In the men’s 400m IM, Michael Phelps (Baltimore, Md.) is the top seed entering tonight’s finals, after clocking a 4:12.01 in the morning swim. He will be joined tonight by teammate and new backstroke world record-holder Ryan Lochte (Daytona Beach, Fla.), who took the fourth seed with a time of 4:13.71. In the second slot is Italy’s Luca Marin. University of Southern California product Ous Mellouli is the third seed (4:13.44).
It was a disappointing morning for the U.S. men’s medley relay team of Neil Walker (Verona, Wis.), Lochte, Ian Crocker (Portland, Maine) and Scott Usher (Grand Island, Neb.), who were disqualified by an early start. Due to the disqualification, the relay will not compete in tonight’s finals.
The DQ of the relay gives an added importance to the upcoming Duel in the Pool. Since these World Championships serve as a qualifying meet for the 2008 Olympic Games, 12 relay squads have earned a bid. The U.S. men’s medley finds itself tasked with posting a strong time when it competes in Sydney on Tuesday. FINA rules stipulate that the top 12 relays from the World Championships, along with the next four fastest squads, will go to the Olympics.
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