By 0.88sec the potential for a rematch between Michael Phelps and Paul Biedermann (GER) over 200m freestyle at 2011 world titles in Shanghai was kept alive today as the Olympic champion made the cut for the final at US nationals and Pan Pac trials in Irvine, California by that margin for fifth place.
At the helm in heats was 400m winner Peter Vanderkaay, on 1:47.25, Conor Dwyer, 1:47.83, Ryan Lochte, 1:48.23, and Ricky Berens, 1:48.28, next through before Olympic champion and former world record holder Phelps, on 1:48.40. In Rome last summer at the height of the shiny suits crisis, Biedermann claimed the world crown in a world mark of 1:42.00. Back in Irivine, the standard was a little cooler, Michael Klueh, silver medallist in the 400m yesterday, locked out of the final by 0.25sec on 1:49.28.
The trials serve as a selection event for the Pan Pacs, the results of which will count towards qualification for the 2011 world titles in Shanghai, China, next July.
As such, Phelps bid to turn himself into a medal-chasing 100m free man may have to wait until the lead-up to London 2012: he is not racing the 100m in Irvine and therefore will not be in the sprint event at top level in 2011, at least not as a solo contender, and at least not at the surface of selection criteria (if he steps up as lead-off in the relay at Pan Pacs, for example, who knows where that could lead...). But he is racing the 200m 'fly today, which explains the need to pace his way through his morning in Irvine.
And no trouble on that score at the end of today's morning session: the Olympic champion cruised into lane 4 for his signature event in 1:57.54, with three others below 1:58, Robert Bollier, Tyler Clary and Mark Dylla. All those through inside a cut off of 1:59.75 in 8th included Phelps's Baltimore teammate Patrick Todd, a man born eight days before Superfish back in 1985.
Olympic 100m backstroke champions of 2008 took the lead role in the women's and men's events. Natalie Coughlin is back where she likes to be: in the centre of the battle for a 100m back final. The former world record holder cruised through in 1:00.21 ahead of Elizabeth Beisel, on 1:00.89, and Presley Bard, on 1:01.14. The cut off for the final: 1:02.26.
Bumped out of the world titles final last summer after, uncharacteristically, miscalculating his speed, Aaron Peirsol (world record holder before shiny suits and again with them, on 51.94 last year) took lane four for the sprint back final in 54.02. David Plummer was next through in 54.11, Olympic silver medallist Matt Grevers on 54.31 and Nick Thoman on 54.56. All main contenders through, the cut off for the final was 55.13.
Dana Vollmer claimed lane four for the final of the 200m free in 1:57.43 in a heat that placed her ahead of Dagny Knutson, on 1:58.70. The last heat produced a cracking tussle that ended up with Morgan Scroggy and Allison Schmitt matched on 1:58.38, Katie Hoff on 1:58.57. And those five led the way through, the cut-off Chloe Sutton's 1:59.52.
