Phelps wins 200-meter butterfly

Michael Phelps points his finger after winning the men's 200-meter butterfly final at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials, Thursday, June 28, 2012, in Omaha, Neb. / AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

(AP) OMAHA, Neb. - Michael Phelps stayed on course to swim eight events at the London Olympics with a dominating win in the 200-meter butterfly at the U.S. swimming trials Thursday night.

He trailed Davis Tarwater at the first and second turns, but there's was never any doubt that Phelps would pull ahead in his signature stroke. He surged ahead on the third leg and was a body-length ahead of the field when he touched in 1 minute, 53.65 seconds.

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The real race was for second place — and a spot on the Olympic team. Tyler Clary, who lost out to Phelps in the 400 individual medley, rallied from behind for a time of 1:55.12, edging Bouiller's time of 1:55.79.

Clary pumped his right fist and pounded the water when he saw the scoreboard.