By RICK EYMER
SANTA CLARA (AP) – Michael Phelps won the 200 butterfly on Saturday at the Arena Pro Series and met his expectations.
Phelps last won a 200 fly race at the 2012 Olympic trials and declared he would not return to the event when he came out of retirement last year.
Phelps swam his first 200 fly, since earning a silver medal in London, last month in Charlotte, finishing seventh in 2:00.77.
Still the world record holder in the event, Phelps seems determined to recapture the glory of the event that vaulted him into prominence at the 2000 Olympics.
He won on Saturday in 1:57.62, six seconds slower than his record time in Rome in 2009 but three seconds faster than last month. It was the time he targeted to continue working out for the event.