US Nationals, Day 3 Finals: Phelps Sets Another American Record, Takes 200 Free Mark Under 1:46

By Phillip Whitten

COLLEGE PARK, Maryland, August 7. MICHAEL Phelps did it again. Another American record!

Not satisfied with the American record 1:46.60 he swam leading off the US 800m freestyle relay in Barcelona, Master Michael took that mark down to 1:45.99 tonight, the third night of competition at the ConocoPhillips US National Championships in College Park, Maryland.

The time makes him the fourth fastest man in history behind Aussie Ian Thorpe (1:44.06), Holland's Pieter van den Hoogenband (1:44.89) and Aussie Grant Hackett (1:45.84).

In contrast to his usual strategy, Phelps took the lead right from the start and just kept lengthening it.

His splits:
Cumulative: 25.52 – 52.00 – 1:19.20 – 1:45.99
By 50s: 25.52 – 26.48 – 27.20 – 26.79
by 100s: 52.00 – 53.99

2000 Olympian Scott Goldblatt finished second in 1:48.58, while Canadian Brent Hayden was third in 1:49.02.

Canadian distance sensation Brittany Reimer proved she can swim middle distance as well, posting one of two wins on the evening for the USA's northern neighbor.
Seventh at the 50, fourth at the 100 and third at the 150, she split 30.12 on the final lap, passing Rachel Komisarz and Julie Hardt to win in a PR 2:00.62.

Emily Kukors was second in 2:01.12, followed by Rachel Komisarz at 2:01.13.

Trojan's Kaitlin Sandeno ran away with the women's 400 IM race, leading from the very first stroke. Sandeno's
4:40.82 was five-and-a-half seconds faster than runner-up Sara McLarty (4:46.36), while 15 year-old Julia Smit was third in 4:48.21.

The men's 400 IM was an entirely different affair as Canadian Brian Johns, the short course WR-holder, just nipped North Baltimore's Kevin Clements, 4:17.04 to 4:17.39. Dan Trupin was third in 4:23.53.

Johns, who won the 200 fly last night, took almost a second lead on Clements on the butterfly leg and stretched it to over two-and-a-half seconds at the 200 meter turn. But Clements began reeling Johns in, cutting the Canadian's lead to only 28-hundredths of a second with 100 meters to go. He never got any closer as John's held off Clements' final bid on the last lap.

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