OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Ryan Lochte scored another win over Michael Phelps at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials, but it was only the semifinals of the 200-meter freestyle.
Their next big showdown is Wednesday.
Lochte turned on an amazing burst of speed on the final lap Tuesday night, going stroke for stroke with Phelps before touching the wall in 1 minute, 46.25 seconds. Phelps finished in 1:47.27, setting up quite a race in the final.
Conor Dwyer, who actually led the semifinal heat through 150 meters, faded to third in 1:47.38.
Lochte beat Phelps in the 400 individual medley on the opening night of the meet, extending his domination over the 14-time Olympic gold medalist.
In other swimming action, Natalie Coughlin is under pressure from the 18-and-under crowd at the U.S. swimming trials.
The two-time defending Olympic champion in the 100-meter backstroke grabbed the next-to-last spot for Wednesday night’s final, where the top four qualifiers are all 18 or younger and three of them swam under 1 minute.
The 29-year-old veteran will be hard-pressed to finish first or second, which she needs to do to secure a spot on her third consecutive Olympic team. Her time of 1 minute, 0.63 seconds in Tuesday night’s semifinal landed her in an outside lane for the final.
"That was the main goal," Coughlin said of making the final. "We’ll see what happens. That’s all I can do right now."
Missy Franklin, the 17-year-old budding star who idolizes Coughlin, qualified fastest in 59.06 seconds. Rachel Bootsma, an 18-year-old from Eden Prairie, Minn., was second at 59.10. Olivia Smoliga, another 17-year-old from suburban Chicago, was third-quickest in 59.82.
Elizabeth Pelton, an 18-year-old who swam in the world championships last year, was fourth at 1:00.31. Bonnie Brandon, also 18, will be next to Coughlin in lane eight.
"I’m really happy for them," Coughlin said about her youthful rivals. "I’m really excited, not only for the US, but they’re going to my alma mater [Bootsma and Pelton will attend California.] They’re swimming amazingly well."
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