COLUMBIA (Missouri), Feb 18: Superstar Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff both nabbed two golds on Sunday at the Missouri Grand Prix long course swimming meeting.

Hoff broke her second American record of the meet as she won the 200m freestyle in 1:56.08, lowering the previous American record set last year by Natalie Coughlin at the World Championships.

Coughlin was second in 1:57.47, and Kara Lynn Joyce was third with a time of 1:58.72.

All three medallists wore Speedo’s new LZR RACER suit, the space-age suit said to have five percent less drag in the pool than previous models from the manufacturer.

US space agency NASA, the Australian Institute of Sport and New Zealand’s University of Otago were all consulted in the development of the suits, which will likely be worn by a host of top swimmers at the Beijing Games in August.

Hoff took home her second gold of the morning with a win in the women’s 400m individual medley, clocking 4:34.53. Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry, who set a 200m backstroke world record on Saturday, was second in 4:37.70 and US teenager Caitlin Leverenz was third in 4:40.70.

Phelps triumphed in the men’s 200m freestyle and 400m medley.

Phelps won the 200m free in 1:45.71, setting a Mizzou pool record. Klete Keller was second in 1:47.54 and Erik Vendt third in 1:49.08.

In his last event of the day, Phelps won gold in the 400m medley in 4:14.08. Brazil’s Thiago Pereira won silver in 4:18.49 and Ryan Lochte was third in 4:22.06.

Brazil’s Cesar Cielo collected his second gold of the meet when he posted a time of 22.01 to win the 50m free. France’s Fred Bousquet took home the silver in 22.05 and Serbia’s Milorad Cavic rounded out the top three in 22.29.

Joyce won the women’s 50m free with a personal best time of 24.59. Veteran Dara Torres was second in 24.85 and Coughlin took third in 25.22.

American Eric Shanteau won the men’s 200m breaststroke in 2:10.86 ahead of Scott Usher with world record-holder Brendan Hansen settling for third.

The meet was scheduled to continue on Sunday evening with heats, to be followed by finals on Monday morning as swimmers prepare for a Beijing Olympic swimming programme featuring morning finals.

Selected results:

Men’s:

200m freestyle: 1. Michael Phelps (US) 1:45.71; 2. Klete Keller (US) 1:47.54; 3. Erik Vendt (US) 1:49.08.

200m breaststroke: 1. Eric Shanteau (US) 2:10.86; 2. Scott Usher (US) 2:11.80; 3. Brendan Hansen (US) 2:12.51.

50m freestyle: 1. Cesar Cielo (Brazil) 22.01; 2. Fred Bousquet (France) 22.05; 3. Milorad Cavic (SRB) 22.29.

400m medley: 1. Michael Phelps (US) 4:14.08; 2. Thiago Pereira (Brazil) 4:18.49; 3. Ryan Lochte (US) 4:22.06.

Women’s:

200m freestyle: 1. Katie Hoff (US) 1:56.08; 2. Natalie Coughlin (US) 1:57.47; 3. Kara Lynn (US) 1:58.72.

200m breaststroke: 1. Keri Hehn (US) 2:27.13; 2. Anne Poleska (Germany) 2:28.89; 3. Tara Kirk (US) 2:29.08.

50m freestyle: 1. Kara Lynn Joyce (US) 24.59; 2. Dara Torres (US) 24.85; 3. Natalie Coughlin (US) 25.22.

400m medley: 1. Katie Hoff (US) 4:34.53; 2. Kirsty Coventry (Zimbabwe) 4:37.70; 3. Caitlin Leverenz (US) 4:40.70.—AFP