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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, July 11, 2009

Ailing Phelps leaves, so Lochte takes over


By Beth Harris
Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Ryan Lochte won the 200 individual medley in 1 minute, 54.56 seconds, the second-fastest time ever in the event.

TOM STRICKLAND | Associated Press

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INDIANAPOLIS — Michael Phelps called it quits because of a sore neck at the U.S. nationals, leaving the spotlight to rival Ryan Lochte, who qualified yesterday for the world championships later this month.

Phelps withdrew from the 100-meter freestyle heats in the morning on the advice of a doctor after waking up a day earlier with a kink on the left side of his neck. He swam through the pain to set a world record in the 100 butterfly on Thursday, but said he felt worse yesterday despite receiving numerous treatments.

"It wasn't fun swimming the 100 fly with that," he said. "I could barely move my neck to breathe. I definitely didn't feel 100 percent."

The 100 free, in which Phelps owns the American record, was going to be his final event at nationals. He said he was willing to try, but his coach Bob Bowman vetoed the idea.

"We're going to err on the safe side," Bowman said.

Phelps qualified for the world championships in Rome, where he'll swim the 100 and 200 flys and the 200 free. He will likely swim on three relays, too.

Lochte won the 200 individual medley in 1 minute, 54.56 seconds — the second-fastest time ever in the event, trailing only Phelps' world record of 1:54.23 set at the Beijing Olympics. Lochte, who won silver in Beijing, was on a world-record pace through 150 meters before tailing off.

"I was pretty surprised," he said. "I looked at the video and I know there's a lot of improvement I can make, so hopefully worlds will be a lot faster. I feel like I can go at least a second faster."

Lochte already qualified in the 400 IM and 800 free relay.

Lochte was the top qualifier for the 100 free final but elected to pass. That opened things up for lesser-known Olympians Nathan Adrian and David Walters.

Adrian won in 48 seconds and Walters touched second in 48.17.

A couple of teenagers dominated the 200 backstroke. Elizabeth Beisel, a 16-year-old Olympian, won in 2:08.80 and Elizabeth Pelton, a 15-year-old from the same North Baltimore club as Phelps, was second.

Beisel had already qualified in the 400 individual medley.

Olympian Kathleen Hersey won the 200 fly in 2:06.44. Mary DeScenza, who didn't make the last two Olympics, finished second.