With a month to go until his six-month suspension for a second drunken driving arrest ends, Michael Phelps is getting in some racing even if it's just an exhibition.
Phelps swam the 100-yard butterfly in 44.91 seconds Friday before the American Short Course Championships got underway. It was the first time the 18-time Olympic champion had gone under 45 seconds in the event. His previous best was 45.40 in 2008 at a Grand Prix meet. If his time had counted, it would have been good enough for 10th-fastest ever.
Phelps swam the 200 individual medley Thursday, clocking an unofficial time of 1:40.84, which would have been seventh-quickest ever. He swam his events before the start of the evening finals.
His 200 IM effort was his second-fastest ever, behind the 1:40.58 he swam in 2010.
Phelps' suspension handed down by USA Swimming ends April 6. He is expected to compete for the first time in a meet in Arizona from April 15-18.
