The 200-meter freestyle.

The Olympic Trials.

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Janet Evans swam in Monday's race. And swimming right along with her was Penn State's Fran McDermid.

Although she didn't come away with a berth on the U.S. Olympic Team, the experience was anything but a failure for McDermid.

"Fran swam well beyond our expectations," Coach Bob Krimmel said. "She did the very best she could."

Krimmel and Assistant Coach Mary Bolich accompanied the two-time All-American to the meet, held in Indianapolis, where she was seeded 36th out of 39 swimmers.

"There were only two people seeded below me," McDermid said. "I wanted to prove to myself that I could (swim) better than that."

And indeed she did prove herself -- quickly.

She swam in the first qualifying heat of the event with only two other swimmers. After finishing in 2 minutes, 4.90 seconds, McDermid found herself in 21st place.

In the consolation finals, she placed third with a Penn State record of 2:04.18, a lifetime-best by two seconds.

McDermid finished in 11th place overall -- the highest a Penn State swimmer has ever placed in the Olympic Trials.

"Not only were we impressed, but a lot of other coaches were impressed, too," Krimmel said.

"I wanted to be better," McDermid said. "But I did the best I could."

In addition to the Olympic Trials, McDermid also swam time trials in the 100-meter freestyle. And, as usual, she performed a little extra magic.

McDermid swam a Penn State record 57.56 to qualify for the Senior National championships. She will also compete in the 200 free at Senior Nationals.

"I thought that I could do well in the (100 free)," McDermid said. "I just wanted to go out and prove to myself that I could. So I was happy."

Krimmel said the experience of the Olympic Trials was "undescribable," and McDermid agreed.

"Being at the meet was (a career highlight), but I wish I had done better," McDermid said. "I wish I had been able to go faster.

"It's so exciting seeing that much attention on the sport. It was really neat. I think about it more now. I'm like, 'I was just at Olympic Trials.' It's just kind of sinking into me now."