Omaha-Dara Torres added another event to her Beijing program, while Peter Vanderkaay was the surprise winner in the 1500 with the 4th fastest swim of all time. In other action outside the pool, the International Swimming Hall of Fame inducted 7 new members to its hallowed halls. In attendance, swimmer honoree breaststroke great Anita Nall and coach honoree Jon Urbanchek. It was a lovely way to wrap up a week of celebrating America's greatest swimmers. Other honorees included: Fred DeBurghgraeve, Andras Hargitay, Jill Savery, Shelley Taylor Smith, and Herman Willemse.

Womens 50 Free Final

Dara Torres' (CSSC) wake was all the American women were seeing tonight. Finishing 3/4 of a body-length ahead of the field, she trounced her own best time and again lowered the American record to a 24.25. Despite getting slower each time she swam from heats through finals, Jessica Hardy (TROJ) was still able to qualify for her second event in Beijing with her 24.82 second place finish. Lara Jackson (FORD) who broke the American record in heats, was 3rd in 24.88.

Torres brought her daughter up onto the podium once again to accept her medal, sporting a "Go For Gold" t-shirt. When asked whether her history breaking performances have sunk in Torres replied, "Not really. I think it will once I get out to training camp and I'm with the rest of my teammates." Three generations of Torres women were in the pool tonight as her mother was also here to cheer her on. "I love my family and I am so glad they came here to support me." Hardy seemed surprised to make her 2nd event. "I don't really have words to express this emotion, I am so excited."

Men's 1500 Free Final

400 free winner and Olympic silver medalist in this event, Larsen Jensen (TROJ) took it out way under American record pace to the 500 with Erik Vendt (CW), Peter Vanderkaay (CW) and Chad La Tourette (MVN) all swimming together. Jensen continued to hammer it through the 800, but on the 9th 100, he started to slow as Vanderkaay started to pick it up. By 1250, Vanderkaay had taken the lead. He pulled ahead and was right on American record pace, but touched just short of the record set by Jensen in '04 of 14:45.29 with his 14:45.87. Vanderkaay's time is another 7 second drop off his best, which he posted in April, and puts him 4th on the all-time list behind Grant Hackett, Kieren Perkins and Jensen. "I think I have trained for this over the last 4 years," said Vanderkaay who will swim 2 individual events in Beijing after being a relay member in '04. "It will be different [swimming individual events] but great."

The favourite to win was Erik Vendt who has swum several sub 15 minute races this year, including a 14:50 in heats. He finished 4th and said afterwards that he knew he wasn't going to do it the moment he dove in. "It will be really hard to watch that race in Beijing," said Vendt. "I felt great in warm-up but when I tried to catch Larsen at the 4 or 500 I just didn't have anything."

The splits:

Jensen '04: 4:56.68, 9:52.28: 14:45.29

Vanderkaay'08: 4:54.31, 9:53.25: 14:45.54

Jensen '08: 4:51.73, 9:49.63: 14:50.80

The 8th evening of the US Olympic Trials concluded with much fan-fair, from the announcement of the World Youth Team to the 2008 Olympic Team and performances by Chinese acrobats, it was a fun way to conclude the most stressful meet on earth. The Americans are always the last to have their Trials, but it never seems to hurt them. With just over a month to go before swimming starts in Beijing the world's swimmer now have a complete picture of what to expect and where they sit. See you in 32 days from Beijing.