Kara Lynn Joyce's return trips to Ann Arbor are rare these days. But the four-time Olympic silver medalist, now living and training in California, has followed the USA Swimming Grand Prix circuit back home.

The 2003 Pioneer High School graduate caught up with old coach Denny Hill before this weekend's Eric Namesnik Michigan Grand Prix and is staying at home with her parents, Bob and Kathy Joyce, for the first time since Thanksgiving.

It's comfortable, but has its hazards.

“I eat up all that food,” Joyce joked. “I think I’ve already gained five pounds from staying in that house.”

Swimming on a full stomach had little to do with Joyce finishing in 13th place in the 100-meter butterfly race held during the first of three days of competition Friday at Canham Natatorium.

FULL DAY 1 RESULTS

It's just the fourth time Joyce has swam that event competitively. She's a freestyler with aspirations of making the U.S Olympic team for the 2012 London Games. The butterfly simply got her competitive juices flowing.

“Any time you can stand up on the blocks and race someone, get your hand on the wall, no matter what stroke it is, no matter what distance it is, I think it definitely helps," Joyce said. "You’re training your body to race. It translates to freestyle, it translates to everything.”

Over the next two days, Joyce will participate in the 50 and 100 freestyle races, which is where she hopes to reach her ultimate goal of an Olympic gold medal in 2012, be it individually or as part of a relay.

She won silver medals in both the 4x100 and medley relay races at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games.

RECORD BREAKER

Fourteen-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps doesn’t come into many races as the underdog. But that’s essentially what he was in Friday’s 200-meter freestyle final.

Phelps had the slowest preliminary time of the eight finalists, which he would later joke about, stating “I made finals that’s all that matters. ... I barely made it in.”

Phelps didn’t disappoint in the final. Despite swimming in the outermost lane, Phelps won in a pool record time of one minute, 48.45 seconds. He topped his own record of 1:49.29.

Phelps narrowly beat U.S. Olympic teammate Ryan Lochte, who finished in 1:48.69.

“Both of us hate to lose,” Phelps said. “He’s somebody who’s made a lot of improvements both in the water and out of the water over the last year and it’s showing in his racing.

“He’s a tough competitor and someone who brings the best out of me.” Phelps also won the 100 butterfly in a time of 53.87 seconds. That would have been his sixth pool record at Canham, but Polish/University of Florida swimmer Marcin Cieslak set the mark at 53.14 seconds during the preliminaries. Cieslak finished second in the finals.

SIGNATURE EVENT

Former Michigan swimmer Peter Vanderkaay finished fourth in the 400 individual medley on Friday and took a moment to reflect on the significance of that event.

The 400 IM was the signature event of Eric Namesnik, the former Michigan and U.S. Olympic swimmer this weekend's meet is named for. He died on Jan. 11, 2006, four days after a car crash on an icy road near Saline, at the age of 35.

“Snik,” as he was known by most, won silver medals in the event at the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

While he was an assistant coach at Michigan, Namesnik recruited Vanderkaay to Ann Arbor. He won six NCAA and 14 Big Ten titles at Michigan and has won Olympic gold and bronze medals.

“That was definitely Eric’s race and something he was definitely known for with two silver medals, so I guess I hope I paid a little bit of tribute to him,” Vanderkaay said. “He would have been much faster.”

BOYS AMONG MEN

While most came to Canham to watch the Olympians compete, some of the best high schoolers in the state competed, as well. David Boland (Saline) and Stephen Sobczak (Dexter) -- who each won four events at their respective state meets this season -- were among the swimmers suited up for Club Wolverine. They won the 400-meter relay.

“It’s great experience,” said Boland who was the Division 1 MISCA swimmer of the year this season as a sophomore. “It’s great to be around these guys.”

On the girls side, Saline swimmers Nikki Flynn, Madeline Frost, and Stephanie Boyle along with Anna Demonte (Huron), Annie Tamblyn (Huron) and Johanna Cowley (Skyline) also swam for Club Wolverine in the 400 freestyle.

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.