MELBOURNE, Australia - Michael Phelps stayed on track for a record gold-medal haul at the world championships, edging out American teammate Ian Crocker by 0.05 seconds to win the 100-meter butterfly Saturday night.

USA's Ian Crocker, top, and fellow countryman Michael Phelps race during the men's 100m Butterfly semi-finals at the World Swimming Championships in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, March 30, 2007. [AP]

Phelps is 6-for-6 with two races remaining. His latest gold tied Australian Ian Thorpe's record set at the 2001 worlds in Japan.

But Phelps failed to set a world record for the first time in five nights.

As the two-time defending champion and world record holder, Crocker was the one guy who could've stopped Phelps' gold rush. But it didn't happen.

Crocker was first at the turn, with Phelps third - the first time in four individual races that he didn't zoom to the lead. But he sure came home hard.

Phelps caught Crocker in the final furious strokes - touching in 50.77 seconds and joining his rival as the only men to break the 51-second barrier. Crocker hit the wall in 50.82. Albert Subirats of Venezuela took the bronze.

Phelps had never beaten Crocker at worlds - taking silver behind him in 2003 and 2005. In between, Phelps denied Olympic gold to Crocker in Athens by four-hundredths of a second.

Crocker swam over to Phelps in lane six and shook his hand. On the podium later, Crocker looked a bit glum while accepting the silver medal.

Phelps had a grin plastered on his face during yet another victory stroll as Christina Aguilara's "Ain't No Other Man" blared. He whipped a stuffed penguin into the stands and a young woman excitedly scooped it up.

American Ben Wildman-Tobriner conquered swimming's most chaotic 22 seconds, winning the 50 freestyle in an upset over more heralded teammate Cullen Jones and defending champion Roland Schoeman of South Africa.

Wildman-Tobriner touched in 21.88 seconds; Jones at 21.94 for the silver.

Stefan Nystrand of Sweden earned the bronze. Schoeman faded to seventh.

"It's hard not to be disappointed when you're kind of the favorite going in and you get second," Jones said. "It does leave a sour taste in your mouth, but coming in second to your own teammate definitely softens the blow a little bit."

Wildman-Tobriner was only sixth-fastest coming into the final, while Jones was second-fastest.

"There was zero pressure on me," Wildman-Tobriner said. "Honestly, it's not a surprise to me. Hitting the start well, which I have been struggling to do, I knew I would definitely have a good chance. When I hit the water, I felt it was right. It gets you fired up for rest of the lap."

Jones gained major attention by winning the 50 free at the Pan Pacific championships in August (Wildman-Tobriner was fifth), and the black swimmer wanted a world title to further his goal of getting kids of all colors interested in the sport.

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