OMAHA, Neb. -- As David Plummer and Ryan Murphy churned toward the wall almost in tandem Monday night in the 100-meter backstroke semifinal at the U.S. Olympic swim trials, they couldn't help but sneak a peek at the giant screen, where a superimposed red line was the only thing moving faster than they were across the pool.
Plummer touched first in 52.12 seconds, just 0.18 shy of world-record time -- the fastest time in the event this season, and the fifth-best in history.
"I tried not to think about it or look,'' said Plummer, a 30-year-old father of two and longtime Minnesotan, panting with what might be called restrained exhilaration in the interview area.
Murphy confessed he caught a glimpse of what was possible with about 15 meters to go. "I didn't necessarily expect to go that fast,'' the 20-year-old University of California-Berkeley swimmer said after going 52.28.
Their duel will resume in Tuesday night's final, augmented by the presence of reigning Olympic gold medalist Matt Grevers, who qualified third in 52.64. Whether the red line is usurped, this much is certain: The assembly line at the American 100-meter backstroke factory is still cranking out excellence.
The U.S. men have held the Olympic title in the event continuously since 1996, when Jeff Rouse won it in Atlanta, followed by Lenny Krayzelburg (Sydney 2000), Aaron Peirsol (Athens 2004, Beijing 2008) and Grevers -- a heritage ''we take very seriously,'' said Plummer, the 2013 world silver medalist in the event.
"I hope that someday I'll be able to add to that legacy,'' Murphy said. "I think the thing that pushes me most is we have a bunch of really good guys in the U.S. right now, and that keeps you honest every day.''
An impressive history in the women's event -- four Olympic championships in the past five editions of the Summer Games -- has also bred high expectations, but there could be turnover at the top, as two previous champions will race in outside lanes Tuesday.
Three collegiate swimmers broke the one-minute mark to lead the field for the final: Georgia's Olivia Smoliga (59.16) and Cal's Kathleen Baker (59.16) and Amy Bilquist (59.85). All would be first-time Olympians. "I feel like I don't remember it that well,'' Smoliga said of her race, admitting that nerves afflicted her in the morning's preliminary heat.
Missy Franklin, the reigning Olympic champion in the 100-meter backstroke, and two-time gold medalist Natalie Coughlin (2004, 2008) scraped into the seventh and eighth slots at 1:00:45 and 1:00.46 respectively. They had looks of professional realism in their eyes when they spoke to reporters.
"It wasn't the race I was looking for tonight, but I have another chance at it, that's really all I can say about it,'' said Coughlin, the 12-time Olympic medalist who stepped away from her signature event for a couple of seasons to focus on sprint freestyle. "More than anything, I just need to race more. I've been to this meet so many times, and I know it's all about managing your energy, and I think I'm maybe managing it more than I should. Unconsciously.''
In a much-publicized decision, Franklin passed on turning professional after her five-medal bonanza in London and enrolled at Cal to swim for coach Teri McKeever's program. Franklin initially said she would continue training at the university after giving up her college eligibility, but changed course in the spring of 2015 to return to her native Denver and Colorado Stars club coach Todd Schmitz, who had guided her career from age 7 on.
Four years removed from her summer as a teenaged juggernaut, Franklin sounded a veteran note. "I'm so proud of the ladies who have come out here and stepped up,'' she said. "They're giving me a run for it and I'm going to fight for it.''