THE SIDELINES : USC’s Wharton Still No. 1

Olympic silver medalist David Wharton of USC, already the NCAA 200-yard individual medley champion for the third consecutive year, was the fastest qualifier in defense of his 400 medley title today.

Wharton posted a time of 3 minutes, 48.17 seconds in his preliminary heat. Michigan’s Eric Namesnik was the second fastest at 3:48.28.

“It’s a great feeling to be No. 1,” said Wharton, who set the world record in the 200-meter medley event last August and holds three other American records. “I’ve been No. 1 in the world. . . . It’s like a flame that keeps burning inside me.”