Crocker’s chance to beat Phelps is gone in a flash

INDIANAPOLIS -- The last time the letters DSQ were associated with Ian Crocker’s name, it knocked out the U.S. men’s medley relay at the World Championships and ended Michael Phelps’ shot at eight gold medals in Melbourne, Australia.

On Thursday, world-record holder Crocker’s disqualification in the 100-meter butterfly ended up assisting Phelps’ winning effort at the USA National Swimming Championships. Phelps won the race in 51.39 seconds and Benjamin Wildman-Tobriner was second in 52.31.

And so Crocker taketh and Crocker giveth.

Unlike Crocker’s leaving the blocks early in Melbourne last spring, his disqualification at nationals was truly unusual. He flinched on the blocks, reacting to an apparent camera flash inside the Natatorium.

The crowd knew something was immediately wrong. So did Crocker, who ended up getting off the blocks slowly, tying for last in his reaction time. Despite this, he finished a semi-respectable 51.6, which would have given him second place.

“I was waiting for a sound and there was a flash, obviously the light travels faster than the noise,” Crocker said. “You’re trained to react to any sort of flashing. It’s usually monitored very closely. It’s unfortunate, but it is what it is. At least it was not one of the major meets.

“I’m happy with the overall time. My coach said I was the last one off the blocks. . . . It’s kind of hard the year before the Olympics to get everything going. You’re kind of waiting for that final push.”

Phelps was oblivious to any flash of light, saying he was staring straight down. He pulled off an impressive double, even by his standards, winning the 100 butterfly about 30 minutes or so after taking third in the 400 freestyle (3:47.13) behind winner Peter Vanderkaay (3:45.55) and Larsen Jensen (3:47.08).

“That was probably the best I’ve ever finished the 100 fly,” Phelps said. “The fastest second 50 I’ve ever had. Hopefully, we can put it all together next year.”

Perhaps Crocker has superior peripheral vision. He even made a joke about it when he was chatting with reporters afterward.

“I have to have pretty good peripheral vision to figure out where Michael is,” he said, smiling. “Hopefully, I’m trying to look behind me.”

Is he starting to feel somewhat jinxed with these adventures on the blocks in Melbourne and Indianapolis?

“Well, you can’t compare the two,” he said. “That’s just one of those things. . . . I’ve never had it happen to myself and I’ve never known it to happen to anyone else. Typically, at all level meets they say, no flash photography. I heard the crowd. I knew it had happened. I was pretty sure the flinch was seen by people and that’s what they’re looking for.”

Unfortunately, the flash of light ruined what could have been the marquee race of the meet. Crocker’s world record, 50.40, has stood since the World Championships in Montreal in 2005. He said his motivation goes beyond racing Phelps, who beat him at the Olympics in 2004.

“Honestly, racing Michael is great and it always brings out the best in me,” Crocker said. “But I’m always racing the clock. I’m trying to break 50.4.”

Instead, the best race was Kate Ziegler and Katie Hoff in the 400 freestyle, with Ziegler winning, 4:04.24 to 4:04.60.

lisa.dillman@latimes.com