Phelps edges Lochte in 100 backstroke

ATHENS, Ga. — Michael Phelps won the 100-meter backstroke on Saturday at the Bulldog Grand Slam, edging Ryan Lochte in another encouraging performance in his comeback.

Phelps, who retired after the last Olympics and stayed away from the pool for more than a year, finished in 53.88 seconds. Lochte was second at 54.40, and Olympian Tyler Clary finished third in 55.41.

This is his first meet for Lochte since he reinjured his surgically repaired left knee at the Mesa Grand Prix in April. He also lost to Phelps on Friday night, grabbing second in the 100 butterfly with a time of 53.08 seconds that was well off Phelps’ winning swim of 51.67.

The hastily arranged event on the University of Georgia campus gives some of the top swimmers on the East Coast a chance to swim one more time competitively before the next month’s national championships in Irvine, California.

The results from nationals, as well as the Pan Pacific Championships being held in Australia later in August, will determine the U.S. team for the 2015 world championships.

Lochte gets another shot at Phelps when the two compete in the 100 freestyle on Sunday. Lochte also is scheduled for the 200 individual medley and the 200 backstroke.

Other Olympians who were victorious Saturday included Camille Adams, who won the 200 butterfly in 2:08.45, and Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace of the Bahamas and Auburn University, who won the 50 freestyle in 24.67. Bruno Fratus of Brazil won the men’s 50 freestyle in 22.09, and Connor Jaeger took the men’s 400 freestyle in 3:45.34.

Georgia’s Chase Kalisz (men’s 200 butterfly) and Nicholas Fink (men’s 200 breaststroke), Kathleen Baker (women’s 100 backstroke) and California’s Cierra Runge (women’s 400 freestyle) also posted wins on Saturday.

Former Georgia swimmer Melanie Margalis won the women’s 200 breaststroke with a personal best time of 2:27.06.