Phelps off to slow start

World record holders Brendan Hansen and Kate Ziegler opened the US Swimming Nationals with solid wins on Tuesday while Michael Phelps began his busy week by failing to qualify for the final in the 200 metres breaststroke.

Phelps, however, is almost certain to add to his 32 national titles as the 22-year-old swimmer gave himself a small taste of the enormous challenge ahead by competing in 10 events in Indianapolis.

The world's most versatile swimmer, Phelps will dive into the Indiana University Natatorium Pool a potential 17 times in five days competing in the 200 and 400 free, 100 and 200 backstroke, 200 breaststroke, 100 butterfly and 200 medley and three relays.

Heavy workloads are not unfamiliar for Phelps, who returned home from the 2004 Athens Olympics with eight medals and secured seven golds from the World Championships earlier this year in Melbourne.

Phelps, who rarely competes in the 200 breast, posted a time of 2:15.81, in the morning heats, but finished 11th and missed a spot in the A final by half-a-second.

In Phelps' absence, Hansen, who holds the world mark in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke, seized the spotlight powering to a comfortable victory in the 200 in 2:09.91, well shy of his record of 2:08.50.