Michael Phelps notched another mark in his comeback, defeating Ryan Lochte for the first time since the London Olympics on Friday.
Phelps, in his fourth meet after a 20-month retirement, won a 100m butterfly in Athens, Ga., in 51.67 seconds. His longtime rival Lochte, in his first meet since April, took second in 53.08.
Phelps’ time made him the second fastest man in the event this year, according to SwimVortex.com. He improved by nearly a half-second on his 100m fly finals times from the first three meets of his comeback -- 52.13, 52.13 and 52.11.
“I wanted to get under 52,” Phelps said. “I’m sick and tired of seeing 52.1. I guess it was what, seven hundredths off the No. 1 time in the world, so, I guess it’s a decent swim.
“I would have liked to have had the No. 1 time in the world.”
Phelps is the three-time reigning Olympic 100m fly champion, winning in 51.21 in London.
Phelps and Lochte raced once before this year, in a 100m fly in Phelps’ first return meet in April. There, Lochte won 51.93 to 52.13.
“I hope I lose,” Lochte said. “It will just make me more hungry. I hate to lose, and it pisses me off. [Phelps] swam a fantastic race [Friday]. It was really fast.”
Lochte is working his way back from aggravating a November knee injury in April. The 11-time Olympic medalist also won a 200m freestyle consolation final Friday.
Lochte clocked 1:48.69 in the 200m free, which would have placed fourth in the A final won by Olympic and World champion Yannick Agnel. Lochte missed the eight-man A final because he was 14th fastest in the morning preliminary heats. Phelps recorded a 1:48.2 in the 200m free on June 19.
The Bulldog Grand Slam continues Saturday with Phelps scheduled to swim the 100m backstroke. Phelps, Lochte and others are preparing for the U.S. Championships, Aug. 6-10 in Irvine, Calif., which serve as a selection meet for the Pan Pacific Championships, Aug. 21-24 in Gold Coast, Australia, and the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, Russia.
“This is always a big summer for U.S. swimmers because we pick two teams,” Phelps said. “So, you really have to be ready this year. If you’re not, you’re pretty much sitting around until [2016] Olympic Trials.”
In other events Friday, five-time 2012 Olympic medalist Allison Schmitt won the women’s 200m free in 1:58.16, out-touching Olympic relay and former University of Georgia teammate Shannon Vreeland by .18.
Olympian Micah Lawrence took the women’s 100m breaststroke in 1:08.5, nearly one second slower than her best time this year. Nic Fink won the men’s race in 1:01.69.
Melanie Margalis won the women’s 400m individual medley in 4:39.84, making her the third-fastest American this year.
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