Hoff first to lock up 2 races in Beijing at Olympic swim trials

OMAHA, Neb. — Katie Hoff made it 2-for-2 at the U.S. Olympic trials.

And she’s just getting started.

Showing no signs of tiring, the Baltimore teenager gutted out another grueling win Monday night, rallying to win the 400-meter freestyle just 24 hours after she set a world record in the 400 individual medley.

Hoff became the first U.S. swimmer to lock up two races in Beijing, but there’s no time to savor her accomplishment. She’s already done about a mile of races in Omaha and plans to compete in four more before the week is out, pursuing an Olympic program just slightly less ambitious than the one Michael Phelps will attempt in hopes of knocking off Mark Spitz.

“The plan was to take it out strong with nice, easy speed,” the 19-year-old Hoff said. “I don’t think I had as much as I was hoping, but I brought it back real well.”

As for Phelps, the birthday boy had a relatively light day as he turned 23, easily qualifying for Tuesday’s final in the 200 freestyle to set up another showdown with Ryan Lochte. On the meet’s opening night, both eclipsed the old world record in the 400 IM, but Phelps touched the wall first.

Two more world records fell on day two — both in the morning preliminaries, about 2 minutes apart. Hayley McGregory knocked off Natalie Coughlin’s 4½-month-old mark in the 100 backstroke with a time of 59.15 seconds, only to have Coughlin take it right back in the next heat at 59.03.

They pulled back in the evening semifinals, clearly wanting to save something for their head-to-head matchup Tuesday.

Brendan Hansen had a big letdown in the 100 breaststroke, despite locking up a second straight trip to the Olympics.

After just missing the world record in the semifinals, Hansen got off to a sluggish start and struggled home with a time of 59.93, good enough to win but nearly a full second off the record of 59.13. He glared at the scoreboard, stared at the water, then shook his head slightly.

“I’m a little disappointed, obviously, at the time, but you can’t be mad about the fact of making your second Olympic team,” Hansen said. “If I had to pick a place to break that world record, it would be at the Olympics. I’ve done it at the trials before (in 2004) and it’s fun, but it’s a lot more fun when you break it at the Olympics.”

Hansen already was looking ahead to the 200 breaststroke, where he hopes to take back the record Japanese rival Kosuke Kitajima snatched away from him less than a month ago.

Christine Magnuson won Monday’s other final, claiming her first trip to the Olympics with a win in the 100 butterfly. The victory was aided by Coughlin’s decision not to swim, even though she holds the American record.

Hoff rallied over the final three laps to take her win in the 400 free. She overtook Allison Schmitt and Caroline Burckle and held off Kate Ziegler, America’s best distance swimmer, to win with a time of 4 minutes, 2.32 seconds.

Ziegler claimed the expected second spot on the Olympic team in 4:03.92 and will move on to race in her best event, the 800 free.

Phelps breezed into the finals of the 200 free, posting the second-fastest time in the semifinals at 1:45.64. Lochte was just ahead in the top spot at 1:45.61.

“I wanted to go 1:45,” Phelps said. “It sets me up pretty good for tomorrow night. Tomorrow is what I’m going to be focused on.”

So, what else did Phelps get for his birthday?

Lochte ordered up a set of grillz, the mouth jewelry favored by their favorite rappers, but the gaudy bling hasn’t come in yet. Phelps also was awaiting a gift from his mother Debbie, who cheered him on from the stands of the Qwest Center.

“Her being here is enough,” he said.

Lochte had a busy day, also qualifying for the final of the 100 backstroke. World recordholder Aaron Peirsol advanced with the second-fastest time, beaten out by Randal Bal’s effort of 53.09 that just missed Peirsol’s mark of 52.98.

Also locking up expected spots on the team were two more second-place finishers, Mark Gangloff in the 100 breast and Elaine Breeden in the 100 fly.