Back-to-Back Records Set in 100m Freestyle

By Associated Press | July 3, 2008

OMAHA, Neb. — Jason Lezak and Garrett Weber-Gale set back-to-back American records in the 100-meter freestyle preliminaries at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials, with Michael Phelps going under 48 seconds yesterday.

Phelps's time of 47.92 seconds should lock up his spot on the 400 free relay in Beijing. Having accomplished that goal, he promptly dropped out of the evening semifinals.

"He was trying to break 48 and he did. That sets him up nicely for the relay and hopefully answers some questions," Phelps' coach Bob Bowman said. "Clearly, I think Michael should be on the relays. We wanted to just kind of relieve any controversy."

Bowman said Phelps wasn't tempted to continue on in the 100 free because that race and his 200 butterfly final are about 20 minutes apart Wednesday night.

"That double is cruel and unusual," Bowman said. "He could do it, but I wouldn't ask anybody to do it."

Phelps may decide to drop the 200 backstroke, which begins today with prelims.

"Things are going kind of well, so we'll see," Bowman said. "Our program is looking good."

Lezak, a 32-year-old from Irvine, Calif., won his heat in 48.15, bettering his old mark of 48.17 set four years ago at the trials in Long Beach, Calif.