INDIANAPOLIS - And so began the scratches. We've seen the two best from Athens, Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin, withdraw from the meet due to injury. Now we are seeing the mental and physical exhaustion of the rest of the world's top athletes. In the men's 100 free top seeds Ian Crocker (USA) and Jose Meolans (ARG) did not swim, in the women's 100 fly top seeds Yafei Zhou (CHN) and Johanna Sjoberg (SWE) did not swim and Oussama Mellouli (TUN) sat out the 100 IM after picking up a gold and bronze in the 400 and 200 IMs.

Women's 50 Back
Haley Cope (USA) looked up and ready this morning, finishing as the top seed with a 28.24 to Chang Gao's (CHN) 28.31. Tayliah Zimmer (AUS) and Sophie Eddington (AUS) have both had busy swimming schedules, but managed 28.54 and 28.53 in their heats. Other top swimmers: Erin Gammel (CAN) sits in 3rd spot with a 28.44 and Sanja Jovanovic (CRO) came in at 28.48.

Men's 100 Free
Jason Lezak (USA) sits in top spot with a 48.39 in the first seeded heat. He out-swam Cesar Cielo (BRA) who sits in 2nd with a 48.57. Frederick Bousquet (FRA) finally had a solid swim. He finished 3rd in his heat with a 48.94, which was fast enough to advance to tonight's semis. Rick Say (CAN) sits in 9th spot with a 49.16.

Women's 100 Fly
Martina Moravcova (SVK) and Jenny Thompson (USA) were the top swimmers this morning. They both dominated their heats, winning with a body-length to spare. Moravcova is tops with a 58.65 to Thompson's 58.68. Jessica Schipper (AUS) who swam the fly leg on last night's world record setting 4x100 medley, finished in a 59.30 and Rachel Komisarz (USA) is next with a 59.55. Canadians Jen Button and Audrey Lacroix qualified for tonight's semi in 8th and 9th place.

Men's 100 IM
Sprint king Thomas Rupprath (GER) is the clear leader with a 53.74. Early heat winner Mihail Alexandrov (BUL) and Ryan Lochte (USA), who were both seeded without times, sit in 2nd and 5th spot with 54.65 and 54.92.

Women's 50 Free
No matter what, the schedule for these meets never seems to be very good for the top swimmers. Within minutes of finishing the 100 fly heats, Jenny Thompson (USA) and Lisbeth Lenton (AUS) were back in the pool for the 50 free. Both women qualified for tonight's semi, but the top seed is Marleen Veldhuis (NED). She is the only woman under 25 this morning with her 24.98. Alison Sheppard (GBR) is 2nd with a 25.02 and Rebeca Gusmao (BRA) is 3rd with a 25.05.

Women's 200 IM
Lara Carroll (AUS) had the fastest back and breast splits of 32.81 and 37.23 to put together the top swim of the heats in 2:11.72. Amanda Beard (USA) was close at her side in 2:12.28, while her teammate Katie Hoff (USA) sits in 3rd spot with a 2:12.69 and win from her heat. Brooke Hanson (AUS) looks for her 4th gold medal in this event, and swam a comfortable 2:13.60. Liz Warden (CAN) made it into the final in 6th spot with a 2:14.78.

Men's 50 Breast
Mark Warnecke (GER) won a bronze medal in the 100 breast at the '96 Olympic Games. Eight years later at age 34, Warnecke is still swimming, however today he as no match for the young Brendan Hansen (USA) who touched first in 27.25. Warnecke sits in 8th spot with his 27.80, while Stefan Nystrand (SWE) is 2nd with a 27.38.