Michael Phelps qualifies as 8th fastest in 200m freestyle at 2011 Eric Namesnik Grand Prix
The 25-year old, Michael Phelps, qualified as the eighth fastest swimmer in the semi-finals of the 2011 Eric Namesnik Grand Prix in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The championship will continue for three days and is the third last stop of the 2011 USA Grand Prix Series.
Phelps, who holds the pool record for the same event in a time of 1:49.29 minutes since 2003, unimaginably failed to qualify as the fastest swimmer in his event. He displayed a lazy swim of 1:51.45 and appeared as the last qualifying swimmer into the finals.
Phelps, who won eight record gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, stayed away from major world events during the year 2009 and 2010. He was passed over by his compatriot, Ryan Lochte, at the 2010 USA Swimming Championship in his favourite event
of 200m Individual Medley (IM).
Lochte defeated Phelps several times during these two years and did the same at the 2011 Austin Grand Prix Series.
Phelps then made a wonderful appearance in the 2011 USA Indianapolis Grand Prix, where he earned the crown in five events including the 200m IM. He also defeated his strongest competitor Ryan Lochte at the Indianapolis Grand Prix stop in March, 2011.
The 200m event was dominated by Trojan Swim Club’s Markus Rogan, who clocked 1:50.27 to qualify as the fastest swimmer. Rogan was followed by Daytona Beach’s Ryan Lochte, who touched the wall in 1:50.57, ahead of the Una Fast’s Michael Klueh, who stood third
with a time of 1:50.83.
All the qualifying swimmers had a time well under 1:52.89, FINA time qualification standard for the 2012 London Olympics. Scott T Clary, of Fast ST-CA, stood fourth in 1:50.98 ahead of his team member, Charlie Houchin, who posted 1:51.10. Wolverine Club’s,
Peng Wu, finished sixth in 1:51.26 while Brazilian, Th M V Pereira, was the last swimmer ahead of Phelps in 1:51.34.
The final of the same event will exhibit Phelps’s standing at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai this July and at the 2012 London Olympics.
Tags: