Morning wrap-up and what’s ahead

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Amanda Beard talks with Lisa Dillman about Playboy and trying to make the Beijing Olympics team. Watch the video of Beard. The swim trials began today in Omaha with preliminary heats and Dillman is there. Michael Phelps, seen above during today’s preliminaries, will be in the men’s 400-meter individual medley tonight. Follow the action live. Here’s a TV schedule.

Muna Lee, right, may not be a household name yet, but after her blistering sprint to win the women’s 100-meter final, Philip Hersh reports that all she could say was, ‘I’m very surprised.’ Looking ahead to today, one of the key events is the men’s pole vault final. Brad Walker is in it and holds the American record, set June 8. Will he break his own record? USA Track & Field has posted an event schedule.

Helene Elliott looks at the also-rans at the U.S. Track and Field trials going on in Eugene, Ore. As she points out, the difference between making the team and missing out can be 100th of a second.

Kevin Baxter reports on U.S.-born Mexican athletes playing for their parents’ -- or sometimes grandparents’ -- homeland, and why.

And Susan Spano reports for the Travel section from Qingdao, China, the old colonial city by the Yellow Sea that will host the Olympic sailing events.

-- Debbie Goffa

Top photo: Michael Phelps swims in the men’s 400-meter individual medley preliminaries at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in Omaha this morning. Credit: Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press

/Associated Press