Lochte beats Phelps in 200 IM at US nationals

Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte smiles as he takes questions from the media at the U.S. swimming nationals news conference in Irvine, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014. AP

IRVINE, California – Ryan Lochte beat Michael Phelps to win the 200-meter individual medley at the U.S. national championships, keeping Phelps winless in four races.

Lochte, the world champion, led all the way and touched in 1 minute, 56.50 seconds Sunday.

Phelps, the three-time Olympic champion in the event, chased Lochte throughout and pulled into the wall second in 1:56.55.

It was Lochte’s first victory of the five-day meet after finishing second in the 100 freestyle and third in the 200 backstroke.

Four months into his comeback, Phelps came up empty. He finished second in the 100 butterfly, sixth in the 100 back and seventh in the 100 free.

Olympian Tyler Clary finished third in 1:57.94.

Lochte, Phelps and Clary are headed to Australia to compete in the Pan Pacific Championships this month.