Janet Evans' first appearance at the US Olympic swimming trials on Tuesday was brief, with the 40-year-old former Olympic champion failing to advance to the 400 freestyle final.
Evans finished seventh in her heat at 4:21.49 - 6.81 seconds behind 19-year-old winner Danielle Siverling - and 80th overall. But Evans, who won the 400 free as one of her three golds at the 1988 Olympics, was merely using the event as a warm-up for the 800 free. She is a long shot in that grueling event after a 15-year absence from the sport.
''I wish I would've gone faster. I didn't feel very good,'' said Evans, who got big cheers when she was introduced during the race and after she climbed out. ''It was nice to get the jitters out. I think that my 800 will be better.''
In the women's 400 free, Katie Hoff joined Evans on the sideline after finishing 20th in 4:13.08. Hoff won the event four years ago at trials - one of her five victories that had her dubbed the female Phelps. Her coach, Paul Yetter, said she was feeling sick from something she ate.
Hoff has just the 200 free remaining to try to make her third straight Olympic team.
''I hope she'll be able to get herself eating today and feeling better,'' Yetter said. ''I've never seen her look that white.''
