Pan Pacific Championships, Irvine, California, day 2 finals:
At the end of day 2, the USA, after five more victories, leads the meet on 12 gold, to four for Australia. The US also took the lead in the women's meet, with six golds to four for Australia, the US 4x200m quartets bringing the meet to a close. The women took the crown in a championship record of 7:51.21; Ryan Lochte took a second gold as he brought the Stars and Stripes home in a championship record of 7:03.84, Japan pipping Australia for silver (reports on the end of this file). That's gold No3 for Lochte.
Reviews of 50m backstroke finals and 4x200m freestyle finals for both men and women on the end of this file.
Men's 400m Individual Medley
Michael Phelps gave it another go: 4:15 in heats and out. He opted not to race the B final. No place for the greatest the realms of those in need of consolation.
In his absence, Ryan Lochte (USA) tamped his authority on the long medley with a thud and smash. Out first down the first 50m 'fly, he never looked back. In backstroke 0.09sec inside Phelps's world-record pace, at 54.83, he was still in touch with time on 1:56.73 after backstroke, virtual Phelps now 0.24sec ahead. Breaststroke put the Olympic champion's 4:03.84 out of reach, but Lochte had the gold and was already thinking: what next...
By the time he stopped the clock in a championship record of 4:07.59 (he had taken Phelp's 2006 standard down in 4:08.77 in heats), Lochte leaned into the wall like he was already swimming down for the next race, as if almost embarrassed to make the gap to the rest too obscene.
Of course, Tyler Clary (USA), world No2 this year and on silver in 4:09.55, and Thiago Pereira (BRA), taking bronze in 4:12.09, put in world-class efforts but the outstanding class was ahead of them, a moving tutorial of aquatic excellence, a rolling wall of thunder in the water.
Asked about strategy, Lochte kept it simple, as usual: "I know the whole field, I've raced them so many times. I just went out fast and tried to hold on." His victory today represented the fourth fastest effort of his career but the best in textile, inside his 4:09.74 best of 2007. Olympic trials in a LZR on 4:06.08 marked the top speed.
The poolside mike reminding him of the power he is pulling on Phelps and the distance he is placing between himself and thew world, Lochte was asked what kind of message he was sending to the sim world. "I'm just going out there and having fun and racing and whatever the outcome is I'll take it." He's clearly taking in a lot of hard work too, the bit that precedes the fun.
Lochte then left, changed and returned for his medal wearing his dubious fashion choice of the season: that pair of bright green shoes he's made his signature tread this summer. For those whose imaginations run wild: he had a track suit on too.
Trans-Atlantic splits:
- Lochte 2010: 54.83; 1:58.73; 3:08.74; 4:07.59
- Phelps 2008 WR: 54.92; 1:56.49; 3:07.05; 4:03.84
- Cseh 2010: 56.63; 2:00.00; 3:11.29; 4:10.95
Trans-Atlantic medals:
- Pan Pacs: 4:07.59; 4:09.55; 4:12.09
- Euro 1-3: 4:10.905; 4:12.56; 4:15.10
Records
Shiny suit era
- WR: 4:03.84 Michael Phelps (USA) Aug 2008
- ER: 4:06.16 Laszlo Cseh (HUN) Aug 2008
February 1 2008
- WR: 4:06.22 Michael Phelps (USA) Apr 2007
- ER: 4:09.63 Laszlo Cseh (HUN) Jul 2005
Cseh won the European crown relatively unstretched on 4:10.95 last week.
Women's 50m Backstroke
Sophie Edington (AUS), former world record holder, claimed the crown in 27.83, ahead of Aya Terakawa (JPN), on 28.04, with bronze shared by Emily Thomas (NZL) and Fabiola Molina (BRA), on 28.44.
Edington said: "It’s not often that you come away with a gold medal at an international event so I’m just really happy with that performance. It’s a PB in these suits and it’s just really nice to be getting back into some good form again. I’ve been really focussed this year. Last year I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do, but this year I’ve been really enjoying training and racing and obviously coming up to Commonwealth Games, it’s a favourite event of mine so I’m just really looking forward to Delhi."
Trans-Atlantic medals:
- Pan Pacs: 27.83; 28.04; 28.44 (x2)
- Euro 1-3: 27.64; 27.99; 28.01
Records
Shiny suit era
- WR: 27.06 Jing Zhao (CHN) Jul 2009
- ER: 27.23 Daniel Samulski (GER) Jul 2009
February 1 2008
- WR: 28.09 Yang Li (CHN) Oct 2007
- ER: 28.19 Janine Pietsch (GER) May 2005
Edington set a world record of 27.67 when she wore the LZR of 2008 for the first time at Australian Olympic trials.
Men's 50m Backstroke
The men's back dash went to world 100m champion and silver medallist in the 50m in Rome last year, Junya Koga (JPN), on 24.86. Ashley Delaney (AUS) claimed silver in 24.98, ahead of bronze for Nick Thoman (USA), on 25.02, which locked out teammate David Plummer, on 25.09.
All of which made that 24.07 of Camille Lacourt (FRA) in Budapest last week seem all the more outstanding.
Trans-Atlantic medals:
- Pan Pacs: 24.86; 24.98; 25.02
- Euro 1-3: 24.07; 24.70; 25.04
Records
Shiny suit era
- WR/ER: 24.04 Liam Tancock (GBR) Jul 23009
February 1 2008
- WR/ER: 24.80 Thomas Rupprath (GER) Jul 2003
Rupprath is still around in the pool: he was to be found in the commentary box in Budapest last week.
Women 4x200m freestyle
The difference on the clock now the shiny stuff is sunk was always going to be widest where you put four folk together. That 7:42.08 of China in Rome may be there for a while yet.
In Irvine today, the 2010 standard was set by the USA, on a championship record of 7:51.21, in a battle with Olympic champions Australia, on 7:52.64. The Dolphins had the edge going into the last swim but Allison Schmitt cracked out a 1:56.57 and the gold was in the bag for the hosts. Canada took bronze in 7:54.32.
The winning splits:
Vollmer (1:58.05) Scroggy (1:57.89); Hoff (1:58.70); Schmitt (1:56.57).
Men 4x200m freestyle
Not the 6:58.55 of shiny times but a championship record of 7:03.84 put the US way out from, in Irvine and the world.
Michael Phelps led the way. Out in 51.22 and back in 1:45.62, he posted his second-best effort of the season, 0.01sec behind his trials time at the start of the month. The world rankings are led by Ryan Lochte, in 1:45.30 as champion in Irvine on day 1, followed by world champion Paul Biedermann's 1:45.47 leading Germany's quartet off in Budapest last week.
Phelps said: "This is the relay team from 2008 so we're used to swimming together ... I just wanted to give the guys a good start."
Lochte laughed as he noted: "I told him [Phelps] before race to give me the biggest lead possible, 'cos I'm gonna need it."
Actually he didn't: Japan on 7:11.01, Australia on 7:11.05 (Canada locked out in 7:12.66) and much work to do to get back to the heights of Thorpe and Hackett.
Phelps added: "... It was in 2004 when we originally took back this relay and we are doing everything we can to keep this in our country. To go 7:03 now ...". Enough said.
Russia is closest, as the best of Europe on 7:06.71 in Budapest last week. No-one else is within striking distance.
The winning splits
Phelps (1:45.62); Vanderkaay (1:46.46); Berens (1:46.49); Lochte (1:45.27)
