No Run at Spitz for Lenton

SYDNEY, Australia, November 2. WHILE Michael Phelps is expected to chase Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals at next year's Olympic Games in Beijing, don't expect the same from Australian standout Libby Lenton. The freestyle/butterfly has indicated that the 200 freestyle will not be part of her schedule in China.

If Lenton succeeds at the Aussie Olympic Trials, she'll take part in six events at the Games, the 50 and 100 freestyles, the 100 fly and three relays. Lenton had a sterling showing at the World Champs in Melbourne earlier this year, winning titles in the three individual events she'll contest in Beijing. She also would have been a medal contender in the 200 free, had she opted to contest the discipline. Lenton indicated that her training would not be geared for the 200 free, thus making a gold-medal run highly unlikely.

The 200 freestyle, even without Lenton, figures to be one of the top events on the female slate at the Games, as it will likely feature world-record holder Laure Manaudou and the second and third-fastest swimmers in history in Annika Lurz and Federica Pellegrini. Meanwhile, American Katie Hoff is expected to race the 200 free. It is uncertain whether American-record holder Natalie Coughlin will put the four-lap free on her agenda.

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