Veterans Thompson, Malchow lead U.S. to gold at Pan Pacs

Jim Armstrong, Associated Press, Yokohama, Japan

Veteran Jenny Thompson won the women's 50-meters freestyle Tuesday while fellow American and Olympic champion Tom Malchow upstaged world-record holder Michael Phelps in the 200 backstroke at the Pan Pacific swimming championships.

Defending champion Thompson, who owns eight Olympic gold medals and is making a comeback after a two-year layoff, clocked 25.13 seconds at the Yokohama pool, edging Australia's Jodie Henry (25.32) and compatriot Tammie Stone (25.42).

"I'm very excited," Thompson said of her fifth title in the 50 freestyle at the Pan Pacs. "That was my best time ever in this event so obviously I'm very pleased."

The Americans led the standings with 11 gold after four of the six days on the program.

Australia, which won four of five gold medals on the opening day, improved to eight golds when Petria Thomas won the women's 200 butterfly and Ian Thorpe anchored the 4x200 freestyle relay to a win in the last event of the night. It lifted Thorpe's haul to four gold, including the 200- and 400-meter freestyle and the 4x100 freestyle relay.

Malchow, who twisted his knee in a practice session Friday and was in doubt for the event, swam a championship record 1 minute, 55.21 to capture the 10th gold for the United States in upset over his younger teammate. Phelps was second in 1:55.41 while Japan's Takashi Yamamoto won the bronze medal in 1:55.57.

"I was happy with the result," said Malchow. "I was a little worried after what happened (Friday) but felt good tonight. I don't think Michael is going to go away - he and I have been going back and forth for a while.

"I had to put in a lot of work with Michael swimming so fast. I'd been at the top for so long, to have him come up and put me in my place was a bit of a shock at first."

The 17-year-old Phelps, who won the 200 butterfly at last year's world championships, was under the world-record pace at the 100 but then fell back over the last half of the race.

Phelps also won the gold medal in the 400 individual medley on Sunday. He'll be looking for another gold in the men's 200 IM on the final night of competition Thursday.

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Phelps set the world mark in the 400 individual medley with a time of 4:11.09 and swam the third fastest time in history in the 200 individual medley to set a US record in the US championships.

In the women's 200 freestyle, Lindsay Benko captured the ninth gold medal for the US, touching in 1:58.74. Australians Elka Graham (1:59.72) and Giaan Rooney (1:59.82) were second and third.

American Brendan Hansen won the men's 200 breaststroke in 2:11.80, edging Australian Jim Piper, who took silver in 2:12.53. Daisuke Kimura picked up bronze in 2:12.71 for the host nation.

Japan's Kosuke Kitajima, who won the gold medal in the 100 breaststroke, was forced to pull out of the 200 because of an injured elbow.

Thorpe posted a time of 49.24 in the semifinals of the men's 100 freestyle and was on track for his fifth gold medal of the meet.

American Scott Tucker clocked the fastest time of 49.20 in the 100, while Australia's Ashley Callus was third fastest in 49.61.