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Phelps wins another medal
08/06/2008 12:06 - (SA)
Omaha - Six-time Olympic gold medallist Michael Phelps won his third gold of the Mutual of Omaha Swimvitational on Saturday as top US swimmers try out the venue for the upcoming Beijing Olympic trials.
Phelps won the men's 100m back in 53.42sec, 41-hundredths of a second off his personal best but comfortably in front of David Plummer (54.82).
With the win Phelps secured the crown in USA Swimming's eight-meeting Toyota Grand Prix Series, with another day of action still scheduled Sunday in the two remaining Grands Prix - here and at the Charlotte Ultra Swim in North Carolina.
Phelps had won the 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly on Friday, the fly in the best time of the year of 51.04sec.
In addition to its Grand Prix status, the Swimvitational is a chance for American Olympic hopefuls to get familiar with the temporary pool set up at the Qwest Centre arena, where the cut-throat US trials will be held June 29-July 6.
Olympians Erik Vendt, Peter Vanderkaay, Margaret Hoelzer and Megan Jendrick also earned gold Saturday.
Vendt won the men's 400m medley in 4:14.99. A two-time Olympic silver medallist in the event, Vendt was lying second for the first half of the race, trailing Tyler Clary. A strong breaststroke leg put him in the lead and he went on to claim the victory over Alex Vanderkaay (4:21.58), with Clary third (4:24.98).
Allison Schmitt won the women's 200m free in a personal best of 1:57.48. Kim Vandenberg.
Rising US star Caitlin Leverenz added to her gold medal haul with a win in the women's 400m medley.
Veteran Kaitlin Sandeno led after the backstroke leg, but Leverenz surged ahead in the breaststroke en route to victory in 4:38.81. Sandeno was second in 4:45.57.
Margaret Hoelzer won the women's 100m back in 1:00.38, with Ukrainian Kateryna Zubkova second in 1:00.86 and Katie Hoff third in 1:01.86.
Two-time Olympic gold medallist Jendrick won the women's 100m breaststroke in 1:07.41, while Brazil's Henrique Barbosa wont he men's 100m breast in 1:01.40.
Peter Vanderkaay won the men's 200m free in 1:46.45, ahead of fellow American Dan Madwed (1:48.84), with South Africa's Jean Basson third in 1:48.92.
The meeting concludes on Sunday.
- AFP
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