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| Michael Phelps competes in a preliminary heat of the 400-metre freestyle. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Marcio Jose Sanchez |
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - American swimming star Michael Phelps held off a late charge by Canada’s Ryan Cochrane to win the 400-metre freestyle at the Santa Clara International Grand Prix on Saturday.
Phelps cruised to an early lead but had to dig in over the final 100 metres to win in three minutes 48.05 seconds under sunny, windy conditions at the outdoor pool. It was his second victory in as many races.
Cochrane, an Olympic bronze medallist from Victoria, pushed Phelps in the closing metres only to settle for second in 3:48.40. Robert Hurley of Australia was third in 3:48.49.
"I certainly would have liked to have beaten Michael tonight," said Cochrane, 20. "It’s a race that I swim on the international scene and he doesn’t, so I would think I would be able to give him a strong challenge every time in this event.
"I knew he would be fast in the first part of the race and I just wanted to stay with him. I was aiming for a little faster but I surprised myself with how much I had left in me at the end. It bodes well for the rest of the summer."
Phelps has rarely swum the event over the years, and he didn’t advance to the 400 free final at the 2005 world championships in Montreal, a failure that still bothers him.
"I don’t think I’ve ever hurt that bad after a race. I’m not in enough shape to swim a good 400," he said. "That’s more of a wake-up call then (coach Bob Bowman) telling me."
Phelps swam in lane 7 after qualifying fourth-fastest in the morning. The 14-time Olympic gold medallist owned an easy lead until the last two laps.
That’s when the chase was on.
Cochrane, who won a bronze medal in the 1,500 free in Beijing, began edging up on Phelps, who was breathing on his right and didn’t see the Canadian on his left.
But the athlete announced as the greatest swimmer in history didn’t let go. He got to the wall 0.35 seconds ahead of Cochrane.
"That’s how not to swim a 400 free," Phelps said. "Bob said go out after it and see what happens. I went out after it and barely hung on."
Phelps rested on the yellow lane line as the nearly full grandstand exploded in cheers. Later, with his suit peeled down to his hips, he strolled to the podium to accept his winner’s medal trailed by two security guards.
When it was announced Phelps would sign autographs after his warmdown, a long line of adults and kids quickly formed and snaked its way nearly halfway down the grandstand.
In the men’s 200 backstroke, Matt Hawes of Vancouver finished third in 2:00.30 behind winner Ryan Lochte of the U.S., (1:56.83.) and Australia’s Ashley Delaney (1:58.60).
Vancouver’s Brian Johns was fourth while Pascal Wollach of Melfort, Sask., finished ninth.
In the 50 freestyle, Nathan Adrian of the U.S., set a meet record in 22.09 seconds, besting the South Africa’s Roland Schoeman’s record of 22.29 set in 2008.
George Bovell of Trinidad and Tobago was second (22.12) while Brent Hayden of Vancouver (22.20) came up third.
"Everything went right for me technically tonight," said Hayden. "But I still have room for improvement in the first part of the race. The start was good but I really want to work on gaining more power off the blocks."
In the 100 butterfly, Masayuki Kishida of Japan was the winner in 52.43 seconds.
On the women’s side, Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe swam to a dominating victory in the 400 individual medley, winning by 3.87 seconds over America’s Dagny Knutson.
Coventry’s time of 4:32.15 lowered last year’s meet record of 4:36.75 set by 16-year-old American Elizabeth Beisel, who finished third this year. Coventry earned US$100 for the record. Knutson also went under the old meet record, clocking 4:36.02.
Tanya Hunks of Vancouver was eighth.
In the 100 breaststroke, Leisel Jones of Australia won in 1:07.11 while Martha McCabe of Vancouver (1:09.33) was fifth.
In the 200 freestyle, Dana Vollmer of the U.S. finished first in 1:57.46. Kevyn Peterson of Calgary was seventh.
And in the 100 backstroke, Coventry won again in 1:00.68. Katy Murdoch of Calgary was third in 1:02.05 behind American Mary DeScenza.
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