Victoria, British Columbia – Michael Phelps set a world record for the first time since 2004, lowering his mark in the 200-meter butterfly at the Pan Pacific Championships on Thursday night. The American came from behind on the final lap to win in 1 minute, 53.80 seconds. His previous mark of 1:53.93 came at the 2003 world championships in Barcelona, Spain.
Phelps was under world-record pace by 0.16 of a second after the opening 50 meters, but he fell off it as Ryuichi Shibata of Japan overtook him and led the next two laps. Known for his finishing strength, Phelps roared back in the closing strokes to win by 2.02 seconds. Shibata was second in 1:55.82 and teammate Takeshi Matsuda finished in 1:56.20.
Australian Jess Schipper won the women’s 200 butterfly in a world record of 2:05.40. That bettered the mark of 2:05.61 set by Otylia Jedrzejczak of Poland at last year’s world championships in Montreal.
The United States and Japan were tied atop the medal standings with eight each after one night of competition.
But the Americans won a leading five golds, capped by Kate Ziegler’s victory in the 1,500 freestyle. Aaron Peirsol (100 backstroke), Klete Keller (200 freestyle) and Katie Hoff (200 freestyle) won their respective events.
TENNIS
Clijsters to miss U.S. Open with injury
Defending champion Kim Clijsters will miss the U.S. Open because of a left wrist injury. A posting on her website said an MRI and X-ray showed the problem is worse than originally believed and that the Belgian will be sidelined for the coming weeks – probably two months, meaning she’ll also miss the Fed Cup final in September.
The U.S. Open starts Aug. 28.
One day after he ended Roger Federer’s two-year run of 55 consecutive victories in North America, British teenager Andy Murray rallied on aching legs in the third set, beating American Robby Ginepri 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters in Mason, Ohio. Murray’s next opponent is Andy Roddick, who beat Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Chela 6-3, 6-4. The quarterfinal match is scheduled for tonight.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Utah quarterback Johnson to redshirt
Brian Johnson will take his redshirt season this fall, allowing his knee to completely recover from Dec. 1 surgery and narrowing Utah’s quarterback race to two.
The rehabilitation had gone quickly enough that Johnson was challenging Brett Ratliff and Tommy Grady for the starting job, but the knee isn’t ready. Johnson, who was fourth nationally in total offense last year, has two years of eligibility remaining.
Oklahoma State wide receiver Anthony Parks will miss the season because of undisclosed health reasons. Parks, a junior, transferred from Butler County (Kan.) Community College, and had three catches for 81 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown catch, in the spring game.
NHL
Malkin mystery ends in Los Angeles
The Evgeni Malkin mystery finally ended as the hockey star surfaced in Los Angeles with his agents, five days after slipping away from his Russian Super League team during training camp in Finland and vanishing from sight.
Less than 24 hours after flying from Helsinki to the United States, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ draft pick showed up, naturally, on a hockey rink. He skated with about 20 NHL players at the Los Angeles Kings’ practice rink in El Segundo, trading passes and working out with players such as Rob Blake, Glen Murray, Chris Simon and Anson Carter.
“He got in a great workout today,” agent Pat Brisson said. “He’s going to stay here for a while, until we can move forward with Pittsburgh.”
The Atlanta Thrashers traded prospect Karl Stewart and draft options to the Anaheim Ducks for veteran defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski.
The Vancouver Canucks re-signed defenseman Kevin Bieksa and right wing Tyler Bouck.
FOOTNOTES
Holyfield, 43, begins comeback trail
Evander Holyfield, boxing’s only four-time heavyweight champion, begins his quest to become a five-timer tonight with a bout in Dallas against Jeremy Bates, an insurance salesman who had retired with a 21-11-2 record until Holyfield called. Holyfield is 43 and has won only one of his past six fights. He hasn’t fought in 21 months.
Guard Eddie House signed with the New Jersey Nets after averaging a career-high 9.8 points last season with the Phoenix Suns.
The New York Red Bulls acquired forward John Wolyniec from the Los Angeles Galaxy for a fourth-round draft pick in next year’s MLS draft and a second-round selection in 2008.
Chace City, ridden by Edgar Prado, darted to the lead and won the 6 1/2-furlong, $200,000 Saratoga Special Breeders’ Cup Stakes in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. King of the Roxy, with jockey John Velazquez, was second, while Shermanesque was third under Javier Castellano.
Olympic heptathlon champion Carolina Kluft will be sidelined four to five weeks because of a thigh injury.
Formula One racing signed a one-year deal to return its U.S. Grand Prix to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Kara Lawson scored a career playoff high 18 points and Yolanda Griffith added 16 points and nine rebounds as the defending WNBA champion Sacramento Monarchs beat the Houston Comets 93-78 in their playoff opener.
Deanna Nolan scored 18 points and Katie Smith added 17 to help the Detroit Shock beat the Indiana Fever 68-56 and take a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference series.
Former Monarchs coach Sonny Allen is recovering at a rehabilitation center in Reno, Nev., after contracting a severe form of West Nile virus. Allen, 70, spent six days in intensive care after developing meningitis and encephalitis. He also coached at Old Dominion, SMU and Nevada.
