SWIMMING: RECORD-BREAKING DAY FOR PHELPS SETS WORLD MARK IN 200 IM FOR FIFTH GOLD MEDAL.

Byline: Staff and Wire Reports

VICTORIA, British Columbia -- Fueled by a big defeat to teammate Aaron Peirsol a night earlier, Michael Phelps responded Sunday with a world-record win in the 200-meter individual medley for his fifth gold medal at the Mutual of Omaha Pan Pacific Championships.

Not to be outdone, American Brendan Hansen lowered his own world record in the 200 breaststroke for the second time in two weeks, beating reigning Olympic champion Kosuke Kitajima of Japan.

Phelps won six medals, including five gold, and set world records in the 200 IM, 200 butterfly and 400 freestyle relay. His only loss was to Peirsol in the 200 backstroke.

The U.S. brought home a meet-leading 44 medals in the four-day competition, including 24 gold, one short of its total in 1987 and 1991.

Phelps powered past American teammate Ryan Lochte on the final lap, touching in 1minute, 55.84 seconds. That bettered his mark of 1:55.94, set in 2003 at a meet in his home state of Maryland.

A huge grin spread across Phelps' face and he raised his arms in triumph. He then signaled No. 1 with both index fingers before hugging Lochte.

``I hate to lose,'' said Phelps, referring to Peirsol's 2.37-second victory Saturday in the 200 backstroke.

``It was good for me to get in the water and be pushed and get taken to a new level with Ryan,'' he added. ``It was a best time for me, but I think over the next few years it's going to be even better.''

After Lochte (1:56.11) gained the lead on the backstroke leg and was below pace on the breaststroke, Phelps methodically picked him off on the freestyle leg to win his last race.

Phelps was not part of the U.S. team for the 400 medley relay, the night's last event. The quartet of Peirsol, Hansen, Ian Crocker and Jason Lezak won in a meet-record 3:31.79, giving the Americans a sweep of all six relays.

In the men's 200 breaststroke, Hansen led all the way and touched in 2:08.50 -- slicing 0.24 seconds off the mark he set Aug. 5 at the ConocoPhillips National Championships in Irvine.

Hansen checked his time on the scoreboard, shouted ``Yeaaah!'' and punched the water with his fist, sending a spray into the air. Kitajima (2:10.87) took the silver.

``With Peirsol breaking the world record last night and Michael coming out tonight, it was just fitting for me to come out and do the same,'' he said.

Hansen, who also won the 100 breaststroke, has carried an admitted chip on his shoulder since Kitajima beat him twice at the 2004 Athens Olympics, where the American settled for bronze in both breaststroke events.

Rising U.S. star Cullen Jones won the men's 50 freestyle in a Pan Pac record 21.84, just two-tenths off the world mark held by Russia's Alexander Popov. South Africa's Roland Schoeman took silver in 22.12.

Kara Lynn Joyce led a 1-2U.S. finish in the women's 50 free, outtouching Natalie Coughlin in 25.10.

Coughlin returned later as leadoff swimmer on the victorious 400 medley relay, helping teammates Jessica Hardy, Rachel Komisarz and USC's Amanda Weir win in a Pan Pac-best 3:58.38.

Whitney Myers upset U.S. teammate Katie Hoff in the 200 individual medley, denying Hoff a third individual gold medal.

Tae Hwan Park, a 16-year-old from South Korea, won the 1,500 free (15:06.11), rallying in the final 150 meters to defeat USC graduate Erik Vendt (15:07.17). It was Vendt's second Pan Pacs silver medal in the 1,500 free, following his effort in 2002 in Yokohama, Japan.

Erik Boal contributed

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Michael Phelps broke his own world record in the 200 IM at the Pan Pacific Championships.

Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images