AUSTIN — Jimmy Feigen on Friday tried to put his victory over Olympic icon Michael Phelps into perspective.

“He just got back from (training in) Colorado,” Feigen said. “All of that aside, he’s still the best in the world. To be able to come here and not only challenge him, but to beat him, it’s a very meaningful experience for me.”

Feigen, a former star at Churchill, bested the 14-time Olympic gold medalist in the 100-meter freestyle on Day 1 of the three-day Longhorn Aquatics Elite Invite.

He won the race in a personal-record time of 48.63 seconds. Phelps was second in 49.05, followed by George Bovel in 49.84. Defending U.S. champion Garrett Weber-Gale was sixth in 50.61.

“I didn’t think it was going to be that fast,” said Feigen, who hopes to make his first Olympic team later this month. “It was shocking, to say the least.”

Previously, Feigen’s best efforts in the 100 had come last August at the U.S. championships (48.99) in California.

He went from a second-place finish at the U.S. meet to a gold medal at the World University Games in China a few weeks later, launching into his senior year at Texas.

Competing as a Longhorn for the last time earlier in the spring, he won both the 100- and the 50-yard freestyle at the NCAA championships.

Now he’s angling for the U.S. Olympic Trials, which start on June 25 in Omaha, Neb. At the trials, Feigen will need a top six finish in the 100 or a top two in the 50 to qualify for his first Olympic team roster.

His performance against Phelps can only aid his motivation.

At the start of the race, the two were side by side, Feigen in Lane 4 and Phelps in Lane 3. The two appeared to be even in the first 50 meters, but at the turn, Feigen kicked off the wall and opened a gap.

Phelps charged in the last 25 meters, but Feigen held him off.

“I’ve been really working as hard as I can,” said Feigen, a 2008 Churchill graduate. “I’ve been trying to do everything right, and it’s just starting to show.”

Phelps rebounded later Friday to win the 100 butterfly in 52.02.

“The 100 free, I was not happy with (it),” Phelps said. “It’s probably like one of my slowest all year. I didn’t finish good. I kind of was off my stroke. Kind of frustrating, but going into the 100 fly I wanted to get as much motivation as I could, use the frustration as motivation for that race.”

Phelps said he thinks it’s the first time he’s raced Feigen. He said Feigen has some potential.

“He’s swimming well,” Phelps said. “He went 49.2 a couple of few weeks ago. You know, going 48 is definitely pretty good. It’s definitely something we need for the relay. You know, he showed some speed. So, it’s good. He’s very talented and hopefully he will keep progressing and have himself a good swim at trials.

“I’m sure he will.”

In other events, 2008 Olympian Allison Schmitt and Megan Romano finished 1-2 in the women’s 100 free, with teen sensation Missy Franklin third.

Franklin, age 17, later won the consolation finals in the 400 freestyle in 4 minutes, 13.36 seconds.

The meet will continue Saturday and Sunday at the Jamail Swim Center. Prelims start at 9:30 a.m. each day. The finals Saturday start at 6:30 p.m. Finals on Sunday start at 5:30 p.m.

Highlights for San Antonio’s Alamo Area Aquatics Association Friday included:

Colleen Konetzke, eighth place in the “B” finals of the 400 freestyle, in 4 minutes, 23.38.

John Murray, fifth in the “C” finals of the 100 free, 52.34 seconds.

Alexa Morris, eighth in the “C’ finals of the 100 free, 58.42.