Aaron Peirsol Knocks off Spectacular Field to Remain King of 200 Backstroke

IRVINE, California, August 5. HE makes it look so easy. Undefeated in the 200 backstroke in major competition since taking the silver medal at the Sydney Olympics, Aaron Peirsol took gold in the four-lap event at the United States National Championships on Saturday night. Peirsol was timed in 1:56.36, off his world record of 1:54.66.

The winner of the 100 backstroke earlier in the week, Peirsol defeated a stellar field, finishing ahead of Michael Phelps (1:57.09) and Ryan Lochte (1:58.13). Phelps was trying for his sixth championship of the meet. Peirsol led wire-to-wire, although he was pushed the entire way. When Phelps made a charge on the final lap, Peirsol answered to assure victory.

"Having two people alongside me is foreign in many respects," Peirsol said. "We didn't go nearly as fast as we thought we would, but we're here for one thing I guess, to win."

Event 27 Men 200 LC Meter Backstroke
==================================================================
World: W 1:54.66 7/29/2005 Aaron Peirsol, USA
American: A 1:54.66 7/29/2005 Aaron Peirsol, USA
U.S. Open: O 1:54.74 7/12/2004 Aaron Peirsol, Irvine Nova
LC Nationals: M 1:55.15 3/20/2002 Aaron Peirsol, Irvine Nova
Oly. Trial: 2:04.99
Sum. Nat Cut: 2:07.19
US Open Cut: 2:09.09
Meet Qualifying: 2:07.19
Name Age Team Prelims Finals FINA
==================================================================
=== Championship Final ===

1 Peirsol, Aaron 23 Longhorn Aquatic 1:57.19 1:56.36 1009
r:+0.69 27.31 56.74 (29.43)
1:26.78 (30.04) 1:56.36 (29.58)
2 Phelps, Michael 21 Club Wolverine-M 1:58.19 1:57.09 990
r:+0.73 27.68 56.96 (29.28)
1:26.97 (30.01) 1:57.09 (30.12)
3 Lochte, Ryan 21 Daytona Beach Sw 1:58.66 1:58.13 964
r:+0.58 27.37 56.80 (29.43)
1:27.18 (30.38) 1:58.13 (30.95)
4 Sun, Hongzhe 20 Stanford Swimmin 2:00.54 2:00.59 906
r:+0.64 28.51 59.04 (30.53)
1:30.26 (31.22) 2:00.59 (30.33)
5 Thoman, Nichola 20 Tucson Ford Deal 2:00.66 2:01.13 894
r:+0.61 28.07 59.07 (31.00)
1:30.16 (31.09) 2:01.13 (30.97)
6 Plummer, David 20 Minnesota Aquati 2:01.47 2:01.30 890
r:+0.70 28.78 59.67 (30.89)
1:30.93 (31.26) 2:01.30 (30.37)
7 Clark, Ian 21 Suburban Swim Ce 2:01.17 2:01.33 890
r:+0.60 28.37 59.48 (31.11)
1:30.85 (31.37) 2:01.33 (30.48)
8 Van Wie, Doug 22 Auburn Universit 2:00.98 2:01.76 880
r:+0.48 28.67 59.44 (30.77)
1:30.47 (31.03) 2:01.76 (31.29)

=== Consolation Final ===

9 Clary, Scott 17 Fast Swim Team-C 2:02.52 2:00.64 905
r:+0.52 28.64 59.21 (30.57)
1:29.83 (30.62) 2:00.64 (30.81)
10 Chitwood, Cory 17 Northern KY Clip 2:02.30 2:01.09 895
r:+0.62 28.57 59.38 (30.81)
1:30.60 (31.22) 2:01.09 (30.49)
11 Chapman, Craig 23 Longhorn Aquatic 2:01.81 2:02.11 873
r:+0.71 28.44 59.15 (30.71)
1:30.57 (31.42) 2:02.11 (31.54)
12 Schirk, Patrick 19 Penn State Unive 2:01.94 2:02.22 870
r:+0.73 28.23 58.84 (30.61)
1:30.87 (32.03) 2:02.22 (31.35)
13 Russell, David 19 Bluefish Swim Cl 2:03.60 2:02.24 870
27.33 57.65 (30.32)
1:30.02 (32.37) 2:02.24 (32.22)
14 Vayo, Louis 20 Fast Swim Team-C 2:02.31 2:02.27 869
r:+0.54 29.40 1:00.12 (30.72)
1:31.57 (31.45) 2:02.27 (30.70)
15 Liebhold, Timot 23 Wisconsin Aquati 2:03.20 2:02.89 856
r:+0.67 29.01 1:00.36 (31.35)
1:31.69 (31.33) 2:02.89 (31.20)
16 Mania, Adam 22 Wisconsin Aquati 2:03.05 2:04.09 832
r:+0.57 28.18 59.26 (31.08)
1:31.56 (32.30) 2:04.09 (32.53)

=== Bonus Final ===

17 Thompson, Matth 16 Dallas Mustangs- 2:03.72 2:02.27 869
r:+0.59 28.64 59.94 (31.30)
1:31.72 (31.78) 2:02.27 (30.55)
18 Wike, James 22 Auburn Universit 2:05.27 2:03.45 845
r:+0.65 28.87 59.87 (31.00)
1:32.08 (32.21) 2:03.45 (31.37)
19 Hopkins, Michae 19 Wisconsin Aquati 2:04.16 2:03.63 841
r:+0.59 28.87 59.93 (31.06)
1:31.60 (31.67) 2:03.63 (32.03)
20 Sacco, Thomas 21 Longhorn Aquatic 2:05.15 2:04.73 819
r:+0.55 28.89 1:00.32 (31.43)
1:33.08 (32.76) 2:04.73 (31.65)
21 Patton, Sean 19 Mecklenburg Aqua 2:05.25 2:05.03 813
r:+0.63 29.23 1:00.58 (31.35)
1:32.78 (32.20) 2:05.03 (32.25)
22 Good, Christoph 19 DU Hilltoppers-C 2:05.40 2:05.04 813
r:+0.71 29.77 1:01.11 (31.34)
1:33.25 (32.14) 2:05.04 (31.79)
23 Casey, Aaron 17 Irvine Novaquati 2:05.40 2:05.11 811
r:+0.65 29.88 1:01.35 (31.47)
1:33.60 (32.25) 2:05.11 (31.51)
24 King, Nathan 21 Ohio State Swim- 2:04.58 2:05.45 805
r:+0.64 29.08 1:01.38 (32.30)
1:34.01 (32.63) 2:05.45 (31.44)

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