SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Aaron Peirsol handed Michael Phelps his second backstroke defeat in as many days, but Phelps won two other races on the final day of the Santa Clara international swim meet Sunday night.
Peirsol, the world champion, defeated a stellar field in the 100-meter backstroke. Swimming in lane seven, 34-year-old Jeff Rouse led after 50 meters. But Peirsol overtook Rouse, along with Phelps and defending Olympic champion Lenny Krayzelburg, to win in 54.91 seconds.
"That kind of heat humbles you for sure," Peirsol said. "I didn't realize what I was getting myself into until I heard the introductions. I'll always remember that heat."
The race was a likely preview of the U.S. Olympic trials in July, where the top two finishers earn trips to Athens. Peirsol's time broke Rouse's meet record of 55.13 set in 1992.
"This was the race of the weekend," said Peirsol, the 200 backstroke silver medalist in Sydney.
Phelps, who lost to Peirsol in the 200 backstroke Friday, was second in 55.41. Peter Marshall was third in 55.51. Rouse finished fourth in 55.66 and Krayzelburg, the world record holder, was fifth in 55.84.
"It's great," Peirsol said of beating Phelps twice. "But it's just two wins. I don't think it should be blown too out of proportion."
Krayzelburg, who swept the backstroke events in Sydney, is coming off two shoulder surgeries and a knee operation in the last four years. Rouse also is on the comeback trail after winning gold in the 1996 Olympics and silver in '92.
"That was probably the hardest event just because of the talent in there," Phelps said.
Phelps is expected to swim a full schedule in Athens in pursuit of Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals in one Olympics. However, he has yet to announce which events he will try to qualify in at the Olympic trials in Long Beach.
"Going out for the backstroke, I was shaking because I was cold and tired," Phelps said. "I went up against the best in the world in all three events. It was definitely hard, but it's good practice and training."
He swam six events in the four-day Santa Clara meet, including three within about an hour Sunday.
"It was a good racing experience for me," he said. "It showed us some things we're doing well and some things we need to work on in the next six weeks."
Phelps won the 100 freestyle by overtaking pacesetter Jason Lezak less than 10 meters from the wall. Phelps finished in 49.26 seconds and Lezak was timed in 49.53. They were the only swimmers to break 50 seconds in the nine-man field.
"I wanted to be faster," said Phelps, who will spend the next three weeks training at altitude in Colorado Springs, Colo. "It's going to leave some fire inside."
Phelps turned the 200 individual medley into a race for second place. He led all the way and defeated Mark Liscinsky by four body lengths. His time of 2:00.41 was well off his world record of 1:56.04 set last year. Tom Wilkens, a 2000 Olympian, was sixth.
Natalie Coughlin completed a sweep of the backstroke events, winning the 200 in 2:12.29. She was pushed most of the way by Hayley McGregory, who was second in 2:12.79. Coughlin, who like Phelps is tagged for stardom in Athens, earlier won the 100 freestyle.
"That's by far my fastest in-season time ever. I'm very, very happy with that race," Coughlin said.
Katie Hoff, a 14-year-old who trains at the same North Baltimore club as Phelps, showed she could be a threat to make the Olympic team. She reached five finals, and won the 400 individual medley in meet record time. She won the women's high point award.
"She is amazing," Coughlin said of Hoff. "I wish I was that young again."
Dana Kirk defended her title in the 200 butterfly, winning in 2:10.17 -- two seconds faster than last year. Her older sister, Tara, swept the 100 and 200 breaststrokes in the meet.
Brendan Hansen won the 200 breaststroke in 2:14.77, which was faster than he swam in winning last year. He also won the 100 breaststroke Friday.
Haley Cope was the 50 freestyle winner for the second straight year in 25.65 seconds.
Canadian Marianne Limpert, a 2000 Olympian, won the 200 individual medley in 2:15.34. At 31, Limpert was about a second off her silver medal-winning time in the 1996 Olympics. She defeated a trio of Sydney Olympians -- Gabrielle Rose (second), Kristy Kowal (fourth) and Kaitlin Sandeno (sixth).
Adrienne Binder won the 800 freestyle in 8:34.53. Erik Vendt won the 1,500 freestyle in 15:11.80 and Klete Keller was second, duplicating the Sydney Olympians' finish in the 800 free Thursday.
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