US wins both medley relays in world record times and Nick Thoman gets inside Donets in opening back leg at Duel in Pool in Manchester; Julia Smit goes 4:21.04 WR 400 medley; Rebecca Soni on 2:14.57 in 200 breast; 251 WRs now set in shiny suits era (first one of the day went to Cesar Cielo in Brazil on 20.91 in 50 free l/c at Brazil nationals); Phelps and his jammers takes on row of shiny suits and wins the 100m 'fly in best short-course time of his career. Two wins for Fran Halsall restore a little E-Star pride. 

USA leads E-Stars 89 to 33 after day 1 drubbing for European hosts by American visitors. US swimmers won 11 of the 14 events Friday and enjoyed three sweeps.

Race 1, world record No1 of the Duel. World 100m back champion Gemma Spofforth (GBR), in textile 2010-compliant suit, and former 200m world champion Margaret Hoelzer, in a shiny number, got the show underway with a tremendous tussle in the 4x100 medley relay:  57.17 to 57.47 in Spofforth's Brit record favour (good to note too that Spofforth's time was also the second-best ever in a textile suit).

Next in, Jessica Hardy took half a second off Caroline Ruhnau (GER), before Dana Vollmer wripped 3sec off Ilaria Bianchi (ITA). Amanda Weir, against Daniela Samulski (GER) brought the US home to a world record of 3:47.97, which put into perspective the standard that had stood to Canada 1.48sec slower. The E-Stars were defeated and also DQ'd for a faulty takeover.

World records Nos 2 and 3 fell soon afterwards in the men's relay in which Michael Phelps stood out as the only man in 2010 jammers. Nick Thoman (US) shaved 0.03sec off the wold 100m back standard held by Stanislav Donets (RUS) since last week before Mark Gangloff and Michael Phelps led to Nathan Adrian coming home 2.62sec inside another Canadian standard jolted into perspective for 7 more US points in 3:20.71. The E-Stars clocked 3:24.67.

Phelps said he wanted to keep the ball rolling. The meet was a stepping stone to 2011. He would roll again pretty soon after to score points for the US twice more. 

Next up, the 400m medley for women. Julia Smit (US) donned a Jaked01 to take down Kathryn Meaklim's world record in the 400m medley in 4:21.04, 1.84sec inside the South African's world cup effort of last month. Second went to Dagny Knutson (US) in 4:24.31, with Hannah Miley (GBR) third in a European record of 4:24.51. Katie Hoff (US) clocked 4:28 wearing a textile body with no zipper or fastener, while Francesca Segat (ITA) and Kerri-Anne Payne (GBR) clocked 4:29s to complete the race.

The splits:

• Meaklim:  28.84; 1:01.68; 1:36.73; 2:10.57; 2:46.62; 3:22.75; 3:53.48; 4:22.88
• Smit: 28.30; 1:00.60; 1:33.93; 2:06.01; 2:42.66; 3:19.42; 3:50.58; 4:21.04

After shiny clad Tyler Clary led a a US sweep in the 400m medley and Fran Halsall (GB) gave the E-Stars their first win, with a 51.54 blast in an X-Glide, Nathan Adrian cracked back with a 45.42 win in the 100m free, 0.48sec outside WR pace, with Marco Orsi (ITA) on 46.59 for the E-Stars and the 1 point going to the textile man of the moment and decade, Michael Phelps, on 46.99, head down, boiling and rolling to the wall and a key danger man on a trajectory to London 2012.

At 58.64, Elizabeth Simmonds (GBR) raced 0.02sec inside world-record pace at half-way of the 200m backstroke. Wearing an arena X-Glide, she slipped 0.28sec off pace at 150m but was clearly in the lead. She brought the race home in 2:00.91, 0.73sec outside world record but a European shiny record nonetheless. The minor points went to the US, Margaret Hoelzer on 2:02.72 and Elizabeth Pelton on 2:02.78.

Another US sweep came tumbling after: Matt Grevers, Nick Thoman's second blast, and Aaron Peirsol took the 200m backstroke points, in 1:48.74, 1:50.05, 1:51.08 respectively. Grevers was asked whether Europe could still catch up. "There's always possibilities," he grinned. The capacity crowd laughed and applauded.

Next up Olympic champ Rebecca Soni blasted the US further into the points stratosphere: 0.25sec inside world record pace at 50m, the shiny suited American turned 0.89sec inside Leisel Jone's world pace at 100m and at 150m was 1sec up. She and her suit came home in 2:14.57, the fifth world record of the meet. Second Katy Freeman on 2:17.50 and delivering another clean sweep for the US, medley world champ Ariana Kukors clocked 2:23.03 for third.

The WR splits compared:

• Jones: 31.30; 1:06.0;7 1:41.00; 2:15.42 
• Soni: 31.05; 1:05.18; 1:40.00; 2:14.57

Mike Alexandrov got the touch for the US on 2:03.72 in a tight 200m breaststroke battle, Italian Edoardo Giorgetti just 0.08sec back, with American Sean Mahoney on 2:04.28. Next up, Fran Halsall restored a little E-Stars pride with a 55.71 win in the 100m 'fly ahead of Christine Magnuson, on 55.81 and Dana Vollmer, on 56.00.

Then the big moment of the night: Michael Phelps, behind all the way until the last 5m of the 100m butterfly, surrounded by shiny suits but no intention of giving in, every intention of showing why it was so important to spend 10 and more years hitting millions of finishes in training with coach Bob Bowman calling for better all the while: Superfish took the win in 50.46. It was obvious that those around him would be a clog back in normal suits. As it was, they were very close: Benjamin Starke (GER) clocked 50.51 and Michael Rock (GB) on 50.61. 

For the record, Phelps's effort was a lifetime best short-course, 51.06 at world cup in Stockholm last month the standard he was aiming to get past to rise to 26th best all-time. Of course, he was and is Olympic champion and world champion: 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009. And for the record, Phelps' new best is the 6th best ever in textile. Bowman looks best when he's beaming, which may be what he's doing back home in Baltimore this evening.

Pity that Jo Jackson got sick and Federica Pellegrini had dinner to nosh. As it was, the 400m free saw Allison Schmitt (USA) race a slither outside world-record pace, coming within 0.2sec of the mark with 50m to go. By the close, on 3:55.89, she was less than a second away. No matter, fresh challenge, fresh clock next year. Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington took second in as 2010-compliant suit in 3:59.89 in a race that boasted three textile suits. The name to watch for across a range of events in the years ahead, Dagny Knutson, took third in 4:01.21. 

Only Laure Manadou ever went faster than Adlington's time in a textile suit. Coach Bill Furniss must surely be a happy man tonight.

Pity that Paul Biedermann couldn't make it to Manchester. He's over in Russia, but German head coach will doubtless have taken a mental note: 0.27sec inside world-record pace at the 200m, Peter Vanderkaay slipped to 0.55sec off pace by 300m and 0.98sec off at 350m before delivering max points to the US on 3:35.54 ahead of Federico Colbertaldo (ITA) and Michael Klueh. Courage was to be found in sixth on 3:47.64: David Davies (GBR) in textile shorts.

That took the meet tally to 89 to 33 in favour of the US at the half-way point of a meet dominated by the USA. World-record swims earn a bonus of up to $15,000 bonus (the pot to be divided) and $1,000 will be awarded to swimmers for each win at the meet.

The head-to-head among swimmers is much to do with suit-to-suit and choices are being made by coaches too here as the pressure to get the touch is on. Few dared drop the shiny suits and wanted one last blast on the clock and to score points for their team. Phelps, Adlington, Spofforth, Hoff, Davies and others chose to live in 2010. Their pain will be their gain.

Phelps said: "I think we’ve had a great day so far, hopefully we can continue into tomorrow. We hardly get a chance to swim short course metres so to come here and get some good swims is great for all of us."

 His British hosts were gracious in their team's drubbing, with every reason. There were many tight races and the families-filled crowd was wonderfully supportive. “I really enjoyed that race and that’s what it’s about,” said Simmonds. “I pretty much gave it my all from the start and there’s a fantastic crowd here to support us.”

 Her flatmate and training partner Halsall, the only double solo-event winner of the day, added: “I just wanted to get some points on the board for my team,” said Halsall. “I think I got a bit too excited in the 100m freestyle because everyone was cheering so loud, but it’s fantastic having the crowd here cheering for me, I can’t wait for London now.”

 Miley has swum in every sort of shiny suit this season past but settled on one for medley, allowing her to measure herself. European short-course champion in a slower time a week ago, She noted: "It’s great to go faster again. When you get to race against the best in the world it brings out the best in you."

The scores indicated that the E-Stars at best are no match for what is practically the US national team. But this event has great potential. Look back at the US Vs Australia duel and the Aussies were roundly thumped early on. At the last duel, in 2007, the meet came down to a point in favour of the Americans. At its best, a Ryder Cup of swimming could be one of the best things on the competitive map of the sport in the years ahead.

Where the Duel is won:

4x100m Medley Relay - Women 

• 1. USA: Margaret Hoelzer (57.47); Jessica Hardy (2:01.05); Dana Vollmer (2:55.42); Amanda Weir 3:47.97 wr
• 2. E-Stars: Gemma Spofforth (57.17) ; Caroline Ruhnau (2:02.01); Ilaria Bianchi (2:59.73); Daniela Samulski DQ
• Duel tally: USA 7; E-Stars 0.

400 Medley Relay- Men

• USA: Nick Thoman 48.94wr; Mark Gangloff; Michael Phelps; Nathan Adrian  3:20.71 wr
• E-Stars: Liam Tancock 51.46; Fabio Scozzoli; Michael Rock; Christian Galenda 3:24.67
• Duel Tally: USA 14; E-Stars 0

400 IM - Women

• 1. USA: Julia Smit - 4:21.04 wr
• 2. USA: Dagny Knutson - 4:24.31
• 3. E-Stars: Hannah Miley (GBR) - 4:24.51er
• Duel tally: USA - 22; E-Stars - 1

400 IM - Men

• 1. USA Tyler Clary - 4:02.02
• 2. USA Jack Brown - 4:03.57
• 3. USA Peter Vanderkaay - 4:05.22
• Duel tally: USA 31; E-Stars -1

100 free - Women

• 1. E-Stars Fran Halsall 51.54 
• 2. USA: Dana Vollmer 52.1am
• 3. Daniela Schreiber 52.73 
• Duel tally: USA - 34; E-Stars 7

100 free - Men

• 1. USA: Nathan Adrian - 45.42
• 2. E-Stars: Marco Orsi 46.59
• 3. USA: Michael Phelps - 46.99
• Duel tally: 40; E-Stars 10

200 back - Women

• 1. E-Stars: Elizabeth Simmonds (GB) 2:00.93
• 2. USA: Margaret Hoelzer 2:02.72
• 3. USA: Elizabeth Pelton 2:02.78
• Duel tally: USA 44; E-Stars 15

200 back - Men

• 1. USA: Matt Grevers - 1:48.74
• 2. USA: Thoman - 1:50.05
• 3. USA: Aaron Peirsol - 1:51.08
• Duel tally: USA 53; E-Stars 15

200m breaststroke - Women 

• 1. USA: Rebecca Soni - 2:14.57
• 2. USA: Katy Freeman - 2:17.50
• 3. USA: Ariana Kukors - 2:23.03
• Duel tally: USA 62; E-Stars 15

200m breaststroke - Men

• 1. USA: Mike Alexandrov - 2:03.72
• 2. E-Stars: Edoardo Giorgetti (ITA) - 2:03.80
• 3. USA: Sean Mahoney - 2:04.28
• Duel tally: USA 68; E-Stars 18

100m butterfly - Women 

• 1. E-Stars: Fran Halsall (GB) 55.71
• 2. USA: Christine Magnuson - 55.81
• 3. USA: Dana Vollmer - 56.00.
• Duel tally: USA 72; E-Stars 23

100m 'fly - Men

• 1. USA: Michael Phelps  - 50.46
• 2. E-Stars: Benjamin Starke (GER) - 50.51
• 3. E-Stars: Michael Rock (GBR) - 50.61
• Duel tally: USA 77; E-Stars 27 

400 free - Women

• 1. USA: Allison Schmitt - 3:55.89
• 2. E-Stars: Rebecca Adlington (GBR) - 3:59.04
• 3. USA: Dagny Knutson - 4:01.21
• Duel tally: USA 83; E-Stars 30 

400m free - Men

• 1. USA: Peter Vanderkaay - 3:35.54 
• 2. E-Stars: Federico Colbertaldo - 3:38.54
• 3. USA: Michael Klueh - 3:39.94 
• Duel tally: USA 89; E-Stars 33