Janet Evans Invitational Set for the Weekend

LOS ANGELES, California, July 9. AS the United States Nationals in Indianapolis draw closer, the tuneup competitions remain in high gear. This weekend, the Janet Evans Invitational will feature a number of top-flight performers racing at the McDonald's Swim Stadium. Among the headliners are distance standout Larsen Jensen and two-time Olympian Klete Keller.

Jensen, of course, is the American-record holder in the 800 and 1500 freestyle events and one of the premier distance performers in the world. At next year's Olympic Trials, Jensen should contend for Beijing berths in the 400 and 1500 freestyles. As for Keller, who recently shifted his training ground from Club Wolverine to Trojan Swim Club, the American-record holder in the 400 free is the top seed in his prime event. Keller will also go head-to-head with Canada's Brent Hayden in the 200 free.

The men's 100 freestyle, as was the case at the recent Santa Clara International Invitational, is expected to showcase a spectacular field, one topped by reigning co-world champion Hayden. The Canadian should find some serious challenges from the likes of Great Britain's Simon Burnett and South Africa's Roland Schoeman and Ryk Neethling.

On the female side, some big names anticipated to race will be Kim Vandenberg, the silver medalist at the World Champs in the 200 butterfly, and Dana Vollmer, a member of the United States' world-record setting 800 free relay at the World Championships in Melbourne. Sprint star Lacey Nymeyer and multi-talented Whitney Myers will also be in attendance.

World champion Ben Wildman-Tobriner will highlight the field in the 50 freestyle and Tara Kirk and Jessica Hardy will do battle in the breaststroke, along with Rebecca Soni. Kirk has enjoyed a strong summer that included top finishes at the Mare Nostrum Series. As for Hardy, she holds the American record in the 100 breast.

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