INDIANAPOLIS (Indiana), Aug 4: Michael Phelps nabbed two more titles at the US Swimming Championships on Friday, coming within a whisker of the 100m backstroke world record.

Olympic star Phelps turned in a scintillating performance in winning the 100m backstroke, seizing the lead after the turn and winning in 53.01sec, just three-hundredths of a second outside Aaron Peirsol’s world record and second-fastest of all time.

Ben Henson settled for third in 54.40. David Cromwell was second in 53.82.

Phelps had opened his evening with a triumph in one of his signature events, the 200m freestyle. He reached the halfway point on pace to match his own world record in the event and went on to win in a US Open record of 1min 44.98sec.

Peter Vanderkaay, winner of the 400m free on Thursday, closed in on Phelps in the home stretch but settled for second in 1:45.45, with Australia’s Kenrick Monk third in 1:47.40.

For the third and final time this week, Kate Zeigler and Katie Hoff battled for bragging rights. This time, it was Hoff who came out on top, winning the women’s 200m free in a US Open and meet record of 1:57.57.

World record-holder Brendan Hansen won the 100m breaststroke in 59.50, fastest in the world this year.

Rebecca Soni won the women's 100m breaststroke title in 1:07.06.—AFP