CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Three Carolinas Medical Center meet records fell Friday at the Charlotte UltraSwim. U.S. National Teamer Mary DeScenza broke two in the women’s 100m butterfly, first in the morning prelims (59.25) and then again in the finals (58.54). Olympian Ryan Lochte took down the third meet record with a time of 4:16.56 in the finals of the men’s 400m IM.

Lochte’s meet record in the 400m IM marked the second of two wins for the National Team star Friday at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center. He also won the men’s 200m free in 1:49.00.

In the 200m free, Lochte trailed Athens Bulldog Swim Club’s Matthew Owen heading into the last 50 meters, but then propelled himself into the lead off the final turn. Lochte then cruised down the length of the pool for the win. Owen finished seven-tenths behind in 1:49.70.

The 400m IM wasn’t as close a race, with Lochte taking the lead in the backstroke leg and never looking back. He finished with a body-length lead over Canadian  National Teamer Keith Beavers, who touched almost a second behind in 4:17.41.

“If any swimmer tries to go for a record, his focus is in the wrong place from my perspective,” Lochte said. “To me, it’s just about racing. If you happen to break a record, more power to you.

“I haven’t raced in quite some time, since Short Course Worlds (in April). So it’s been about eight weeks. To finally get back and start racing again feels good.”

DeScenza’s meet record in this morning’s prelims shattered the 8-year-old mark held by Slovakian Olympian Martina Moracova by 24-hundredths of a second.

In bettering that record in Friday night’s finals, she out-touched the University of Tennessee’s Christine Magnuson in a down-to-the-wire finish, 58.54 to 58.59. Magnuson had a slight lead on DeScenza for most of the race, but DeScenza managed to slither past in the final five meters for the win.

 “It’s my best time by about two-tenths,” DeScanza said. “I don’t normally go that fast in-season, but I’ve been training my butt off this year. This is just a trial run for (Olympic) Trials, and I’ve been getting out there and racing as much as I can. You can’t do average times all year, and then expect to go fast at Trials. That’s my philosophy this year.”

The 100m fly was one of two finals DeScenza competed in Friday. Earlier in the evening, she finished second in the 200m free behind Athens Bulldog teammate and Olympian Kara Lynn Joyce.

Joyce jumped out to a lead from the start of the 200m free and was able to hold off DeScenza in the final 10 meters, finishing with a time of 1:59.36. DeScenza  touched about a half second behind in 1:59.85.

Other first-place finishers Friday night included Gemma Spofforth of Gator Swim Club in the women’s  50m back (28.85), Patrick Schirk (unattached) in the men’s 50m back (26.71), Corrie Clark of Suburban Swim Center in the women’s 100m breast (1:10.40), Luca DeMatteis (unattached) in the men’s 100m breast (1:01.88) and Kaitlin O’Brien (unattached) in the women’s 400m IM (4:48.73).

The 2008 Charlotte UltraSwim will continue Saturday with prelims and finals of the women’s and men’s 200m butterfly, 50m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 200m breaststroke, 50m butterfly and 400m freestyle. Timed finals will also be held in the men’s 400m medley relay.

The UltraSwim is one of two Toyota Grand Prix meets taking place this weekend. The Mutual of Omaha SwimVitational also began today in Omaha, Neb. For complete coverage from both meets, including daily wrap-ups and results, go to our special 2008 Toyota Grand Prix section.