IRVINE: World champion Michael Phelps recovered from a slow start to win the 100 metres butterfly in a meet record of 50.86 seconds at the Pan Pacific Championships on Friday.

A day after he failed to reach the final of the 400 individual medley, the world record holder led all the way before surging clear over the last 50 metres to claim his third gold medal of the week.

Fellow American Tyler McGill touched second in 51.85 with Japan`s Takuro Fujii third in 52.12 on a balmy evening at the William Woolett Jr. Aquatics Centre.

"I just wasn`t able to build the speed I wanted to at the first turn," Phelps told reporters. "I guess I was off the blocks slow. I couldn`t get it going.

"After the first 50 there, I was able to finish well. But there are a lot of things I can work on to improve."

Phelps had said earlier this week he was in relatively poor shape coming into the Pan Pacs and that his failure to reach the medley final on Thursday had been a timely wake-up call.

"I feel a little bit better today than I have over the last couple of days, probably because it`s only two laps instead of four," the multiple Olympic gold medallist added.

South Korea`s Park Tae-hwan, trained by Australian coach Michael Bohl since January, posted the fastest time this year to win the men`s 400 freestyle after a close tussle with Ryan Cochrane.

Park, who gave his country their first Olympic swimming medal at the 2008 Beijing Games, overhauled Cochrane over the last 100 metres to touch first in 3:44.73 with the Canadian finishing second in 3:46.78.

Olympic champion Ryan Lochte of the U.S. stormed to his fourth gold medal of the week in the men`s 200 backstroke, setting a Pan Pac record with a time of 1:54.12.

Lochte opened a lead of 0.6 seconds after the first 100 metres before tightening his grip. His compatriot Tyler Clary was second in 1:54.90 with Japan`s Ryosuke Irie third in 1:55.21.

IN CONTROL

"I felt in control," Lochte said. "I tried to hold back on my first 50 ... and just went from there`

"It`s going good," he added of his 2010 campaign. "It`s just a stepping stone for next year`s worlds and the (2012) Olympics. I am right where I need to be."

Chloe Sutton upstaged fellow American Allison Schmitt by winning her first international title in the women`s 400 freestyle after powering home in 4:05.19.

The 18-year-old held off a strong late burst by Australian Katie Goldman who finished second in 4:05.84 with another Australian, Blair Evans, third in 4:06.36.

Schmitt, the leading U.S. contender in the absence of 2008 Olympic silver medallist Katie Hoff who failed to qualify from the morning heats, had to settle for fourth.

"I can`t believe this just happened," a beaming Sutton said. "I thought I would be coming second to Allison because she has been on fire at this meet. I am just so excited."

Dana Vollmer, with her fiancee Andy Grant watching in the stands, won the women`s 100 butterfly in 57.56 seconds after edging fellow American Christine Magnuson (57.95) in a tight finish.

"I didn`t think he was coming," Vollmer said of Grant`s surprise arrival. "It definitely helps me swim knowing he is up there."

American Jessica Hardy recorded the third fastest time ever with 30.03 seconds to secure gold in the women`s 50 breaststroke before Brazil`s Felipe Silva won the men`s event over the same distance in 27.26.

The U.S. won eight of the 10 finals on Friday, as Elizabeth Beisel won the women`s 200 backstroke while the men`s and women`s 4x100 freestyle relays also claimed gold, both of them with meet record times.

The success by the U.S. men`s relay team, who won in a time of 3:11.74, gave Lochte his fifth gold medal of the week and Phelps his fourth.

BDST: 1321HRS, August 21, 2010