Phelps, Lochte cruise; Neuqua Valley product qualifies for 2nd event
OMAHA, Neb. - Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte did their part.
The longtime rivals are headed to another showdown at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials.
Phelps and Lochte cruised through the semifinals of the 200-meter individual medley Thursday night, each of them winning their heats in dominating fashion.
"It means a lot," Lochte said. "I've been racing him in this event since like 2003. He's a tough competitor. I just love racing against him because it's a challenge."
This one is especially significant for Lochte, an 11-time Olympic medalist who has yet to qualify for an individual event in Rio.
Slowed by a groin injury, the 31-year-old Lochte missed out in the 400 IM - a race he won at the Olympics four years ago - finished fourth in the 200 freestyle, and dropped out of the 200 backstroke.
Though also entered in the 100 butterfly, Lochte is basically putting all his hopes on the 200 IM. A top-two finish will give him that cherished spot, but he really wants a win over Phelps in Friday night's final before they head to the Olympics.
"I'm feeling better as far as like mentally, but physically I'm getting tired," said Lochte, who at the very least will be going to Rio as a relay swimmer. "Tomorrow night will definitely be a good battle between me and Michael."
On the fifth night of the meet, Josh Prenot became the latest Olympic rookie to make the team, topping Neuqua Valley High School product Kevin Cordes in the 200 breaststroke. Cordes had already won the 100 breast and was more than a second under world-record pace at the final turn of the longer race.
But Prenot, furiously bouncing up and down in the water, surged past Cordes on the final lap to win in 2 minutes, 7.17 seconds, setting an American record and finishing just off the world mark of 2:07.01 held since 2012 by Japan's Akhiro Yamaguchi.
Nathan Adrian, the burly 27-year-old who won the 100 freestyle in London, used a powerful finishing kick to win in 47.72 seconds. Caeleb Dressel will also get to swim the down-and-back sprint in Rio, taking the second spot at 48.23.
Anthony Ervin, the oldest swimmer at the trials, got off to a blistering start and led at the turn. The 35-year-old couldn't hold on, fading to fourth in 48.54 while also touching behind Ryan Held (48.26), a product of downstate Springfield.
But the top four are assured of spots on the team for the 4x100 free relay, meaning Ervin will be headed to his third Olympics and Held his first.
Naperville Central grad Sean Lehane advanced to the final of the 200 backstroke with the fourth-fastest time, 1:56.43. He earlier placed seventh in the 100 backstroke.
Cammile Adams won the 200 butterfly after being briefly disqualified once day earlier during the preliminaries. The ruling that she made an illegal turn was quickly overturned after a review provided by the underwater camera, and Adams took advantage of her second chance to win with a time of 2:06.80. Hali Flickinger took the second Olympic spot in 2:07.50.