Katie Hoff made it 2 for 2 at the U.S. Olympic trials. And she's just getting started.

Showing no signs of tiring, the Baltimore teenager gutted out another grueling win last night in Omaha, Neb., rallying to win the 400-meter freestyle just 24 hours after she set a world record in the 400 individual medley.

Hoff became the first U.S. swimmer to lock up two races in Beijing, but there's no time to savor her accomplishment. She's already done about a mile of races in Omaha and plans to compete in four more before the week is out, pursuing an Olympic program just slightly less ambitious than the one Michael Phelps will attempt in hopes of knocking off Mark Spitz.

"The plan was to take it out strong with nice, easy speed," the 19-year-old Hoff said. "I don't think I had as much as I was hoping, but I brought it back real well."

As for Phelps, the birthday boy had a relatively light day as he turned 23, easily qualifying for today's final in the 200 freestyle to set up another showdown with Ryan Lochte. On the meet's opening night, both eclipsed the old world record in the 400 IM, but Phelps touched the wall first.

Two more world records fell on day two — both in the morning preliminaries, about 2 minutes apart. Hayley McGregory knocked off Natalie Coughlin's 4 1/2-month-old mark in the 100 backstroke with a time of 59.15 seconds, only to have Coughlin take it right back in the next heat at 59.03.

They pulled back in the evening semifinals, clearly wanting to save something for their head-to-head matchup today.

Brendan Hansen had a big letdown in the 100 breaststroke, despite locking up a second straight trip to the Olympics.

After just missing the world record in the semifinals, Hansen got off to a sluggish start and struggled home with a time of 59.93, good enough to win but nearly a full second off the record of 59.13. He glared at the scoreboard, stared at the water, then shook his head slightly.

"I'm a little disappointed, obviously, at the time, but you can't be mad about the fact of making your second Olympic team," Hansen said. "If I had to pick a place to break that world record, it would be at the Olympics. I've done it at the trials before (in 2004) and it's fun, but it's a lot more fun when you break it at the Olympics."

Christine Magnuson won yesterday's other final, claiming her first trip to the Olympics with a win in the 100 butterfly. The victory was aided by Coughlin's decision not to swim, even though she holds the American record.

TRACK AND FIELD

LAGAT QUALIFIES IN 5,000-METER RUN

Bernard Lagat won the 5,000-meter race last night at the U.S. Olympic trials in Eugene, Ore.

"This is a dream come true," Lagat said. "This is very special running tonight. Now, I'm part of the USA going to Beijing. I'm very excited."

Having secured his trip with a time of 13 minutes, 27.47 seconds, he'll also compete later this week in the 1,500 meters — his better race. And when he heads to China in August, he hopes to win the gold medal that has eluded him in two previous Olympic trips.

He hopes to win it for America, the country he adopted four years ago.

No American has won the 5,000 since 1964, and no U.S. runner has ever won the 5,000 and the 1,500. Lagat has not yet decided if he'll go for the double or concentrate on the 1,500, where he has won silver (Athens) and bronze (Sydney).

Ian Dobson finished third and also will go to Beijing. Adam Goucher dropped out late in the race, meaning the chances of a husband-wife distance pairing is slim. His wife, Kara, is expected to make it in the 10,000, but Adam is only a provisional entrant in the men's 10,000.

In the men's 400 semifinals, Jeremy Wariner and LaShawn Merritt gave a preview of their final, coming up Thursday.

Racing side-by-side, Wariner finished in 44.66 to beat Merritt by .10 seconds and set aside a loss last month to the man who could prove to be his main rival.