SWIMMING: One major upset, no new records
Hansen fails to make team in 200 breast after finishing fourth
OMAHA, Neb. -- Brendan Hansen clung to the lane rope, glaring at the scoreboard. No matter how long he stared, the shocking result just wouldn't go away.
He wasn't first or even second -- and he won't be swimming one of his signature events at the Beijing Olympics.
In the first major stunner of the U.S. swimming trials, Hansen failed to make the Olympic team in the 200-meter breaststroke Thursday night. The world record holder less than a month ago was knocked out by a fourth-place showing.
Hansen's only solace: He still has a spot in the 100 breast and, most likely, the 400 medley relay.
Still, it was of little comfort.
''I did my best,'' Hansen said. ''I gave everything in the pool tonight. I left it all out there. It just wasn't there. It wasn't my day.''
Hansen wasn't the only big name to falter on the fifth night of the meet, which failed to produce a world record for the second straight night. Six were set over the first three days.
Katie Hoff, who already had qualified for four individual events and one relay, failed to advance out of the semifinals of the 100 freestyle, denying her a chance to go for as many as eight medals in Beijing.
But Hoff's 11th-best time against a field that included Natalie Coughlin and 41-year-old Dara Torres wasn't that surprising -- the 100 was by far the longest shot on the 19-year-old's grueling program.
Hansen, on the other hand, has long been this country's top breaststroker. He led the first 150 meters, only to fade badly on the final lap as Scott Spann -- a Hansen training partner -- powered to his biggest win. Eric Shanteau, who also trains with Hansen, was second.
Hansen finished in 2 minutes, 11.37 seconds -- nearly 3 seconds slower than his American record, which was the world's fastest time until Japan's Kosuke Kitajima broke it June 7 with a time of 2:07.51.
Spann won in 2:09.97. Shanteau locked up the expected second spot on the team in 2:10.36.
''My hat's off to those two,'' said Hansen, who also finished behind Scott Usher's 2:11.00. ''I might have trained them a little too well.''
Michael Phelps posted the second-fastest time in the 200 individual medley semis. He moved on to another showdown Friday with Ryan Lochte, who had the top time.
Coughlin was the top qualifier for Friday's final in the women's 100 free. She won her heat in 53.64, touching just ahead of Torres, the four-time Olympian who has twice retired from swimming but is back again -- 24 years after her first U.S. trials. Torres also moved on to the final with the second-best time (53.76).
''It was my best time ever,'' said Torres, holding her 2-year-old daughter Tessa. ''I had nerves, but it was a good nerves; it was like I was ready to go out there and have fun.''
In the same semi as Coughlin and Torres, Christine Magnuson of Tinley Park finished fifth in 55.22.
Garrett Weber-Gale of Milwaukee locked up his first trip to the Olympics, winning the 100 freestyle in 47.92. He beat out two-time Olympian Jason Lezak, who led at the turn but touched second in 48.05, still locking up a spot on his third team. Cullen Jones was third (48.35) and Nathan Adrian fourth (48.46), both earning their first Olympic berths as relay swimmers while edging fifth-place Matt Grevers (48.67) of Lake Forest.
Elaine Breeden won the 200 butterfly in 2:06.75, ahead of Kathleen Hersey (2:07.33). Former Rosary star Mary Descenza was fourth in 2:09.23.
Three-time Olympian Amanda Beard emerged as a solid contender in the 200 breaststroke, finishing second in the semifinals.
AP
U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS