Phelps Tops Field for National Title in 200 Freestyle

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 2. FOR a few weeks, there was speculation that Michael Phelps would challenge Ian Thorpe’s world record in the 200-meter freestyle. The hype was generated after Phelps went 1:45-mid during the Speedo Southern Sectionals. Tuesday night, though, Phelps was unable to match his American record in the four-lap freestyle during the United States Nationals.

"It was a win, and I made the team in the relay," Phelps said. "I'm just a little bit happier and happier as we go along. Hopefully, tonight's next race will be better."

Ahead of the field from the outset, Phelps settled for a time of 1:45.63, good for a comfortable victory over his Club Wolverine teammate, Klete Keller (1:46.62). For the first 100 meters, Phelps looked capable of breaking his American standard, but he fell off the pace during the third lap and could not keep up with the mind-boggling finish Thorpe put together in setting his world record of 1:44.06 at the 2001 World Championships.

After Phelps and Keller, Peter Vanderkaay (1:47.73) collected third place to cap a Club Wolverine sweep. Phelps, Keller and Vanderkaay were all members of the United States squad that won the gold medal at the Athens Olympics in the 800 free relay. The fourth member of that team, Ryan Lochte was fourth in 1:47.78 and Jayme Cramer was fifth in 1:48.24.

In the Consolation Final, Matt McGinnis prevailed in 1:49.47 with a late-charging Larsen Jensen second in 1:49.98.

Event 9 Men 200 LC Meter Freestyle
==================================================================
World: W 1:44.06 7/25/2001 Ian Thorpe, AUS
American: A 1:45.20 7/26/2005 Michael Phelps, USA
U.S. Open: O 1:45.50 7/15/2006 Michael Phelps, Club Wolverine
LC Nationals: M 1:45.99 8/7/2003 Michael Phelps, N. Baltimore
Oly. Trial: 1:52.89
Sum. Nat Cut: 1:54.09
US Open Cut: 1:55.69
Meet Qualifying: 1:54.09
Name Age Team Prelims Finals FINA
==================================================================
=== Championship Final ===

1 Phelps, Michael 21 Club Wolverine-M 1:46.96 1:45.63M 1009
r:+0.69 24.88 51.67 (26.79)
1:18.82 (27.15) 1:45.63 (26.81)
2 Keller, Klete 24 Club Wolverine-M 1:47.99 1:46.62 981
r:+0.80 25.53 52.42 (26.89)
1:19.55 (27.13) 1:46.62 (27.07)
3 Vanderkaay, Pet 22 Club Wolverine-M 1:48.41 1:47.73 951
r:+0.74 25.36 52.71 (27.35)
1:20.61 (27.90) 1:47.73 (27.12)
4 Lochte, Ryan 21 Daytona Beach Sw 1:48.85 1:47.78 950
r:+0.71 25.38 52.81 (27.43)
1:20.51 (27.70) 1:47.78 (27.27)
5 Cramer, Jayme 23 Southeastern Swi 1:48.58 1:48.24 938
r:+0.75 25.79 53.38 (27.59)
1:20.93 (27.55) 1:48.24 (27.31)
6 Walters, David 18 Typhoon Aquatics 1:48.92 1:48.85 922
r:+0.70 25.71 53.35 (27.64)
1:21.40 (28.05) 1:48.85 (27.45)
7 Phillips, Shaun 22 Nashville Aquati 1:49.48 1:49.60 903
r:+0.73 26.00 54.04 (28.04)
1:21.71 (27.67) 1:49.60 (27.89)
8 Ritter, Adam 21 Tucson Ford Deal 1:49.59 1:49.95 895
r:+0.79 25.38 53.40 (28.02)
1:21.61 (28.21) 1:49.95 (28.34)

=== Consolation Final ===

9 McGinnis, Matth 20 YMCA of the Tria 1:49.63 1:49.47 906
r:+0.68 25.55 53.29 (27.74)
1:21.51 (28.22) 1:49.47 (27.96)
10 Jensen, Larsen 20 Trojan Swim Club 1:49.91 1:49.98 894
r:+0.75 26.31 54.41 (28.10)
1:22.64 (28.23) 1:49.98 (27.34)
11 Klueh, Michael 19 Longhorn Aquatic 1:49.97 1:50.23 888
r:+0.76 26.21 54.20 (27.99)
1:22.73 (28.53) 1:50.23 (27.50)
12 Owen, Matthew 22 Athens Bulldog S 1:50.07 1:50.32 886
r:+0.84 26.18 54.32 (28.14)
1:22.56 (28.24) 1:50.32 (27.76)
13 Margalis, Rober 24 Saint Petersburg 1:49.65 1:50.38 884
r:+0.65 26.33 53.94 (27.61)
1:22.07 (28.13) 1:50.38 (28.31)
14 Grant, Andrew 21 Stanford Swimmin 1:50.50 1:51.20 865
r:+0.83 26.46 54.23 (27.77)
1:22.63 (28.40) 1:51.20 (28.57)
15 Rogers, Dale 23 Longhorn Aquatic 1:50.82 1:51.33 862
r:+0.77 25.69 53.98 (28.29)
1:23.27 (29.29) 1:51.33 (28.06)
16 Beal, Daniel 20 Stanford Swimmin 1:50.77 1:51.93 848
r:+0.86 26.40 54.61 (28.21)
1:23.17 (28.56) 1:51.93 (28.76)

=== Bonus Final ===

17 Van Wie, Doug 22 Auburn Universit 1:51.09 1:50.39 884
r:+0.75 25.87 53.99 (28.12)
1:22.83 (28.84) 1:50.39 (27.56)
18 Verlatti, Ryan 19 Tacoma Swim Club 1:51.43 1:51.31 862
r:+0.80 26.21 54.86 (28.65)
1:23.28 (28.42) 1:51.31 (28.03)
19 Millen, John 22 Nova of Virginia 1:51.73 1:51.35 861
r:+0.71 26.53 54.64 (28.11)
1:22.95 (28.31) 1:51.35 (28.40)
20 Deberry, Tyler 22 Tucson Ford Deal 1:52.00 1:51.70 853
r:+0.77 25.92 54.39 (28.47)
1:23.30 (28.91) 1:51.70 (28.40)
21 Mellors, Patric 20 Jewish Community 1:52.03 1:51.85 850
r:+0.74 26.50 55.09 (28.59)
1:23.74 (28.65) 1:51.85 (28.11)
22 Goldberg, Bryan 23 U of Tennessee-S 1:50.97 1:52.08 844
r:+0.70 25.99 54.67 (28.68)
1:23.80 (29.13) 1:52.08 (28.28)
23 Nilsson, Eric 19 Bluefish Swim Cl 1:51.70 1:52.24 841
r:+0.75 26.36 54.61 (28.25)
1:23.51 (28.90) 1:52.24 (28.73)
24 Vendt, Erik 25 Club Wolverine-M 1:51.90 1:52.34 839
r:+0.63 26.86 55.66 (28.80)
1:24.70 (29.04) 1:52.34 (27.64)

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