Phelps Cooks Up Two Wins at Santa Clara International

SANTA CLARA, California, June 25. SHOWING that he might be as sensational as ever by the time the season closes, Michael Phelps continued his tuneup for Summer Nationals with a pair of dominant victories on Saturday night at the Santa Clara International Swim Meet. The Club Wolverine star took top honors in the 100 butterfly and also emerged on top in the 200 backstroke.

Starting with a win in the 100 butterfly, Phelps was timed in 52.20, nearly two seconds clear of the 54.16 turned in by Ryan Lochte for second place. Lyndon Ferns was third in 54.21. Phelps also knocked off the competition in the 200 backstroke as he was timed in 1:57.23, a spectacular time at any point in the season, let alone during training.

Phelps’ Club Wolverine teammates put on a show in the 400 freestyle as Klete Keller led a sweep of the top three positions. Keller, who won the 200 free on Friday night, was first to the wall in 3:49.74 and was followed a second later by Peter Vanderkaay (3:50.73). The Wolverine sweep was capped by Erik Vendt with a mark of 3:53.96.

Coming off impressive wins on Friday night in the 100 free and 100 butterfly, Natalie Coughlin claimed a triumph in her signature event by touching the wall first in the 100 backstroke. Coughlin went 1:00.18 for a three-plus second win over Mary DeScenza (1:03.24). Coughlin also went a meet-record 1:58.47 in the prelims of the 200 free, but scratched the event at night. In Coughlin’s absence, Erin Reilly won the 200 free in 2:00.53.

A contender for a berth to the World Championships next year in Melbourne, Ariana Kukors was the winner of the women’s 400 individual medley with a time of 4:44.39. She finished ahead of Australia’s Ashley McCleery (4:45.95) and Hayley Peirsol (4:49.38). After posting a mark of 1:06.97 in the morning preliminaries, Jessica Hardy won the 100 breaststroke in 1:07.43. The silver medalist from last year’s World Champs. Hardy placed ahead of Tara Kirk (1:07.78) and Megan Jendrick (1:08.61).

Representing the Australian men, Eamon Sullivan won the 50 free in 22.56, easily ahead of the 22.80 of Jason Lezak and the 22.93 efforts of Brent Hayden and Ben Wildman-Tobriner.

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