Phelps, Coughlin Highlight Weekend of Fast Swimming

By John Lohn

CRANBURY, New Jersey, February 20. WHAT a weekend. Who would have thought, five weeks shy of the World Championships in Melbourne, we would see a world record at a Grand Prix meet in Missouri? But, that's exactly what shook out Saturday night when Michael Phelps clocked 1:53.71 in the 200-meter butterfly. The effort clipped .09 off his previous standard of 1:53.80, established last summer at the Pan Pacific Championships.

Supporting his world-record performance, Phelps also took home victories in the 200 freestyle (1:46.47), 400 individual medley (4:11.30), 100 butterfly (52.33) and 100 backstroke (54.46). His showing in the distance medley was a down-to-the-wire affair that required the edging out of Tunisian Olympian Ous Mellouli (4:11.64). Look for Mellouli to push Phelps and Hungary's Laszlo Cseh in Melbourne.

That Phelps set a world record more than a month before the start of World Champs suggests the possibility of the eight-time Olympian packaging one of the finest competitions of his already illustrious career. Phelps is slated to race both medley events, both butterfly disciplines and the 200 free Down Under. Add in the three relays and Phelps could match his Athens haul of eight medals. Making them all gold will be a monumental task, but Phelps proved this weekend that he's capable.

While Phelps dominated the male action in Missouri, Natalie Coughlin sent a message on the female side, thanks to several eye-opening times. On Sunday, Coughlin set a U.S. Open record in the 200 freestyle with a mark of 1:58.00. That effort was complemented by two other freestyle wins, in the 50 (25.22) and the 100 (53.95). For good measure, Coughlin collected a win on Monday in the 100 backstroke, using a spectacular effort of 1:00.13.

Like Phelps, Coughlin appears in great form heading into Melbourne, where she'll be involved in one of the most intriguing events on the schedule. The 100 free features a dynamite field of Aussies Libby Lenton and Jodie Henry and Germany's Britta Steffen. Amanda Weir, the American-record holder, is also a leading contender for gold.

On the college scene, the Texas men roared to the Big 12 Conference crown. As important, the Longhorns reaffirmed their status as an NCAA title contender. One week after Auburn put on a show en route to the SEC championship, Texas was top-to-bottom strong under the direction of Eddie Reese. Although Auburn will score heavily in the sprints, Texas has incredible depth. Throw Stanford in the mix and next month will certainly provide fireworks. Stanford will have its chance to make a statement this weekend when competing at the Pac-10 Championships.

Leading the way for the Longhorns at their conference meet, among many, were Michael Klueh and Garrett Weber-Gale. Klueh took top honors in the 500 free (4:15.57), 1,650 free (14:42.69) and 400 individual medley (3:45.93). Weber-Gale, the reigning NCAA champ in the 100 free, went 42.73 in that event and 19.46 for the 50 free.

In women's action on the collegiate front, Arizona secured the Pac-10 crown over Stanford and has positioned itself as the favorite for the NCAA title. The Wildcats can expect to get faster next month, once Frank Busch's arsenal is rested. There's no doubt the likes of Whitney Myers and Lacey Nymeyer have yet to pop their swiftest marks.

In other individual action from the Pac-10 Champs, Stanford's Julia Smit and Cal's Dana Vollmer were sensational. Smit won three crowns, including wins in the 200 I.M. (1:55.38) and 400 I.M. (4:04.02), while Vollmer went 50.80 in the 100 butterfly and shared the gold medal in the 50 free with a swim of 22.05.

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