In Brief

OLYMPICS

Phelps edges Lochte
again at U.S. swim trials

In their most stirring duel of the U.S. Olympic trials, Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte went stroke for stroke in the 200-meter individual medley Saturday night in Omaha, Neb., the world's two greatest swimmers never more than inches apart.

But Phelps led at every turn, and he turned it on at the end to edge Lochte with a time of 1 minute, 54.84 seconds - nine-hundredths ahead of the runner-up and the fastest time in the world this year.

For Phelps, it was an emphatic message on his 27th birthday that he intends to turn his last Olympics into another major medal haul. For Lochte, it was a gutsy performance coming just a half-hour after he won the 200 backstroke.

Lochte then took third in his 100 butterfly heat to set up one last race with Phelps today. On the first night of the trials, Lochte beat Phelps in the 400 individual medley; Phelps rebounded to win the 200 freestyle and now the 200 IM.

Jessica Hardy made up for the disappointment of missing out on the Beijing Games because of a failed drug test, winning the 100 freestyle. Seventeen-year-old Missy Franklin moved a step closer to having a seven-event program in London, finishing second behind Hardy.

Also: Allyson Felix won the women's 200-meter dash at the U.S. Olympic track trials in Eugene, Ore., in a meet-record 21.69 seconds, well ahead of Carmelita Jeter in 22.11 and Sanya Richards-Ross in 22.22. Earlier, Aries Merritt posted the best time in the world this year in the men's 110 hurdles, winning in 12.93 seconds.

Still unresolved is the third-place tie last weekend in the women's 100 between Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh. The tie will be broken either by a runoff, coin flip or if one athlete concedes. A decision was expected today.

Danell Leyva earned an automatic spot on the U.S. Olympic men's gymnastics team, almost 20 years after fleeing Cuba with his mother and sister.

Leyva edged teammate John Orozco by almost a point in the Olympic trials at San Jose, Calif. Because both finished in the top three in at least three events, they automatically qualified for the Olympic team.

The remaining three members will be announced today.

MISCELLANEOUS

49ers linebacker Smith
recovering after stabbing

The San Francisco 49ers said linebacker Aldon Smith sustained minor injuries during an incident Friday night in San Jose, Calif., and that he is recovering comfortably.

A person with knowledge of the situation said Smith suffered stab wounds. The team said it is in communication with authorities and won't comment further at this time.

Smith, 22, made a franchise rookie record 14 sacks last season, the most among NFL rookies.

Also: Mark Calcavecchia shot 6-under 64 for a share of the third-round lead with Joe Daley at the Senior Players Championship in Pittsburgh. Calcavecchia, the Montreal Championship winner last week, matched Daley (68) at 12-under 198.

Veronica Felibert shot 5-under 66 to stretch her lead from one stroke to four at 11-under 131 in the LPGA's NW Arkansas Classic in Rogers, Ark. Mika Miyazato (65) and former Bishop Gorman High School standout Inbee Park (68) were tied for second.

Jamie Donaldson shot 3-under 69 to take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the European PGA Tour's Irish Open, while Rory McIlroy (71) finished six shots off the lead. Donaldson posted a 12-under 204 total.

Henderson's Kevin Marsh, 39, overcame an opponent half his age to win the California Amateur Championship, defeating Ben Geyer, 20, of Arbuckle, Calif., 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final in Santa Barbara.