He has the wingspan of a condor with a mule's capacity for work. Maybe that's the secret to Michael Phelps' success.

Phelps took on three events in short order Sunday afternoon at the 39th annual Santa Clara Invitational Swim Meet and won them all. He won a single event Friday and two Saturday for a perfect 6-for-6, smashing four meet records in the process.

"Coming out of here with some of (these) times, we're very happy with that,'' Phelps said, referring to himself and coach Bob Bowman. "Now we'll fine tune some things in training before nationals. There's a few things we can do that will help through the summer.''

Though his individual marks were superb, Phelps' ability to string together a six-pack as he did over the last three days, and in particular three Sunday, speaks to his fitness. This is someone who burns off more than enough calories to offset his favorite indulgence, double-doubles at In-N-Out Burger.

His Sunday workload included 49.57 seconds in the 100-meter freestyle, 1:57.76 in the 200 individual medley and 54.80 in the 100 backstroke; the latter is a lifetime best for the multiple Olympic gold medalist from the Athens Games. The 200 IM and 100 back results were meet records.

"Physically I feel good,'' Phelps said. "That was one of the reasons we did it tonight -- to see where I am in training. To do a big program, I'm going to have to do days like this and swim against the best in the world. ... It's always fun to come out here and No. 1, get in the sun, and No. 2, race against some of the top people in the country.''

Phelps on Friday swam the 400 IM in 4:11.40 for a meet record. He returned to the George F. Haines International Swim Center on Saturday and swept through the 100 butterfly in 52.20 for yet another meet record and the 200 back in 1:57.23.

Of his six races, four -- the 200 IM, 400 IM, 100 fly and 200 back -- were the fastest times in the world this year. Phelps was most pleased with his two individual medleys and the 100 free, which he did not expect to win. He had to extend himself in the sprint to edge Eamon Sullivan of Australia (49.65) and fellow Americans Brent Hayden (49.69) and Jason Lezak (49.77).

"One of the things I wanted to do is have the top (world-leading) times in both IMs. We were successful,'' Phelps said. "I had tons of good races this weekend. This is probably the best I've felt since '04.

"The 200 and 400 IMs are my best time in-season. My 100 back is my best time ever.''

After winning six gold medals at Athens in 2004, Phelps looks poised for more gilded baubles at Beijing two years hence.

"It'll be here before you know it,'' he said. "I'm excited. The closer it gets, the faster we'll swim. By the time '08 comes around, the U.S. is going to have a really good team.''

Natalie Coughlin finished off a rousing meet herself with a lifetime best in the 50 free, an event she rarely contests. Nevertheless, Coughlin splashed home in 24.98, the first time she's been under 25 seconds in swimming's shortest event.

"I wanted to go under 25,'' she said. "I was really excited with that. I thought I could do a best time. This is really good for my 100. This is the fastest I've ever been at this point in the season. It's really reassuring. It validates all the work I've been doing. I'm having a good time.''

Briefly: World record-holder Brendan Hansen of Austin, Texas, broke his own meet record in winning the 200 breaststroke in 2:12.90. His world record was 2:09.04 from 2004. "This point in the season, where I am, my coach, Eddie Reese, is going to be ecstatic with that,'' Hansen said. "All the hard work is done. This is the fun part.'' ... Ariana Kukors of Federal Way, Wash., broke a Summer Sanders' meet record when she won the 200 individual medley in 2:14.33. Sanders' mark of 2:14.89 had stood since 1992.

San Francisco Chronicle 2006.06.26.