Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

Swimmer Ryan Lochte, paralympic cyclist Allison Jones and USA Water Polo’s Women’s Senior National Team are monthly award winners of U.S. Olympic Committee honors for August.

Lochte, Male Athlete of the Month, won the 200-meter backstroke, 200 individual medley and 400 individual medley in the ConocoPhillips National Championships, Aug. 3-7, at Irvine, Calif. His win in the 200 IM was Lochte’s first in head-to-head competition against Michael Phelps.

Lochte also placed second in the 100- and 200-meter freestyle events and won the men’s Kiphuth High Point Award. 

In the Mutual of Omaha Pan Pacific Championships, Aug. 18-22 at Irvine, Lochte won six events — 200-meter backstroke, 200 and 400 IM, 200 free, 400 free relay and 800 free relay — and set championship records in all six. His 200 IM victory also earned him Men’s Swimmer of the Meet. Lochte has the fastest times in the world this year in the 200 back, as well as the 200 and 400 IM.

Jones, Female Athlete of the Month, won the time trial and road race events in her classifications at the UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships at Baie-Comeau, Canada. That also helped Team USA win the overall medal count.

The USA Water Polo women, Team of the Month, capped a perfect summer by winning the FINA World Cup gold medal for the first time in 31 years with a 6-3 victory over Australia at Christchurch, New Zealand. Kami Craig was named top center forward of the tournament. Earlier in the season, Team USA also owon the FINA World League Super Final.

The Americans knocked off Russia, New Zealand, China and Hungary before defeating Australia for the World Cup gold. Team USA has won every major championship in the last two years since taking silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. That includes two World League Super Finals, a World Cup and a World Championships.

MALE ATHLETE OF THE MONTH — 1. Ryan Lochte (swimming); 2. Brady Ellison (archery); 3. Oscar Sanchez (paralympic cycling).

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE MONTH — 1. Allison Jones (paralympic cycling); 2. Betsey Armstrong (water polo); 3. Lauren Chamberlain (softball).

TEAM OF THE MONTH — 1. USA Water Polo Women’s Senior National Team; 2. USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team; 3. USA Bowling National Team.