Recharged Phelps romps to win in 400 individual medley

By Steve Keating

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Reuters) - A recharged Michael Phelps shot to victory in the 400 meter individual medley at the Columbus Grand Prix on Saturday, after earlier pulling out of the 400 freestyle when he felt asleep on the diving tower.

The world record holder in the event, Phelps clocked four minutes, 13.73 seconds to easily outdistance team mate Erik Vendt, who had posted the fastest time in the morning heats.

With Phelps exhausted from a brutal training schedule, coaches decided to pull the 22-year-old out of the 400 free and allow him to concentrate on the individual medley.

"I'm more rested now and I'm getting more tonight," Phelps told reporters. "Hopefully I'll have a good 100 (freestyle) tomorrow.

"The only thing I wanted to do was be faster than I was in Missouri (Grand Prix) and I was faster here."

Phelps, who swam three finals in 52 minutes on Friday, will wrap up the meet with the 100m freestyle on Sunday.

He then heads to the United States Olympic Committee's training centre in Colorado Springs for more intense training as he continues his Beijing buildup.

Katie Hoff was also an easy winner in the women's 400IM clocking 4:34.49, more than nine seconds clear of Kaitlin Sandeno.

It was the third win in two days for Hoff, who has been the meeting's dominant performer.

Hoff, the youngest member of the U.S. swimming team at the Athens Olympics at 15, could possibly compete in seven events in Beijing.

"I took some chances with the race going out and it was the best first 200 I've had," said Hoff. "My schedule is pretty much set.

"The obvious ones are the 100, 200, and 400 free and the 200 and 400 IMs," she added looking ahead to the U.S. Olympic trials from June 30 to July 6 in Omaha, Nebraska.

(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)