Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page C10

OMAHA, Neb. Michael Phelps 2, Ryan Lochte 1. In their most stirring duel of the U.S. Olympic trials, Phelps and Lochte went stroke for stroke in the 200-meter individual medley Saturday night, the two greatest swimmers never more than inches apart. But Phelps led at every turn, and he really turned it on at the end to edge Lochte with a time of 1minute, 54.84 seconds nine- hundredths ahead of the runner- up and the fastest time in the world this year.

feels good to be back on that side, but sure not going to be the end of us going back and said Phelps, who spent four years training in Ann Arbor before the Beijing Olympics. For Phelps, it was an emphatic message on his 27th birthday that he intends to turn his last Olympics into another major medal haul. For Lochte, it was a gutsy performance coming just ahalf-hour after he won the grueling 200 backstroke. best thing about swimming is racing and stepping up against the Lochte said, not looking all that tired before he returned for his third race of the night, the semifinals of the 100 butterfly. Lochte finished third in his heat and set up one last race with Phelps today.

Phelps, the two-time defending Olympic champion in the 100 fly, advanced to the final with the another fastest time of 2012, powering away to win his heat in 51.35. Lochte tied for the sixth- fastest time in the semifinals (52.47), but this one of his specialties. need to pull a big upset to earn another Olympic event. After Phelps received his medals, the sellout crowd of more than 13,000 serenaded him with a rendition of Then he trotted around the deck to hug his mom and sister. In other events on the sixth night of the trials, Jessica Hardy made up for the disappointment of missing out on the Beijing Games because of a failed drug test, winning the 100 freestyle.

Missy moved a step closer to having a seven-event program in London, finishing second behind Hardy in 54.15, while 11-time Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin missed out on her last realistic chance at an individual Olympic race. was all my heart in that race right said Hardy, who won with a time of 53.96. Coughlin finished sixth, the last spot that can earn a possible berth on the 400 freestyle relay. But, at best, she would probably only get a morning swim at these games, a far cry from the six medals she won in China. Rebecca Soni locked up a second individual race in London, cruising to an easy win in the 200 breaststroke.

She was slow off the blocks and made the first turn in fourth, but there was never any real doubt about this one. Soni surged to the lead on the second lap and steadily pulled away, winning with the fastest time in the world this year, 2: 21.13. Micah Lawrence is heading to the Olympics for the first time, taking second place in 2:23.03. But 30-year-old Amanda Beard missed out on making a fifth Olympic team, fading to sixth be disappointed in said Beard, who first came to prominence as a 14-year- old medalist at the Atlanta Olympics. very proud that I pushed Swimming JAMIE IMAGES Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps (white cap) compete in the final of the 200 individual medley.

Phelps beats Lochte in 200 IM Free Press News Services 10C WWW.FREEP.COM SUNDAY, SPORTS U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS SAN JOSE, Calif. Of all the marquee sports be wrapping up their Olympic trials today and Monday, the one with the fewest competitors gymnastics has the three-ring circus all to itself. So take out your scorecard. Get ready for some drama.

Unlike swimming and track and field, the order of finish is not the way the full and U.S. Olympic gymnastics teams are determined for the London Games. The men wrapped up their competition Saturday with only the partial team having been named with Danell Leyva and John Orozco punching their ticket to London. They earned their berthsbased on their all- around performances after two days of trials at the HP Pavilion combined with two rounds at the U.S. Championships in mid-June in St.

Louis. The remaining three gymnasts and up to three alternates will be determined behind closed doors by a selection committee and revealed sometime today. University of Michigan junior Sam Mikulak, who suffered asprained ankle Thursday on vault the first day of the trials, remains in contention based on qualify criteria despite being limited to just one event (pommel horse) Saturdaybecause of his injury. Determining the Olympic team is equally as convoluted: Only the all-around champion after last day of the trials will earn a guaranteed spot. The other four Olympians and up to three alternates will be determined by a selection committee and announced before NBC concludes its broadcast.

The reason gymnastics differs from swimming and track and field is simple: all about the team. Team medals awarded at the Olympics for overall performance in track and field and swimming, like they are in gymnastics. team is John Geddert, coach of reigning world champion Jordyn Wieber, said last week. In team qualifying at the London Olympics, four gymnasts compete on the each event and the lowest score is dropped. For team finals, it switches to a three-up, three-count format, with three gymnasts competing on each event and all three scores counting.

Wieber, from DeWitt, lost an all-around competition since 2008. considered a lock even if she win the all-around tonight. She has been the top (and most consistent) U.S. female gymnast since last summer, when she captured her first senior national title. Wieber, 16, has a .300 lead over Gabby Douglasafter posting the highest score (61.700) in Friday all-around.

Aly Raismanis in third place (60.300) and figures to make the London roster along with Wieber and Douglas. Beyond them, who knows? Well, Martha Karolyihas a hunch. As the U.S. national team coordinator, influence on the selection committee is huge. She said last week that she has one in her head and a lot of alternative scenarios as well.

Sitting in fourth, fifth and sixth heading into finale are Elizabeth Price, Kyla Ross and Sara Finnegan. McKayla Maroney, the world champion on vault, posted the best score Friday on the apparatus but among the top three in any of the other events. currently seventh in the all-around. Ross tied for first with Anna Lion bars (15.500). Price had the second-best vault behind Maroney, and she was top six in bars and floor exercise.

Nastia Liukin, the 2008 Olympic all-around champion, figure to be in the mix after she landed on her bottom on the uneven bars. Her Beijing Olympic teammate, Alicia who suffered a torn Achilles tendon at last worlds could also be on the outside looking in. As an event specialist, competing on only two apparatuses, vault and balance. She was sixth Friday night on vault with a 15.700, and wobbled on beam but posted a 15.000, which was still good for third place. Wieber and her coaches had planned for her to take the morning off Saturday, and work out only once, later in the day.

in, stretch, smell the chalk dust a little Geddert said. come in here and try to blast out some routines is not a good idea. certainly not over yet. Gabby had some issues (on routines), and others did as well, but we all know they can close the gap in a hurry. But Jordyn will be ANOTHER WIEBER AT THE Wieber older sister, has been working alongside USA athletic training and medical staff at the Olympic trials.

A med student at College of Osteopathic Medicine, she has been assisting during podium training. But on Friday night, Lindsay, 25, was with her family as Jordyn came out on top during on the first day of the trials. so proud of Lindsay said of her sister. works so hard every day. She has such a cool For the past two years, Lindsay Wieber has worked once a week at Twistars USA gym in Dimondale with Larry Nassar the longtime USA Gymnastics national team physician.

He received his medical degree from Michigan State in 1993. CONTACT JO-ANN BARNAS: 313-222-2037 OR FOLLOW HER ON TWITTER Gymnastics notebook JAE C. PRESS Jordyn Wieber lost an all-around competition since 2008. She posted a 61.700 in the all-around and leads going into the final day. Final spots on teams may add drama after trials Selection committee will make last picks By Jo-Ann Barnas Free Press Sports Writer GYMNASTICS TRIALS Where: HP Pavilion, San Jose, Calif.

Schedule: Today finals. TV: NBC (Channel 4 in Detroit) Localto watch: Women Jordyn Wieber (DeWitt). SWIMMING TRIALS When: Through Monday. Where: CenturyLink Center, Omaha, Neb. schedule: Morning prelims 50 free, 1,500 free.

events (finals unless noted) 200 back, 100 fly, 800 free, 50 free, 50 free semifinals. TV: NBC (Channel 4in Detroit) 8-9 p.m. LOCALS TO WATCH Peter Vanderkaay Michigan alum. Allison Schmitt Canton. Kara Lynn Joyce Ann Arbor.

Matt Patton Ann alum. Dan Madwed Ann alum. Davis Tarwater Michigan alum. Emily Brunemann Michigan alum. Charlie Houchin Michigan alum.

Sean Ryan Michigan junior. TRACK TRIALS Where: University of Oregon, Eugene. At stake: Top three in each event earn berths to London provided they have achieved the standard. More information at www.usatf.org. TV: NBC (Channel 4 in Detroit) 7-8 p.m.

LOCALS SCHEDULED TO COMPETE TODAY Will Leer: Ann Arbor, 1,500. Anna (Willard) Pierce: Former U-M athlete, 1,500. SAN JOSE, Calif. It the easiest spot to be in, entering the final day of the U.S. Olympic gymnastics trials as a competitor and spectator at the same time.

But Sam swollen and bruised left ankle had left him no choice. The University of Michigan junior scratched five of his six events in final round after winning the all- around on the first day of the trials. Why do even one? Mikulak suffered the sprained ankle while landing awkwardly on the vault Thursday night wanted to perform on the pommel horse to appease not only the Olympic team selection committee, but himself. In his mind were the words his father, Stephen Mikulak, an orthopedic surgeon based in Newport Beach, told him Saturday morning before he left for the arena: have anything to prove. Do the right thing.

get Two weeks ago, Mikulak, 19, had proved himself an Olympic contender after winning the bronze medal at the U.S. Championships, hitting 12 of 12 events over two days. With the two rounds of nationals and the trials counting equally, Mikulak entered the fourth and final stage less than a point out of second place meaning, he would have been a contender for one of the top two automatic berths (which on Saturday went to trials winner Danell Leyva and runner-up John Orozco). woke up this morning saying, going to grit my teeth and do said Mikulak, who has suffered from frequent sprains since breaking both ankles in a meet in Puerto Rico last summer. But the trainers, his father, and his trio of Michigan coaches, led by Kurt Golder, talked him out of it.

But they did agree to let him do one event pommel horse in order to strengthen their claim that Mikulak should be granted one of the three Olympic berths that will be announced at 1p.m. today, when the selection committee makes its decision. did one event because considered a withdraw from competition if he Golder said. we did that, then have to petition, and later have to his readiness. And to Golder, Mikulak has shown himself to be a nominated outright to the Olympic team for the London Games.

what he did tonight was the highest pressure situation that ever been in and Sam did he said. what happened: For nearly two hours, Mikulak, wearing red and white sweats and carrying his athletic bag, followed the gymnasts in his group from apparatus to apparatus during the competition. He raised his arms in victory when David Sender delivered a big 16.00 score on the vault. He cheered the performances of Paul Ruggeri on parallel bars and Alex Buscaglia on high bar. He paced near the floor exercise mat as Sender finished his routine.

Then it was turn on his only event rotation five pommel horse. After a brief warm-up period, Mikulak mounted the horse and began swinging, moving along the apparatus with power and grace, the crowd clapping along. His score: 14.400. And today he will learn: Was it enough? did everything I could to get to where at Mikulak said. happy with every performance had.

just ready for the announcement to gymnastics Injured ankle limits Mikulak to one event But U-M hopes for Olympics still alive By Jo-Ann Barnas Free Press Sports Writer KYLE PRESSWIRE Sam Mikulak scratched five of his six events in the final round because of a swollen ankle. EUGENE, Ore. Allyson Felix won the 200 meters at the U.S. track trials in 21.69 seconds, a meet record and personal best. Felix will be joined on the Olympic team for London by runner-up Carmelita Jeter, who finished in 22.11, and Santa Richards-Ross, third in 22.22.

Still unresolved is the third- place tie last weekend in the 100 between Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh. Bobby Kersee, coach of both women, said he wanted to wait until after the 200 to decide how to break the tie, either by a runoff, coin flip, or if one athlete concedes. A decision was expected this morning, the final day of the trials at Hayward Field. Tarmoh finished fifth in the 200. HIGH JUMP: Chaunte Lowe earned her fifth national outdoor title and a spot on the Olympic team, clearing 6 feet, 7 inches.

Brigetta Barrett finished second after successfully clearing 6-7, also apersonal best, and veteran Amy Acuff was third with a jump of 6-4 3 4 for the other two spots on the team for the London Games. It will be fifth Olympics. Lowe broke the meet record of 6-6 1 2 set by Louise Ritter in 1988. HURDLES: Aries Merritt posted the best time in the world this year in the 110 hurdles, winning in 12.93 seconds. Jason Richardson the reigning world champion, was second in 12.98 and Jeffrey Porter finished third in 13.08 to round out the team for the London Games.

HEPTATHLON: Hyleas Fountain won her fifth national title, finishing with 6,419 points for a place on the Olympic team. Sharon Day was second with 6,343 points and Chante McMillan finished third with 6,188 for the other two spots on the team going to the London Games. RACE WALK: Trevor Barron broke the American record in the race walk, winning in 1hour, 23 minutes to earn a spot in the London Games. Barron broke the record of 1:23:40.00 set by his coach, Tim Seaman in 2000. Barron also broke the meet record of 1:25:40.00, set by Seaman in 2004.

Track and field Felix sets meet record in 200M run Free Press News Services.