Michael Phelps didn't set a world record this morning in the 200-meter butterfly and, when he was finished, the crowd at the Mizzou Aquatics Center seemed a little disappointed.

This was strange, considering he had just swam the second-fastest time ever.

Phelps, who did break a world record here in the 200 fly last year, finished his race in 1:53.31. It wasn't quite as fast as he was in Melbourne when he went 1:52.09, a race that drew comparisons to Bob Beamon's record long jump in Mexico City and Tiger Woods 12-stroke victory at the Masters. But when you consider the fact that this was his first long course event since breaking a small bone in his wrist in the fall, well, it was pretty darn good.

"With everything I've been through this year, I'm really happy with my time," Phelps said. "I wanted to swim faster than I did here last year, and I did that. I just try to improve on every race that I did from last year. If I'm faster than I was before, then I feel good."

Phelps said he doesn't feel any affect, at all, from his wrist injury.

"Not one bit," he said.