Phelps adds his 27th individual title
IRVINE, Calif. – Michael Phelps defeated training partner Klete Keller by nearly a half-second to win the 200-meter freestyle at the U.S. Summer Nationals on Friday night.
It was Phelps’ 27th national individual title, moving him into a tie for seventh on the career list with Katherine Rawls, who competed from 1931-38. He said he plans to swim the 400 freestyle relay today and skip Sunday’s events.
“That’s an indication I’m sort of starting to fade,” said Phelps, who won five golds and a silver medal at last week’s world championships.
Later, Phelps and Keller joined Club Wolverine teammates Peter Vanderkaay and Chris DeJong for a nearly 21-second victory in the 800 freestyle relay.
“It was a memorable race,” Keller said. “It was pretty cool to watch.”
Their time of 7 minutes, 12.35 seconds set a U.S. Open record and was the fifth-fastest in U.S. relay history.
“We’re all a little tired,” said Phelps, who figured he has raced the 200 free up to nine times in the last six weeks.
Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Vanderkaay and Keller set the American record of 7:06.58 in winning the gold medal at the world championships in Canada.
This time, Vanderkaay started off and gave his University of Michigan training partners the lead for good after 200 meters.
Phelps dove in and quickly extended the margin.
Keller took over and built nearly a 50-meter lead on the field before DeJong finished off. Phelps clapped and raised his arms in the air when their time flashed on the scoreboard.
“Michael, Peter and Klete have had a lot of success together so it was an honor to join them,” DeJong said.
Phelps led wire-to-wire in the 200 free and touched first in 1:46.40 – well off his American record of 1:45.20 set last week in Montreal.
He climbed out of the pool, bent over, then leaned heavily on a drink cooler while trying to catch his breath before walking slowly off the deck.
“That’s the most pain I’ve ever been in after a 200,” Phelps said. “It’s exhaustion more than anything.”
Keller was second in 1:46.87. Jayme Cramer, who joined Phelps and Keller on the world championships team, was third in 1:48.19.
Phelps easily won the 200 butterfly Thursday with the second-fastest time in the world this year.
Brittany Reimer of Canada edged Caroline Burckle of Louisville, Ky., to win the women’s 200 free in 1:59.73. Reimer earned silver and bronze medals at the world championships.