Phelps tops 100m fly times, Lochte duel looms

OMAHA, Nebraska (AFP) –

Michael Phelps swims to a first place finish in heat 13 of the men’s 100M butterfly on day six of the 2012 US Olympic Team Trials in Omaha, Nebraska.

Michael Phelps led the way Saturday into the 100m butterfly semi-finals at the US Olympic swimming trials, where his 27th birthday was to feature a third finals clash with Ryan Lochte.

Phelps clocked 51.80sec to top the 100m fly times ahead of world championships bronze medallist Tyler McGill (51.87) and Davis Tarwater (52.13).

Lochte was sixth-quickest as he warmed up for a busy night in which he was slated for the 200m backstroke final and a duel with Phelps — who turned 27 on Saturday — in the 200m medley final.

“After you get past 25, there’s no point in even counting anymore,” Phelps said of his birthday.

But even if the 14-time Olympic gold medallist wasn’t feeling particularly celebratory, he was pleased with his butterfly time, and that it was fast enough to put him in the second semi-final and give him more time between races.

“The extra time is always good,” Phelps said. “It felt good. The first 50 felt fairly controlled. I just wanted to try to have a good second 50.”

Anthony Ervin notched the fastest time in the men’s 50m freestyle heats, moving a step closer to a London berth 12 years after winning gold in Sydney.

“Maybe I was lucky,” Ervin said after clocking 21.83sec in the one-lap sprint. “Hopefully not. Hopefully, I’ve got two more races like that in me.”

Ervin is one of a handful of pool veterans seeking to extend or resume their Olympic careers in London.

He shared gold with team-mate Gary Hall jnr in the 50m free in 2000, later selling his medal to aid relief efforts in the wake of the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.

He began training again last year, wondering if he could make an impact on the international scene.

“I did think, ‘Do I have that in me?’ Ervin said. “I wanted to believe I did, but I didn’t know.”

Nathan Adrian, winner of the 100m free on Friday, was second-fastest in 22.06, while Cullen Jones, who booked a London Games berth with a second-placed finish in the 100m free, was equal third-fastest with Jimmy Feigen in 22.09.

Jones, who missed out on an individual berth in Beijing when he finished third in trials for the 50m and 100m, is looking to make up for that disappointment.

“In 2008, I had a really salty taste in mouth,” he said. “In prelims I got the American record. Then I got second in the semis. Unfortunately, third in the finals. I’m gunning for that first place.”

Janet Evans, 40, finished 53rd out of 65 swimmers in the 800m free heats, ending her slim hopes of an Olympic comeback.

“Yes, this is definitely it,” said Evans, a mother of two who had said all along that her return to swimming was more about testing herself than pursuing an Olympic berth.

“I just signed my retirement papers. First thing I did.”

Kate Ziegler led the way into the final in 8:27.61, followed by 15-year-old Katie Ledecky (8:27.91).

The 800m free spelled the end of Katie Hoff’s bid to make London her third Olympics.

Hoff made her first Olympic team at 15 in 2004. She was tipped for stardom in 2008 after winning five events at the US trials but left Beijing without a gold.

She finished 13th in the 800m free heats, her last race after failing to advance from the heats in the 200m and 400m free.