Torres reaches finals in 100 free

OMAHA, Neb. — With her 2-year-old daughter, Tessa, among those in the audience cheering her on her mom, 41-year-old Dara Torres turned in another amazing swim Thursday at the U.S. swimming trials.

Torres, the four-time Olympian and former Gator who has twice retired from swimming but is back again — 24 years after her first U.S. trials, moved on to the final of the women's 100-meter freestyle with the second-best time (53.76). Natalie Coughlin was the top qualifier for today’s final in the event, winning her heat in 53.64, touching just ahead of Torres.

‘‘It was my best time ever,’’ said Torres, holding her daughter. ‘‘I had nerves, but it was a good nerves, it was like I was ready to go out there and have fun.’’

As for Brendan Hansen, the world record holder in the 200 breastroke, Thursday night wasn't fun.

In the first major stunner of the trials, Hansen failed to make the Olympic team in the 200 breasts, knocked out by a fourth-place showing, laboring to the finish in the wake of three countrymen.

Hansen’s only solace: He still has a spot in the 100 breast and, most likely, the 400 medley relay.

It was of little comfort on this night.

‘‘I did my best,’’ said Hansen, the last of the eight finalists to leave the pool deck. ‘‘I gave everything in the pool tonight. I left it all out there. It just wasn’t there. It wasn’t my day.’’

Hansen wasn’t the only big name to falter on the fifth night of the meet, which failed to produce a world record for the second straight night. Six were set over the first three days.

Katie Hoff, who already had qualified for four individual events and one relay, failed to advance out of the semifinals of the 100 freestyle, denying her a chance to go for as many as eight medals in Beijing.

But Hoff’s 11th-best time against a field that included Coughlin and Torres wasn’t that surprising — the 100 was by far the longest shot on the 19-year-old’s grueling program.