USA Swimming Nationals: Ryan Lochte Cruises to Men’s 200 IM Triumph

By John Lohn and Dana Lawrence Lohn

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, August 4. IT was only a matter of time before Ryan Lochte grabbed his first national title of the week. The time proved right in the 200-meter individual medley, as Lochte dominated the competition on his way to a triumph in 1:56.95. The effort wasn't far off Lochte's personal-best time of 1:56.11, set at last year's Pan Pacific Championships.

"I just wanted to go under two minutes," said Lochte. "So I was really happy with this swim. For training, we wanted to try something different, so [in advance of this meet] I didn't rest, didn't shave. I'll shave for Short Course in November or December."

Lochte shot off the blocks in the butterfly with a split of 25.60 and checked in at the 100-meter mark in 54.36. Well ahead of the field, Lochte (Daytona Beach) capped the breaststroke leg in 1:28.26 and carried it home for the sub-1:57 outing. Only three men have ever cracked 1:57: Michael Phelps (1:54.98), Lochte and Hungary's Laszlo Cseh (1:56.92). Phelps was originally scheduled to race the 200 I.M., but was given the event off by coach Bob Bowman.

Fueled by a stellar breaststroke leg, Eric Shanteau (Longhorn) picked up the silver medal with a mark of 1:59.56. Shanteau has enjoyed a strong week, finishing second in the 200 breaststroke and third in the 100 breast. He was followed in bronze-medal position by Nate Cass (Stanford), who clocked 2:02.09. Geoff Rathgeber (SoNoCo) was fourth in 2:02.42 and Brendan Hansen (Longhorn) was fifth with a personal best of 2:02.89. Hansen doubled here in the 100 and 200 breaststroke events.

Click here to view event results PDF file.

Ryan Lochte looks back at scoreboard after 200 IM at 2007 US Nationals.

Brendan Hansen talks with Eddie Reese on deck

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