After a Swimmer's Disappointment Comes Hope OMAHA - They were supposed to be the 55 minutes that validated Davis Tarwater's decision to come out of retirement after failing to make the 2008 United States Olympic team. Instead, his two races Wednesday night at the trials turned into another, well, trial. Tarwater's night began with the 200 freestyle final. The top two finishers earned berths in the individual event while the next four would fill out the 800 freestyle relay. Tarwater, the oldest finalist at 28, finished seventh in 1 minute 47.02 seconds. He missed a spot on the relay by 14-hundredths of a second. Tarwater could not afford to mope. He had to warm down and prepare for the semifinals of the 200 butterfly, an event in which he finished third in 2008. It took less than an hour for him to turn his heartbreak into hope. Swimming in the second semifinal, he took the lead from the start over a field that included Michael Phelps (who had won the 200 freestyle) and held it until the last few meters. He was out-touched by Bobby Bollier, who swam the final 50 meters in 30.18 to Tarwater's 30.68 to lead all finalists with a 1:56.06. Tarwater qualified second in 1:56.10, ahead of Phelps (1:56.42). "Frankly, I was just a little on edge after missing the team," Tarwater said. I came out and swam with a little bit of fire. Was he angry? "I wouldn't say angry," Tarwater said, "but purposeful."