Phelps, Hoff Set World Records on First Night of Trials

Michael Phelps of Club Wolverine and Katie Hoff of North Baltimore Aquatic Club set world records in the men’s and women’s 400m IM Sunday night at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming.

The American and U.S. Open record in the men's 400m freestyle also fell at the hands of Trojan Swim Club's Larsen Jensen, and all three swimmers punched their tickets to Beijing by qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Team.

In the men's 400m IM, Phelps edged chief rival Ryan Lochte of Daytona Beach Swimming, 4:05.25 to 4:06.08. Both swimmers' times were faster than the previous world record of 4:06.22, set by Phelps at the 2007 FINA World Championships. They are now the top two swimmers of all time in this event.

"That was one of the most painful races ever," Phelps said. "I definitely wouldn't have been able to do it without Lochte in the pool next to me."

Phelps took a body-length lead over Lochte at the 100-meter mark, only to have Lochte chip away in the backstroke and breaststroke legs. Both swimmers were under world-record pace at 250 meters, and only two-hundredths of a second separated them as they headed into the final 100.

"You saw how excited I was after that race," Phelps said. "I couldn't start the Trials off on a better foot. I'll expect a dogfight every time we get in the water. I love racing him, and I look forward to the 200 IM."

Hoff's time of 4:31.12 in the women's 400m IM broke the former world record of 4:31.46, held by Australia's Stephanie Rice, by 34-hundredths of a second.

Hoff led for the first 100 meters, but fell behind Bluefish Swim Club's Elizabeth Beisel during the backstroke leg. Hoff then regained the lead at the 250-meter mark and never looked back. Beisel finished second in 4:32.87, the third-fastest time in the world this year and two-hundredths of second faster than Hoff's former American record of 4:32.89.

"I was just trying for a best time, and it happened to be a world record," Hoff said. "This one was definitely a shock to me."

Jensen came out on top of what was - from top to bottom - the most competitive race of the evening, turning in a time of 3:43.53 in the men's 400m free.

The race featured a showdown between the four fastest Americans of all time in this event, including Jensen, former American record-holder Peter Vanderkaay, two-time Olympic bronze medalist Klete Keller and Erik Vendt.

Jensen took the lead and was under American record pace at the 200-meter mark, but was challenged by Vanderkaay and Vendt as the three swimmers battled down the homestretch. Vanderkaay finished second in 3:43.73, which was also faster than his former American record of 3:43.82. Vendt was third by the length of a fingertip, touching in 3:43.92.

"I knew they were fast chargers," Jensen said. "I knew they were coming hard, and it was up to me to hold them off. I just buried my head and tried to get my hand on the wall first. Luckily I did."

The first-place finishers in each of Sunday's finals automatically qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team. The second-place finishers will most likely be named to the team later in the week, pending swimmers qualifying in multiple events.

Semifinals of the women's 100m butterfly and men's 100m breaststroke were also held Sunday. The University of Tennessee's Christine Magnuson led the field in the women's 100m fly with a meet-record time of 57.50, while Longhorn Aquatics' Brendan Hansen was just 11-hundredths off his world record in the men's 100m breast, turning in a meet-record time of 59.24. The top eight swimmers from tonight's semifinals will advance to tomorrow night's finals.

Tomorrow's events include prelims and semifinals of the women's 100m backstroke, the men's 200m freestyle, the women's 100m breaststroke and the men's 100m back. Finals will be conducted in the women's 100m butterfly, men's 100m breast and women's 400m free.