Phelps chases record with 8-race schedule

OMAHA, Neb. — Michael Phelps will get another shot at Mark Spitz's Olympic record in Beijing.

Gary Hall Jr. won't be going to China at all.

Phelps locked up his eight-race schedule by winning the 100-meter butterfly at the U.S. swimming trials Saturday night, powering away on the return lap to easily beat world-record holder Ian Crocker. The winning time was 50.89 seconds, about a half-second slower than Crocker's 3-year-old mark of 50.40.

"This week turned out how I wanted it to," Phelps said. "I'm ready for the challenge that lies ahead of me. At the Olympics, it's going to be harder than it was here. It's a higher level. And you add the relays in there, and it's the Olympic Games. Hopefully, it's something I can be successful at."

Although Phelps had to be content with setting two world records in Omaha, Margaret Hoelzer put her name in the book with a stunning win in the 200 backstroke in 2:06.09. The 25-year-old beat the record of 2:06.39 set by Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry in February. It was the ninth world record of the meet.

Fifteen-year-old Elizabeth Beisel, a rising star in American swimming, rallied to take the second Olympic spot in 2:06.92. Hard-luck Hayley McGregory finished third again, matching her finish in the 100 back and costing her a berth on the Beijing team.

Garrett Weber-Gale set an American record of 21.47 in the 50 freestyle.

Cullen Jones, who set the previous U.S. mark of 21.59 in Friday's preliminaries, was third in 21.81, while Hall, 33, settled for fourth in 21.91.

In the 100 fly, Crocker, 25, managed to hang on to a spot on his third Olympic team by finishing second in 51.62.

Phelps added to his wins in the 200 and 400 individual medleys, 200 freestyle and 200 butterfly. He's also expected to swim all three relays, giving him another shot at Spitz's record of seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Games. Phelps just missed in 2004, winning six golds and two bronzes.

Katie Hoff, 19, claimed her fifth individual race of the Olympics with a win over defending world champion Kate Ziegler in the 800 freestyle.

At the other end of the age spectrum, 41-year-old Dara Torres set a new American record in the 50 freestyle semifinals. The mark fell three times during the day, finally winding up back where it started — in Torres' name when she did one furious lap in 24.38. She'll have a chance to take it lower in the finals Sunday, the final night of the meet.