Hansen fails to claim berth in his specialty

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.

He won’t be swimming one of his signature events at the Beijing Olympics.

In the first major surprise 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, laboring to the finish in the wake of three countrymen.

Hansen’s only solace: He still has a spot in the 100 breast and, most likely, the 400 medley relay.

It was of little comfort on this night.

“I did my best,” said Hansen, the last of the eight finalists to leave the pool deck. “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 during 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, and the crowd gasped when he touched the wall behind three others.

He led the first 150 meters, only to fade badly on the final lap as Scott Spann – a Hansen training partner – powered to the biggest win of his career. 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 also stood as the world’s fastest time until Japanese rival Kosuke Kitajima broke it June 7 with a time of 2:07.51. Spann won in 2:09.97 – far off Kitajima’s pace. Shanteau locked up the expected second spot on the team in 2:10.36.