U.S. Olympic Trials: Ryan Lochte Leads Way in Men’s 200 Free

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OMAHA, Nebraska, June 26. WITH his first victory over Michael Phelps in the men's 400 IM checked off his list, superstar Ryan Lochte moved diligently to the next task with a leading time of 1:48.14 in the men's 200 free prelims at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. A second victory in the event would keep him on path to at least tie Shirley Babashoff, Katie Hoff and Michael Phelps for the most victories in a single Trials.

Charlie Houchin nearly earned the top seed of the day with a 1:48.15, but watched his time get clipped by Lochte in the final swim. Michael Phelps, who made his third Olympics last night with his second-place finish to Lochte in the 400 IM, cruised into the top three with a 1:48.31, while Matt McLean, who missed the men's 400 free final the past two Trials with ninth-place finishes, showed some urgency with a fourth-seeded time of 1:48.34 heading into semis.

Conor Dwyer (1:48.42) and Peter Vanderkaay (1:48.47), who made the Olympic squad in the men's 400 free last night with Vanderkaay getting the win over Dwyer, both positioned themselves well in semis with fifth and sixth place times. Michael Klueh (1:48.77) and Davis Tarwater (1:48.92) also made the top eight. Ricky Berens, a relay stalwart for Team USA, having won Olympic gold in the men's 800 free relay in 2008, earned his way to semis with a ninth-place finish.

Some promising swimmers missed out on semis with David Nolan (1:49.95) and Dax Hill (1:50.03) taking 18th and 19th. Questions have been raised this year whether a college male would make the Olympic team in this new age of the professional/post-graduate swimmer, and Hill had been one of the names tossed around as a potential current college swimmer to make the team via a men's 800 free relay spot.

The Semifinalists:
Ryan Lochte — 1:48.14
Charlie Houchin — 1:48.15
Michael Phelps — 1:48.31
Matt McLean — 1:48.34
Conor Dwyer — 1:48.42
Peter Vanderkaay — 1:48.47
Michael Klueh — 1:48.77
Davis Tarwater — 1:48.92
Ricky Berens — 1:48.95
Scot Robison — 1:48.97
Thomas Luchsinger — 1:49.32
Adam Ritter — 1:49.39
Clay Youngquist — 1:49.55
Michael Weiss — 1:49.66
Michael Smit — 1:49.66
David Walters — 1:49.71

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