U.S. Nationals Day 3: Soni, Phelps turn in world's best times

IRVINE, Calif. – Rebecca Soni and Michael Phelps turned in the fastest times in the world this year in their respective events Thursday at the ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships.

Soni took the 100m breaststroke by more than two seconds over the rest of the field, touching in 1:05.73. Phelps, meanwhile, won his 50th career national title in the men’s 100m butterfly in 50.65.

The two swimmers won their races in similar fashion: more or less maintaining contact with the rest of the field at the turn, then surging ahead as they made their way home.

The women’s 100m breast featured a showdown in the middle of the pool between Soni and Jessica Hardy, the two fastest swimmers of all time in this event and the top two Americans in the world this year.

Last year, Soni set the world record in this event en route to a gold medal at the FINA World Championships in Rome, only to have Hardy break that record a week later at the U.S. Open in Federal Way, Wash.

So all eyes were on the center lanes as the two took their marks on the blocks. Hardy Jumped out to a nine-hundredths-of-a-second lead over Soni at the wall, but as they turned, it was all Soni, who built about a three-body-lengths lead on the pack as she made her way down the pool.

Annie Chandler finished second in 1:08.07, while Micah Lawrence was third in 1:08.48. Hardy faded to seventh in 1:09.24.

“It’s always good to be up there at the wall,” Soni said. “That last 50 is my forte. I’m happy with the way it turned out.”

Phelps bested the field in the men’s 100m fly but about a second and a half. Finishing second was Tyler McGill in 52.20, while Timothy Phillips was third in 52.41. McGill represented the U.S. in this event at the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome, where he placed seventh.

Phelps felt his effort tonight was far better than his win in last night’s 200m butterfly. His time was more than a second faster than what is now the second-fastest time in the world this year (51.70).

“I wanted to put some distance between my time and the best time in the world,” Phelps said. “Everything I set out to do tonight I accomplished. I couldn’t have felt better than I did tonight. I felt like my speed finally clicked. I felt more like myself in that race than I did in the 200 fly last night.”

Kara Lynn Joyce won her second career national title in the women’s 50m freestyle, separating herself from the field in the final 10 meters of the race to touch in 24.86, the fourth-fastest time in the world this year. Madison Kennedy was second in 25.15, while 2004 Olympian Amanda Weir was third in 25.29.

Joyce won her last national title in this event in this very pool in 2006. She was very happy with her race, especially after finishing ninth in the 50 at last year’s World Championship Trials.

“I had my eyes closed most of the race,” Joyce said. “I didn’t really know where I was. I was just hoping for something good. I was just in the zone. I don’t remember the race at all.

“This ranks pretty high, just to come back from last year. I changed everything for this, and I’m just really happy.”

The results from the men’s 50m free are still unofficial, as the race was swum under protest. Nathan Adrian turned in the fastest time in 22.70.

“That was the strongest I’ve felt in the water in a long time,” Adrian said.

Caitlin Leverenz also won her second career national title Thursday, finishing first in the women’s 400m IM in 4:35.60, the fifth-fastest time in the world this year.

Leverenz took the lead in the first length of the breaststroke leg and never looked back as she cruised to the win. Finishing behind her were Ariana Kukors in 4:37.03 and Katie Hoff in 4:37.51.

Leverenz has had quite a meet so far, also finishing second behind Kukors in the 200m IM on the first night of competition.

“I’ve had some ups and downs since missing the Olympic Team in 2008, and I’m just happy things are finally falling into place.”

This year’s ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships will decide the U.S. team roster for a number of international competitions in the next year, including the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships, the 2010 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, the 2010 FINA Short Course World Championships, the 2011 FINA World Championships and the 2011 World University Games. Team rosters will be posted on usaswimming.org as they are released.
 
The meet resumes tomorrow with prelims and finals of the men’s 100m freestyle, women’s 200m butterfly, men’s 200m IM and women’s 200m backstroke. Prelims of the men’s 1500m free and women’s 800m free will also be contested. Complete results can be found at usaswimming.org/nationals.