Olympics-Swimming-Torres looks to add 50m free to Beijing bids

By Steve Keating

OMAHA, Nebraska, July 5 (Reuters) - Dara Torres, 41, launched her bid to qualify for a third event at the Beijing Olympics by easing into the semi-finals of the 50 metre freestyle at the U.S. swimming trials on Saturday.

A weary Torres, who lit up the Qwest Centre with an inspiring win in the 100m free to qualify for her fifth Olympics on Friday, was back in the pool just over 12 hours later and advanced with the third best time of 24.72 seconds.

Lara Jackson posted the top time in the 50m prelims chased to the wall by Torres in an American record time of 24.50, trimming .03 seconds off the old mark set by the 41-year-old mother last year.

"I'm in shock, I just wanted to make semis," said Jackson. "That was my best time, I can't complain about that.

"I'm just excited to come back and do it again.

"Dara says it's all about racing and she's right on with that. My goal is the finals and to make the team."

Eric Vendt, Michael Phelps's training partner at Club Wolverine, led the way in the 1,500m heats clocking the top effort of 14:50.24 to easily advance to Sunday's final where he will try to clinch a spot on his third Olympic team.

A silver medallist in the 400 medley at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, Vendt retired following the Athens Summer Games but returned to competition in 2006, amazing Phelps by his punishing training regime.

"I'm speechless watching him work out," said Phelps. "I remember when he first came back and absolutely destroyed everyone in the pool.

"We had been training, training, training and he just destroyed us.

"It was shocking, he is amazing."

Phelps will once again feature in evening finals, closing out his trials with a showdown against world record holder Ian Crocker in the 100m butterfly.

Janet Evans's 800m freestyle world mark -- swimming's longest standing world record -- is also expected to come under threat, as Katie Hoff and Kate Ziegler battle for an Olympic berth.

(Editing by Miles Evans)

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