By Phillip Whitten<\/p>\n
IRVINE, Calif. August 3. THE second Mutual of Omaha \u201cDuel in the Pool,\u201d pitting the world\u2019s two aquatic superpowers \u2013 the USA and Australia \u2013 went much as expected, with the US dominating the men\u2019s competition, Australia nipping the US in the women\u2019s events, and the Americans taking the overall crown, reprising their victory in the first duel.\t <\/p>\n
Michael Phelps was the only swimmer to win three individual events, as he took the 400 IM, 200 IM and 200 fly. In the latter two events he was pushed hard by his American teammates and he actually had to come from behind in the final 10 meters to win the 200 fly. <\/p>\n
Six swimmers were double winners: the USA\u2019s Katie Hoff, Aaron Peirsol and Brendan Hansen and Australia\u2019s Jessicah Schipper, Leisel Jones and Lisbeth Lenton.<\/p>\n
Mutual of Omaha offered $25,000 for any world records broken and Jones came as close as possible, missing Jessica Hardy\u2019s 100 breast standard by a mere one-hundredth of a second. In the men\u2019s 100 breast, Brendan Hansen was only 21-hundredths off his own world record with his 59.51 seconds.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how it went:<\/p>\n
WOMEN\u2019S 4 x 100-meter FREESTYLE RELAY
\nThe Aussies were favored to win this event but it wasn\u2019t easy. Libby Lenton led off in 53.72 to the USA\u2019s Natalie Coughlin\u2019s 54.24, but Amanda Weir (54.45) and Kara Lynn Joyce pulled the US to a 27-hundredths lead going into the anchor leg.<\/p>\n
US rookie Lacey Nymeyer gave it her all, but WR-holder and Olympic champion Jodie Henry had too much, catching Nymeyer with 35 meters to go, then pulling away to win in a US Open record time of 3:37.67, with the US second in 3:38.72.
\nSCORE: Australia – 7, USA \u2013 0<\/p>\n
MEN\u2019s 4 x 100-meter FREESTYLE RELAY
\nIt didn\u2019t take the host team long to even the score, as the American men\u2019s team of Garrett Weber-Gale, Neil Walker, Nate Dusing and Jason Lezak had no trouble dismissing the Aussies, 3:19.37 to 3:22.14. Veteran Neil Walker recorded the fastest split at 48.73.
\nSCORE: Australia \u2013 7, USA \u2013 7<\/p>\n
WOMEN\u2019s 400-meter INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
\nFor 300 meters, Katie Hoff turned ahead of Kaitlin Sandeno\u2019s American record pace. She couldn\u2019t maintain that pace on the final 100, but her 4:37.06 was not only a US Open mark but it was more than enough to fashion a stylish 4+-second victory over Sandeno, who nipped Aussie Lara Carroll for second, 4:41.36 to 4:41.54 Kristen Caverly was fourth.
\nSCORE: USA \u2013 16, Australia \u2013 9<\/p>\n
MEN\u2019s 400-meter INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
\nMichael Phelps demonstrated why he is king of the 400 IM, arguable swimming\u2019s most demanding event. Leading all the way, the 20-year-old phenom matched Hoff\u2019s four-second victory margin with a superb 4:12.71. Teammate Robert Margalis followed in 4:16.50, with Australia\u2019s Travis Nederpelt third.
\nSCORE: USA \u2013 24, Australia \u2013 12<\/p>\n
WOMEN\u201dS 100-meter BUTTERFLY
\nForget Susie O\u2019Neill and Petria Thomas. Australia has a new \u201cMadame Butterfly,\u201d and at 18, Jessicah Schipper has a long career to which she can look forward. Today she touched in 57.87 to win the 100 fly, as Libby Lenton was second in 58.56. Americans Rachel Komisarz (58.64) and Mary deScenza (58.93) followed closely behind.
\nSCORE: USA \u2013 27, Australia \u2013 20<\/p>\n
MEN\u2019S 100-meter BUTTERFLY
\nNot too long ago, Australia boasted the world\u2019s two fastest 100 flyers: Michael Klim and Geoff Huegill.
\nNot any more! Now the event is dominated by the USA\u2019s Ian Crocker and Michael Phelps.
\nPhelps opted not to swim the event today, but the Americans still swept the event. Crocker won in 51.55. Davis Tarwater (53.03) and Jayme Cramer, (53.65) followed.
\nSCORE: USA \u2013 37, Australia \u2013 21<\/p>\n
WOMEN\u2019S 100-meter BACKSTROKE
\nWorld record-holder Natalie Coughlin tripped and stumbled, but she didn\u2019t fall, as she overtook teammate Margaret Hoelzer to take the 100 back in 1:00.67, with Hoelzer a second behind in 1:01.63, out-touching Aussie Giaan Rooney at 1:01.70.
\nSCORE: USA \u2013 45, Australia 24<\/p>\n
MEN\u2019S 100-meter BACKSTROKE
\nRandall Bal, swimming in Lane 1, led the men\u2019s 100 back for 90 meters before several bouts with the lane lines slowed him down and relegated him to third. World record-holder Aaron Peirsol and teammate Ryan Lochte took advantage of Bal\u2019s distress to sweep by him. Peirsol won in 54.04, while Lochte (54.55) and Bal (54.66) followed. 2000 Olympic silver medalist Matt Welsh was fourth.
\nSCORE: USA \u2013 55, Australia – 25<\/p>\n
WOMEN\u2019S 100-meter BREASTSTROKE
\nThe women\u2019s 100 breast featured the strongest field in the meet, with world champion Leisel Jones, new WR-holder Jessica Hardy, short course WR-holder Tara Kirk, short course world champion Brooke Hanson and 50-meter WR-holder\/world champion Jade Edmistone filling the lanes.<\/p>\n
All five clocked 31s for the first lap, with 17 year-old Hardy turning first in 31.07, a tenth ahead of Edmistone. Jones, at 31.49, was 42-hundredths back. But there\u2019s a reason she is world champion, and that reason asserted itself on the second lap. With 10 meters to go, the lethal one caught her young American rival and, lunging at the wall, lit up the scoreboard with her 1:06.21 \u2013 0.01 behind Hardy\u2019s WR. Hardy was second in 1:06.61 while Kirk touched third in 1:07.67.
\nSCORE: USA \u2013 60, Australia \u2013 31<\/p>\n
MEN\u2019S 100-meter BREASTSTROKE
\nBrendan Hansen launched another assault on his WR of 59.30 from last year\u2019s US Olympic trials, but hit the pads a mere 21-hundredths shy. Aussie Brenton Rickard was more than two seconds behind in 1:01.70
\nSCORE: USA \u2013 68, Australia \u2013 34<\/p>\n
WOMEN\u2019S 100-meter FREESTYLE
\nThe Aussie twosome of Libby Lenton and Jodie Henry had to rely on their unparalleled finishing kicks to shake off a determined Amanda Weir, but they did what was needed with Lenton (54.77) pipping Henry (54.85), the world champion and WR-holder. Weir was third in 54.90.
\nSCORE: USA \u2013 70, Australia -43<\/p>\n
MEN\u2019S 100-meter FREESTYLE
\nThe US men quickly reclaimed the points lost in the women\u2019s 100 free when hometown hero Jason Lezak, the US team captain, decisively won the men\u2019s 100. Lezak clocked 48.96 to teammate Neil Walker\u2019s 49.47. Comebacking Michael Klim was third in 49.70.
\nSCORE: USA \u2013 78, Australia \u2013 46<\/p>\n
WOMEN\u2019S 400-meter FREESTYLE
\nDouble world champion Kate Ziegler overtook early leader Bronte Barratt after the 150-meter turn, then just pulled away from the field to win the women\u2019s 400 free in a solid 4:08.97, almost three seconds ahead of teammate Carly Piper (4:11.70). Australia\u2019s Linda Mackenzie out-touched the USA\u2019s Kelsey Ditto by one-hundredth of a second to claim third in 4:12.23.
\nSCORE: USA \u2013 87, Australia \u2013 48<\/p>\n
MEN\u2019S 400-meter FREESTYLE
\nThe men\u2019s 400 free proved to be one of the most exciting races of the day, with American record-holder Klete Keller uncharacteristically taking an early lead and holding it through the halfway points (1:51.87). But eventual winner Grant Hackett swept by him before the next turn. A hundred meters later, Peter Vanderkaay inched passed a struggling Keller and, a lap later, so did Larsen Jensen.
\nHackett, swimming an even-split race, touched in an outstanding 3:45.31, with Vanderkaay a strong second (3:46.68) and Jensen 4-hundredths behind. Keller was fourth in 3:48.65.
\nSCORE: USA \u2013 93, Australia \u2013 53<\/p>\n
WOMEN\u2019S 200-meter INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
\nKaitlin Sandeno took the lead in the 200 IM and held it through the first 125 meters before the American record pace took its toll and Katie Hoff, Whitney Myers and Lara Carroll glided past her on the breaststroke leg. Hoff had the fastest breaststroke split (37.83), then followed with the fastest freestyle leg (31.00) to touch in a swift 2:11.55. Myers clocked a PR 2:12.93 for second, while Carroll staved off a sprinting Kaitlin Sandeno for third.
\nSCORE; USA \u2013 102, Australia \u2013 55<\/p>\n
MEN\u2019S 200-meter INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
\nWorld record-holder Michael Phelps built up a 1.36 second lead over teammate Ryan Lochte on the first half of the 200 IM, then held on as Lochte came charging in the breaststroke. In the freestyle leg, Phelps held off his Florida rival, then inched ahead touching in 1:56.93 to Lochte\u2019s 1:57.94. Robert Margalis completed the 1-2-3 sweep for the USA.
\nSCORE; USA \u2013 112, Australia \u2013 56<\/p>\n
WOMEN\u2019S 200-meter BACKSTROKE
\nThe USA\u2019s Margaret Hoelzer left no doubt about the ultimate outcome of the 200 back from Stroke One. She built her lead to almost three seconds at the 150-meter mark, then coasted to a 2:11.68, well ahead of the Aussie tandem of Sophie Edington (2:14.11) and Tayliah Zimmer (2:14.53).
\nSCORE: USA \u2013 118, Australia \u2013 61<\/p>\n
MEN\u2019S 200-meter BACKSTROKE
\nDorsal king Aaron Peirsol followed the same script in the men\u2019s event, with the same result. Peirsol had the fastest split for every 50 and touched in a leisurely (for him) 1:57.55. Teammate Jayme Cramer followed in 1:59.81 while Aussie Matt Welsh was a distant third.
\nSCORE; USA \u2013 127, Australia \u2013 63<\/p>\n
WOMEN\u2019S 200-meter BREASTSTROKE
\nLethal Leisel Jones hung back through the first half of the 200-meter breaststroke, then took command of the race to win going away in 2:26.11. Tara Kirk, who briefly held the lead, finished second in 2:27.73 while Kristen Caverly was third.
\nSCORE; USA \u2013 132, Australia \u2013 69<\/p>\n
MEN\u2019S 200-meter BREASTSTROKE
\nTalk about dominance! Thy name is Brendan Hansen. The triple world champion sowed why he is Number One with an overwhelming victory in the 200 breast. Hansen\u2019s 2:10.07 was more than 4-1\/2 seconds in front of teammate Scott Usher. Mark Gangloff completed the 1-2-3 US sweep.
\nSCORE; USA \u2013 142, Australia \u2013 70<\/p>\n
WOMEN\u2019S 50-meter FREESTYLE
\nThe 50 free was closer than expected but the Aussies walked away with a one-two sweep authored by Jodie Henry (25.06) and Alice Mills (25.14). Kara Lynn Joyce was third (25.36).
\nSCORE; USA \u2013 145, Australia \u2013 78<\/p>\n
MEN\u2019S 50-meter FREESTYLE
\nThe men\u2019s frothing 50 free was a line of flailing arms and legs until the very end when Nick Brunelli out-touched Jason Lezak, 22.20 to 22.23. Ben Wildman-Tobriner was third in 22.38.
\nSCORE; USA \u2013 155, Australia \u2013 79<\/p>\n
WOMEN\u2019S 200-meter FREESTYLE
\nThe women\u2019s 200 free saw four women battle stroke-for-stroke for 190 meters before world-leader Libby Lenton put the pedal to the metal to grab the win in 1:59.49. Kaitlin Sandeno was a stroke behind in 1:59.78, with Katie Hoff third (1:59.90) and Whitney Myers fourth (2:00.14).
\nSCORE: USA \u2013 161, Australia \u2013 84<\/p>\n
MEN\u2019S 200-meter FREESTYLE
\nIf anything, the men\u2019s 200 free was even more exciting than the women\u2019s race. It also featured the meet\u2019s biggest upset.
\nIn the middle of the pool Grant Hackett was doing battle with the USA\u2019s Klete Keller and rookie Matt McGinnis, with the 19 year-old McGinnis leading through the 100 meter mark with a 53.44 to Hackett\u2019s 53.69 and Keller\u2019s 54.09. But over in lane 1, Peter Vanderkaay was trying to steal the race, leading at the 50 (25.28) and 100 (52.67).
\nJust before the final turn, Hackett overtook McGinnis, turning 9-hundredths ahead of the game American in 1:21.18. Vanderkaay maintained the overall lead, though more than half of that lead was erased on the third lap.<\/p>\n
On the final lap Keller vaulted into third with a 26.47 split to record a solid 1:48.24, as Hackett withstood his charge to touch in what he thought was a winning 1:47.99 effort. But Vanderkaay managed to hold on, winning the race in an outstanding 1:47.87
\nSCORE: USA \u2013 169, Australia \u2013 87<\/p>\n
WOMEN\u2019S 200-meter BUTTERFLY
\nAussie Jessicah Schipper, who bettered the world record in Montreal last week, was the overwhelming favorite, but the US duo of Mary DeScenza and Emily Mason were not about to concede anything. They battled Schipper all the way, though the Aussie never gave up the lead, turning in 1:01.05 at the 100 and holding on to win in 2:07.61. DeScenza followed in 2:08.27 with Mason third in 2:10.22
\nSCORE: USA \u2013 174, Australia \u2013 93<\/p>\n
MEN\u2019S 200-meter BUTTERFLY
\nMichael Phelps notched his third win of the Duel in the 200 fly, an event he has owned for four years, but he had all he could handle in teammate Davis Tarwater, swimming in Lane 1.
\nAustralia\u2019s Andrew Richards led at the 50, clocking 26.50 to Tarwater\u2019s 26.57. Phelps was fifth in 26.79. Tarwater took over at the 100, turning in 55.98 to Phelps\u2019 56.57 in what was turning into a two-man race.
\nPhelps gained 12-hundredths on the third 50, but at the final turn Tarwater still led by almost half a second. Coming down the home stretch, Phelps gave it his all, but Tarwater continued to hang in, falling back only in the final 10 meters. At the wall, it was Phelps in 1:56.38 to Tarwater\u2019s 1:56.67. Travis Nederpelt was third in 1:58.60.
\nSCORE: USA \u2013 183, Australia – 95 <\/p>\n
WOMEN\u2019S 4 x 100-meter MEDLEY RELAY
\nThough the US had long clinched the overall Duel in the Pool title, the women\u2019s contest saw the two superpowers nearly deadlocked. With one event to go, the US held a fragile 70-69 lead, but the relay was worth 7 points, winner take all, and the Aussies were a slight favorite.
\nThe key for the USA was to get a sizable lead on the backstroke. Natalie Coughlin did give the home team the lead, but her 1:01.35 was only 34-hundredths ahead of Giaan Rooney. That spelled trouble.
\nJessicah Hardy followed with a superb 1:06.19 split for the US, but Leisel Jones countered with a 1:06.21.
\nRachel Komisarz split 58.18 for the fly but Australia\u2019s Schipper gave her team the lead with a 57.16. Amanda Weir swam 54.52 for the USA, but it wasn\u2019t nearly enough as Jodie Henry took her team home in 53.87. Australia\u2019s time was 3:58.93, with the USA at 4:00.24.
\nThe win gave the Aussie women a 76-70 victory over their US counterparts, even though it was an \u201cunofficial\u201d triumph.
\nSCORE: USA \u2013 183, Australia \u2013 102<\/p>\n
MEN\u2019S 4 x 100-meter MEDLEY RELAY
\nThere was little suspense about the final event. The US was a heavy favorite and the team crown had long since been decided.
\nAll went according to expectations as the team of Peirsol (55.10), Hansen (59.82 \u2013 doesn\u2019t this guy ever let up?), Crocker (51.67) and Phelps (49.80) breezed in 3:36.39, six seconds ahead of Australia.
\nFINAL SCORE: USA \u2013 190, Australia \u2013 102<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Phillip Whitten IRVINE, Calif. August 3. THE second Mutual of Omaha \u201cDuel in the Pool,\u201d pitting the world\u2019s two aquatic superpowers \u2013 the USA and Australia \u2013 went much<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":72978,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"dois","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[10,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9855","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world","category-zzzzzzzzz"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\r\n