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Peirsol Reclaims World Record; Phelps Wins Twice At Nationals

POSTED: Thursday, July 9, 2009

(Sports Network) - Record-setting Olympian Michael Phelps won a pair of finals, while Aaron Peirsol reclaimed his world record in the 100- meter backstroke Wednesday at the USA Swimming championships.

Phelps, a 14-time Olympic gold medalist, won the 200m freestyle and 200m butterfly. His time in the free was 1 minute, 44.23 seconds, which was .72 seconds ahead of David Walters. Ryan Lochte was third. Phelps' time was off his world record mark of 1:42.96, which he set in Beijing.

Phelps finished the butterfly in a time of 1:52.76, which was again off his world record performance of 1:52.03, set last August, also in China at the Summer Games. Tyler Clary came in second, .88 seconds off the pace, while Daniel Madwed was third.

Peirsol's time of 51.94 seconds eclipsed the world mark set earlier this month by Spain's Aschwin Wildeboer Faber (52.38) at the Mediterranean Games. Peirsol, who won gold in the 100m backstroke the last two Summer Games, was followed by Matt Grevers (53.11) and Nick Thoman (53.12).

"It was a beautiful race," Peirsol said. "I knew I could do something special tonight. I'm a little speechless. I've said it before. Anyone can win a gold medal or set a world record at any time. There's something to be said for consistency."

In a pair of other finals, Hayley McGregory claimed the women's 100m backstroke in 1:00.07, while Dana Vollmer captured the women's 200m freestyle. Katie Hoff, who won three medals in Beijing, finished last in the eight-person field in the 200m freestyle, leaving her doubtful to compete at the world championships in Rome later this month.

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