Sobering reminders of just how fast standards are improving around the globe are everywhere. Unrested from training - I assume - world medley champion Katie Hoff (USA) clocked 8:19.70 over 800m freestyle at the Ohio grand prix.

Hoff, who had a little more rest that world champion Kate Ziegler, on 8:31.34, perhaps, then backed up with a 1:00.15 in the 100m butterfly ahead of Jacque Fessel (1:00.42) and Pan American Games champion Kathleen Hersey (1:00.80). Hoff is fast heading into the Phelpsian lane marked 'only for superfish': medal chances in at least seven events. Trials in the summer will tell more about where she aims to go.

 World champion and record holder Brendan Hansen clocked 1:01.10 in the 100m breaststroke, and Michael Phelps raced to a 51.90 win the the 100m butterfly ahead of Frenchman and Auburn charge Fred Bousquet (52.29).

Peter Vanderkaay inflicted a rare defeat on world champion and record holder Phelps in the 200m freestyle, 1:46.78 to 1:47.09 but the Baltimore Bullet sits at the helm of the leaderboard in the race for the $20,000 purse, that comes courtesy of Toyota and USA Swimming.