Omaha, NE (My Sportsbook) - Lara Jackson set the American record in the women's 50-meter freestyle by finishing her preliminary heat in 24.50 seconds Saturday at the U.S. Olympic Swimming trials.

Jackson's time eclipsed the previous American mark of 24.53 seconds held by Dara Torres, who ironically was racing in the lane next to the 2008 NCAA champion from the University of Arizona.

"We've been working so hard and I've been really on in practice, but nothing like that," the shocked 21-year-old said.

On Friday night, the 41-year-old Torres, mother of a two-year-old daughter, clinched a spot in her fifth Olympics by winning the 100-meter freestyle. The morning after she had the third-best time in the preliminaries of the 50 free at 24.72 seconds, ahead of tonight's semifinals. Jessica Hardy (24.63) was second-best.

"Obviously I'm pretty excited right now," Torres said in a statement after the 50-meter preliminaries. "I don't think it's really sunk in that I've made a fifth Olympics. Right now I just need to concentrate on my 50. That was a pretty easy swim for me so I'm pretty happy with my time."

It's been an incredible Olympic run for Torres, winner of nine medals, starting with a relay gold in 1984 in her current home city of Los Angeles, and most recently capturing four medals in 2000 -- this after coming out of a seven-year retirement.

Not only that, but last November Torres had surgery to remove a bone spur responsible for a partial rotator cuff tear in her right shoulder. She also had surgery on her knee in January.

Eric Vendt, trying to make his third Olympics, set a U.S. trials record in the preliminary heats of the 1,500 freestyle, ahead of Sunday's finals. Vendt's time of 14 minutes, 50.24 seconds eclipsed the mark of Larsen Jensen (14:56.71) from four years ago.

"I didn't expect to go that fast, didn't want to go that fast," Vendt said. "I'm happy I put in the effort I thought would be necessary."

Vendt won silver medals in the 400 individual medley in both 2000 and 2004 at the Summer Games.

Chad La Tourette had the second-best time at 15:02.78, followed by Peter Vanderkaay (15:06.24) and Jensen (15:11.99).

The 24-year-old Vanderkaay is already on the U.S. Olympic team via second- place finishes in the 200 and 400 freestyle. He'll also be on the 800-meter freestyle relay team. Jensen is also on the squad by winning the 400 free.

Vanderkaay's younger brother, 22-year-old Alex, barely missed out on advancing to the final with a time of 15:24.32, finishing ninth, just behind Josef Kinderwater (15:22.45), who attained the last spot.