OMAHA (Nebraska), June 28: Michael Phelps turned the tables on his great rival Ryan Lochte to win the 200 metres freestyle final at the US Olympic trials on Wednesday and remain on course for another massive haul at the London Games.

There was never more than a tenth of a second between them at any stage but it was Phelps who got his hand to the wall first in a relatively slow time of one minute 45.70 seconds.

Phelps and Lochte also sealed their places in the 4x200m freestyle relay and have now qualified for three events in London, with plenty more to come.

Missy Franklin, the emerging star of American women’s swimming, clinched her first Olympic berth when she won the 100m backstroke final in 58.85 seconds.

Rachel Bootsma flashed home to finish second, edging out Natalie Coughlin.

Matt Gevers, a silver medallist in Beijing four years ago, won the men’s 100m backstroke final in 52.08, the second fastest time ever recorded.

Breeja Larson won the women’s 100m breaststroke final in 1:05.92, upsetting world champion Rebecca Soni and world record holder Jessica Hardy.—Reuters