Sore neck sidelines Phelps at nationals

INDIANAPOLIS, July 10 (UPI) -- Nathan Adrian took advantage of the absence of Michael Phelps Friday to capture the 100-meter freestyle at the U.S. Swimming Championships in Indianapolis.

Phelps, the winner of eight Olympic gold medals in Beijing last year, withdrew from the freestyle event complaining of a sore neck. He said he hopes to compete Saturday in the 200-meter butterfly.

He has already won three national titles this week, one of them in world record time. He will return to the international scene this month at the world championships in Rome, where he is expected to compete in three individual races and three relays.

"Yesterday, I woke up with a crick in my neck," Phelps said. "I got it worked on after prelims, before finals and after finals.

"Then I woke up this morning and it was worse. When I came here and hopped in the water, I could barely turn to breathe. I'm disappointed I'm not swimming here, but the 200 fly is definitely my better race so I need to prepare for that."

Adrian, who swam on the winning American 400-meter freestyle relay team at the 2008 Olympics, won the 100-meter freestyle in 48.00. David Walters was second in 48.17.

In other finals Friday, Ryan Lochte captured the 200-meter individual medley (1:54.56), Elizabeth Beisel won the 200-meter backstroke (2:08.80) and Kathleen Hersey was the winner in the 200-meter butterfly (2:06.44).