Amanda Adkins came from behind to win the women's 200 back in 2:12.97, securing her a spot on the Olympic team. Adkins, 23 and swimming for Athens Bulldogs, was in fifth at the 100 (1:05.63), well behind early leader Lea Maurer.

By the 150 she had moved into third, still almost a full second behind Maurer. But Adkins finished with a swift 33.52 to take the heat. Adkins had been third in this event at the 1996 Trials, just missing the team.

"To put it all together at the end of my career means a lot," said Adkins. "It shows you should never count yourself out. The last three years have been really hard, I haven't done best times. Sometimes it seems like you're working so hard for nothing. But if you just believe in yourself and have fun, it will happen."

Lindsay Benko, the 200 free champion, was second in 2:13.19, with a 1:05.13 first half.

"I wanted to be able to race with the girls and work on my speed," said Benko, 23 and swimming for Trojan. "I'm going to enjoy (being on the Olympic team) and work hard to get better."

Shelly Ripple ended up third in 2:14.25, and Linda Riker was fourth in 2:14.41.

Men's 100 fly

Ian Crocker, just 17, won the 100 fly in a new Olympic Trials record of 52.78, breaking his own 52.82 record from the prelims. Matt Biondi previously held the mark with a 53.09 from 1988.

Crocker, swimming for the Portland Porpoises, was third at the 50 in 24.81 and took it home in a 27.97 to touch out Tommy Hannan, 20, of Eagle. Hannan was out first at the 50 in 24.31. Hannan made his first Olympic team with the finish; this was the first Olympic Trials for both Hannan and Crocker. Crocker didn't even make senior nationals until 1998, taking a second and fourth in the 200 free at spring and summer nationals that year. At 1999 spring nationals he was fourth in the 100 free, and it wasn't until this spring that he qualified for a national final in the 100 fly, taking third. Likewise with up-and-coming Hannan, who first qualified for nationals in 1998 and didn't have a top eight national finish in the 100 fly until the NCAAs this spring, where he was fifth.

"I don't know," said a bemused Crocker on the awards stand. "I just wanted to come here, experience it, see what happened."

And, in a classic understatement, "It turned out good."

Women's 800 free

Brooke Bennett, the gold medalist in this event in the last Olympics, won handily with an 8:23.92, just shy of Janet Evans' 8:23.59 Trials record from 1988.

Bennett, 20 and representing Blue Wave, took the lead from the first 100 with a 1:01.05 and continued to hold between 1:03.3 and 1:03.5 through the 600. Her last two 100s descended, with a 1:03.16 and 1:02.51.

Diana Munz, the 400 free champion at this meet, hung in second through the 600. The last 200 she succumbed to a move by 400 IM champion Kaitlin Sandeno, who qualified for her third individual event at the Olympics with an 8:28. 61 second place.

Munz was just a hair behind, third in 8:28.66. At 1:01.63 Munz's last 100 was the fastest of the field, but not quite enough to pass Sandeno.

"I need to get back home and put some training in, get in some more yardage," said Bennett, who was second to Munz in the 400 free earlier in the meet. "I know we're going to go down to Sydney and get as many medals as we ever have."

Fourth was 15-year-old Kalyn Keller, the sister of men's 400 free champion Klete Keller. Keller, from Phoenix Swim Club, swam an 8:38.70.

Men's 50 free

Gary Hall Jr. broke Tom Jager's 1990 American record of 21.81 with his 21.76 victory in the 50 free. Anthony Ervin, 19, was second, also under the old record in 21.80. Both swimmers represent Phoenix Swim Club.

Hall, 25, had threatened to break the record with a 21.93 prelim swim and a 21.91 in semifinals.

Hall won the silver in this event and the 100 free at the 1996 Olympics. He was second in the 100 free here, qualifying for that event and the 400 free relay.

Ervin also made the 400 free relay team.

"I'm predicting it will be a good race in Sydney," said Hall, who went up to the blocks in his trademark red, white and blue boxers, which he designed for the Victor. On the awards stand, he had prepared to read a quote from tennis champion Billie Jean King.

"No matter how many bad breaks along the way," it said in part, "I must win, win, win."

Hall's father Gary Sr. was an Olympic distance swimmer in 1968, 1972 and 1976, and gave a speech to open a finals session earlier at this meet. Hall Jr.'s performance has improved in the past year since being diagnosed with diabetes and getting the illness under control.

Of breaking Jager's record, Hall said, "Tom's always been a great friend. He's always taken me under his wing, he's a great guy."

Third was Neil Walker, the 100 free champion and runner-up in the 100 back at this meet, in 22.12.

Defending world champion Bill Pilczuk, 28, was fourth in a personal best of 22.21.

Women's 50 free semifinals

Amy Van Dyken, the 1996 Olympic gold medalist in this event, won the first semi-final heat by breaking her own Trials record from 1996. She swam a 25.11, the old record was a 25.17.

But then in the next heat, Dara Torres broke that record with a 24.93, .20 short of her own American record from June.

Torres, 33, has already qualified for the Olympic team with second places in the 100 fly and 100 free, making her the first woman to swim in four Olympics. Torres set an American record in the 100 fly prelims.

Jenny Thompson, the winner of the 100 fly and 100 free at this meet, scratched the 50, saying she already had a full schedule at Sydney.

Third qualifier in the 50 behind Torres and Van Dyken was Haley Cope at 25.48, followed by 15-year-old Christina Swindle at 25.50. Fifth was 1996 Olympian Catherine Fox in a personal best of 25.53, followed by Courtney Allen in 25.61. Liesl Kolbisen was seventh in 25.63, and eighth was Tammie Stone in 25.67.