AUSTIN, Texas — Janet Evans' Olympic comeback bid at age 40 just got serious. She also got a reminder of how much work is left to get to the London Games this summer.
In her first elite-level competition since coming out of retirement, the former gold medalist and world record holder qualified Friday for the Olympic Trials in the 400-meter freestyle at the Austin Grand Prix.
Evans qualified for the Trials by winning her preliminary heat in 4:17.27, beating the qualifying standard of 4:19.39. Evans knocked about five seconds off of her best time coming into the meet at the University of Texas.
That mark was good enough to qualify for the “B” final at the Grand Prix about seven hours later. But with the Olympic Trials qualifying time already behind her and a tougher field of competitors in the pool in Friday night's race, Evans faded to eighth and last place in 4:18.15.
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