U.S. CHAMPIONSHIPS NOTEBOOK
Adrian Emerges Out of Phelps's Shadow
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Saturday, July 11, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS, July 10 -- Nathan Adrian claimed his second sprint title of the week at the U.S. swimming championships Friday night, winning the men's 100-meter freestyle final in 48.00 seconds.
Adrian's time did not approach the American record in the event (47.51) held by Michael Phelps, who withdrew from the field Friday morning because of neck soreness.
Despite his early departure, Phelps ended the meet with victories in the 100 and 200 butterfly and 200 freestyle, with the possibility of competing in those events and all three relays at the world championships later this month in Rome.
Phelps's premature exit also opened the door for Adrian, who outraced David Walters of Yorktown, Va. Walters claimed second place in 48.17, and Garrett Weber-Gale claimed third in 48.19.
Adrian, 20, who also won the 50 free Thursday, emerged this week after finishing fourth in the 100 free at the U.S. Olympic trials last year. A pre-med student at the University of California, Adrian trained prior to last year's Trials in Islamorada, Fla., with Olympic great Gary Hall Jr.
"I wouldn't say I saw [this] coming, but it was what I wanted to do," Adrian said. "It's very exciting. This is the year after the Olympics. This is when a lot of people start stepping up and start establishing themselves as swimmers on an international level, and that was kind of my focus."
Another Win for Lochte
Olympic star Ryan Lochte, 24, won the men's 200 individual medley in 1 minute 54.56 seconds, adding to the U.S. title he had won in the 400 medley earlier in the week. Cancer-survivor Eric Shanteau, 25, earned his second world-team spot with his second-place finish in 1:56.00. Tyler Clary, 20, claimed third in 1:57.25.
Lochte was under world-record pace through 150 meters, but he fell short of Phelps's record of 1:54.23.
"I just wanted to take it out smooth, but fast, and just hold on for dear life," Lochte said.
In the women's 200 fly, Kathleen Hersey, 19, got first in 2:06.44, topping Mary Descenza, 24, who finished second in 2:07.13.
Local Swimmers Shine
North Baltimore Aquatic Club's Felicia Lee finished second in the B final of the women's 200 fly in 2:10.56. Her teammate Kailey Morris claimed fifth in 2:12.68 and the University of Virginia's Elizabeth Shaw tied for seventh in 2:13.24. NBAC's Camryne Morris finished seventh in the C final of the event. In the B final of the men's 200 individual medley, NBAC's T.P. Patrick finished first in 2:01.80 and Austin Surhoff finished seventh in 2:02.87. In the C final, Bethesda's Adam Meyer, who swims for SwimMAC Carolina, finished first in 2:01.03. In the C final of the 200 back, Curl-Burke swimmer Meredith Monroe finished third in 2:15.03.
