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INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, July 10. MICHAEL Phelps has some company in the 1:54 club now that Daytona Beach's Ryan Lochte threatened his world record, but settled for his U.S. Open record in the men's 200 IM.
Lochte led wire-to-wire with 24.78 and 53.45 splits through the first 100 meters before clearing world-record pace at the 150 with a 1:26.88. Lochte did not have the freestyle to clear Phelps' global mark of 1:54.23. He did, however, put together a 1:54.56 for the second-fastest time ever. The swim beat Phelps' U.S. Open record of 1:54.80 set at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials.
"I just wanted to take it out smooth, but fast and hold on for dear life," Lochte said. "Just had to get out there and get in clear, clean water. At the very end, you have to put your head down and race."
Longhorn's Eric Shanteau touched second in 1:56.00 to demolish his previous personal best of 1:58.05, while Club Wolverine's Tyler Clary claimed third in 1:57.25.
Lochte and Shanteau's times beat Darian Townsend's effort of 1:57.03 for the top time in the world this year. Shanteau also moved into third all time ever with his 1:56.00. He moved in front of Laszlo Cseh of Hungary, who owns a 1:56.52 set at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
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