Rio Olympics: Ryan Lochte, Michael Phelps shine in 200 IM prelims

Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps posted the top two times on Thursday in the 200-meter individual medley preliminaries at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials at Omaha, Neb.

Lochte, dealing with a groin injury, recorded the top prelims time of 1 minute, 58.05 seconds. Phelps swam in a different heat and had the second best overall time of 1:58.95.

The semifinals are Thursday night and Lochte and Phelps will again be in different heats. The finals are set for Friday.

Lochte said he is still experiencing a lot of pain due to his injury.

"I can't do a normal kick because it hurts so bad," he said afterward.

Phelps had a different issue -- he qualified for his fifth Olympics on Wednesday night and was unable to sleep and began sending text messages to coach Bob Bowman around 5 a.m.

"He pretty much said shut up and get ready for this morning," Phelps said. "So I went to sleep for a few hours and came over."

Lochte holds the world record in the 200 IM and has clocked five of the top 10 all-time best times. Phelps owns the other five.

In the 2012 Olympics in London, Phelps won the gold medal and Lochte settled for the silver.

In the men's 200 backstroke prelims, Jacob Pebley (1:56.29) and defending Olympic champion Tyler Clary (1:56.85) posted the fastest times.

In the women's 100 freestyle, Abbey Weitzeil (53.58 seconds), Amanda Weir (53.76) and Dana Vollmer (53.80) had the top prelims times.

In the women's 200 breaststroke, Micah Lawrence recorded the fastest time (2:26.27) in the prelims. Beathany Galat had the second fastest in 2:26.72.