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AQUATIC NOTEBOOK, Issue 153: Phelps Beats Lochte, But Berens Beats Both In Charlotte

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Written by Sharon Robb

May 11, 2012

In their final head-to-head race before next month's U.S. Olympic Trials, Michael Phelps finished ahead of Ryan Lochte but it was Ricky Berens who beat them both Friday night at the USA Swimming Charlotte UltraSwim Grand Prix.

Berens, 24, of Trojan Swim Club, was first at the wall in the 200-meter freestyle in 1:47.32. Phelps, 26, was second in 1:48.01. Lochte, 27, was sixth in 1:49.70.

"We're all doing different training," Phelps said. "That's how Ryan has always done it. I'm sure that's what he's going to do this year. He's somebody who is a very tough racer and at the right time, he will be there when it counts."

Lochte was also seventh in the 400-meter individual medley in 4:26.04.

Lochte is wearing a swim brief instead of a jammer like Phelps and several other swimmers. While Phelps has one more event left before heading to Dallas, Lochte has several more.

"None of this is going to matter," said U.S. Olympic men's coach Gregg Troy, also Lochte's coach in Gainesville. "No one is going to care what happened in Charlotte."

Lochte plans on shutting it down after Charlotte. Phelps has one more meet before the trials and plans to spend most of his time training in altitude in Colorado.

Berens, who finished with a half-body length lead, was realistic about his win.

"I have one of the hardest events in the country," Berens said. "I've got Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps who are the two fastest guys in the world and the toughest competition. As long as I'm on the relay with those two guys, I'll be glad to be on their team. As long as I am part of that relay and winning gold for the U.S., I'm happy.

"Everybody is in a different place," Berens said. "I'm just excited to be where I am."

In other championship finals Friday night:

Allison Schmitt, 21, of North Baltimore won the 200-meter freestyle in a meet record 1:57.38 ahead of Dana Vollmer in 1:58.62.

Rebecca Soni, 25, of Trojan Swim Club won the 100-meter breaststroke in 1:05.85. Jessica Hardy, 25, was second in 1:07.52.

Eric Shanteau, 28, of Trojan Swim Club won the 100-meter breaststroke in 1:00.46. Mark Gangloff, 29, was second in 1:01.41.

Jennifer Connolly, 22, of Tennessee Aquatics won the 50-meter backstroke in a meet record 27.99. Rachel Bootsma, 18, was second in 28:00, also a meet record.

Eugene Godsoe, 24, of SwimMAC won the 50-meter backstroke in a meet record 25.24. Six of the eight finalists broke the old meet record of 26.55.

Vollmer came back to win the 100-meter butterfly in a meet record 57.21. Natalie Coughlin, 29, was second in 58.82. Claire Donahue, 23, of Western Kentucky, has been training with SOFLO in Pembroke Pines was third in 58.84.

Davis Tarwater, 28, of SwimMAC won the 100-meter butterfly in 52.87 ahead of Tyler McGill, 24, in 52.98. Sixteen-year-old Joseph Schooling of Bolles was seventh in 53.93.

Caitlin Leverenz, 21, of California, won the 400-meter individual medley in a meet record 4:38.35 ahead of Katie Hoff, 22, in 4:40.82.

Peter Vanderkaay, 28, won the 400-meter individual medley in 4:16.22. Oussama Mellouli, 28, was second in 4:18.81. Florida Gold Coast swimmer Bradley Ally was fifth in 4:24.06.

Hardy won the 50-meter breaststroke in a meet record 30.82 ahead of Soni in 30.86. The top five finishers broke the meet record o 32.64.

Barry Murphy, 26, won the 50-meter breaststroke in 27.81 ahead of Gangloff in 27.89.

Among local results, SOFLO's Nick Schwab, 21 of Indiana finished the 200-meter freestyle in 2:02.30 and 400 IM in 4:52.54.

The four-day meet continues on Saturday with prelims and finals. It is being webcast live on usaswimming.org and universalsports.com.

Former Florida Gold Coast Swimmer Olympics-Bound

Laura Reback Bennett, a Cardinal Newman and SMU alum, and former North Palm Beach Swim Team member, qualified for her second Olympic team in the sport of triathlon Friday at the ITU San Diego Triathlon. Reback clinched third, her first ITU Series podium finishing in 2 hours and 11 minutes for the Olympic-distance course. Bennett battled 2008 Olympic teammate Sarah Haskins for the final sport and clinched it on the final lap of the run.

"It's tough when you have to go up against a good friend," said the 37-year-old Bennett. "I put a lot of pressure on this day. Last year in London I just had a terrible day for some reason, I'm still not sure what happened. You know, in the end I think it was a blessing in disguise because there was things that I changed in my training that I wouldn't have changed if I had made the team. I think it made me a better athlete. It's hard to have the courage to change when things are going well. So I'm really well." Great Britain's Helen Jenkins won in 1:58.21 and may have locked up a spot on her Olympic team. On Saturday, former Florida Atlantic University runner and Rockway Club swimmer Manny Huerta of Miami, will try and qualify for his first Olympic team.

Sharon Robb can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.