Greetings from lovely Omaha, where I've been eating prime cut beef and dodging tornadoes for the last few days.

I'll be offering as many updates as humanly possible on the U.S. swimming trials over the next eight days, hoping to give you some semblance of insight into the quests of Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff to qualify for the Olympic team in a multitude of events.

Phelps swam in the preliminary of the 400-meter individual medley this morning, an event he has dominated over the last five years, and he was not exactly thrilled with his performance. Phelps got off to a strong start, then he cruised for the last 200 meters because he was hoping to conserve energy for this evening's finals. He still wasn't thrilled with his time of 4:13.13.

Phelps' good friend Ryan Lochte, who should provide a serious challenge tonight, actually posted a faster time: 4:13.38.

"I'm not really too happy, but I've got another chance tonight," said Phelps, doing his best to conceal some minor irritation. "It's slower than I went at [the world championships] in the morning, but hopefully I can improve tonight."

The 400 IM has been a thorn in Phelps' side, off and on, for much of the last six months. In March 2007, he broke his own world record, going 4:06.22, but he hasn't come close to that mark since breaking a tiny bone in his wrist last winter. Lochte, who has come close but never beaten Phelps head-to-head in the 400 IM, has been closing the gap ever since.

"Ryan is a great competitor and he's definitely someone I love to race," Phelps said. "I'm looking forward to it."

Phelps did show up yesterday sporting a sweet fu manchu that looks almost like an homage to Mark Spitz's old mustached look, but sadly, he shaved it off for this morning's competition.

North Baltimore Aquatic Club's Austin Surhoff, the 17-year-old son of former Orioles outfielder B.J. Surhoff, had a nice morning swim in the 400 IM, going 4:24.07 and winning his heat, but it wasn't quite enough to make the finals in a strong field.