Peirsol beats Lochte, ties 200 back world record

Both U.S. swimmers qualify for Beijing Olympics

Jamie Squire / Getty Images

Aaron Peirsol swims en route to winning the final of the 200 meter backstroke and tying second place finisher Ryan Lochte's world record of 1:54.32 during the U.S. swimming trials in Omaha.

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updated 8:30 p.m. ET July 4, 2008

OMAHA, Neb. - Aaron Peirsol has tied the world record in the 200-meter backstroke at the U.S. Olympic trials, beating rival Ryan Lochte in 1 minute, 54.32 seconds.

The two were stroke for stroke throughout the race, but Peirsol surged to the wall a fingertip ahead to equal the mark set by Lochte in his upset of Peirsol at last year’s world championships.

Lochte was second, just two-hundredths behind the winner in 1:54.34. They’ll both head to an expected rematch in Beijing, though Lochte had some more business Friday. He was scheduled to return about 20 minutes later to face Michael Phelps in the 200 individual medley final.

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