SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Michael Phelps brought a different feeling to the Santa Clara International Grand Prix on Friday night.
Before both of Phelps' races, swimmers surrounded the pool at the George F. Haines Center, eager to get a close look at the most decorated swimmer in history. Afterward, onlookers encircled Phelps as he spoke briefly to the media.
Phelps, 25, is bringing some changes inside the pool, as well.
The 14-time Olympic gold medalist won the 100-meter butterfly Friday night but couldn't overcome a slow start in the 100 freestyle, finishing second to South Korea's Tae-Hwan Park.
The 100 freestyle was not among Phelps' record haul of eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympics, and he has competed in the event only once on the world stage, finishing seventh at the 2005 world championships.
But Phelps has said that he hopes to add the 100 freestyle to his program for the 2012 London Olympics.
On Friday, he was fifth at the turn and couldn't catch Park, who won in 48.92 seconds and later cruised to a victory in the 400 freestyle.
"I just couldn't get into it -- I couldn't run him down," said Phelps, who finished in 49.61. "I need to work on finishing stronger."
There was no need for a strong finish in the 100 butterfly. Phelps, the world-record-holder in the event, went wire-to-wire, winning in 52.41.
"It's a bit off what I went earlier this year in the fly, but it was good just to get to race," Phelps said.
Phelps is scheduled to swim the 200 backstroke Saturday and the 200 butterfly Sunday.
Natalie Coughlin's weekend consisted of just one event, the 100 freestyle. Coughlin won the race but later was disqualified for staying underwater too long after leaving the starting blocks.
The disqualification brought out mixed emotions for the 11-time Olympic medalist. Coughlin was disappointed that she had to go through a drug test, television interview and medal ceremony before being notified of the result -- but she was thrilled with the reason for being disqualified.
"I was underwater for the same number of kicks I always do, so to go that far is pretty encouraging," Coughlin said. "I've been working on having great starts. That was a great sign."
The former Cal star plans to swim the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke at the world championships in July but will skip Sunday's backstroke race to celebrate Father's Day.
Melissa Franklin, a 16-year-old from Colorado, took the 100 freestyle title after Coughlin's disqualification.
American-record-holder Eric Shanteau won the 200 breaststoke in 2 minutes, 13.52 seconds, and Brendan Hansen continued his comeback with a second-place finish. Hansen gave up competitive swimming for triathlons after failing to win an individual medal at the 2008 Olympics but returned to training in December.
"I'm in a completely different position than a lot of people here, but I'm very pleased with this result," said Hansen, a former world-record-holder in the 200 breaststroke.
--American-record-holder Rebecca Soni dominated the 200 breaststoke, winning in 2:23.38. Seven-time Olympic medalist Amanda Beard finished second in 2:27.53, and former Stanford swimmer Elizabeth Smith was fourth (2:29.25).
--Former Cal star Dana Vollmer edged Stanford's Elaine Breeden in the 100 butterfly, winning in 58.22.
--Allison Schmitt won the 400 freestyle in 4:08.25.
--Palo Alto High junior Jasmine Tosky had the sixth-fastest time in the 100 butterfly (59.51) and the ninth-fastest time in the 100 freestyle (55.93).
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