meters "are two different things."

"Ryan just outswam me every step of the way," he said.

Natalie Coughlin won the 100 free in 47.03 - the second-fastest time by an American in history. She set the American record of 47.00 four years ago.

Sandeno also was a double winner, adding the 200 butterfly and 500 free titles to her victory in the 1,000 free Friday.

E-mail

Reprint

Phelps captures 100-, 500-yard freestyles in Calif.

Popular stories

Hampton Roads Facts, Data and Statistics

Blogs