Athens, Greece (My Sportsbook) - The United States men's 400-meter freestyle relay team had the fastest qualifying time in Tuesday morning heats, moving into tonight's finals at the Olympics.

The quartet of a Scott Goldblatt, Ryan Lochte, Dan Ketchum and Peter Vanderkaay finished in a time of 7:12.80 to win their heat. Australia qualified second overall by winning its heat in 7:14.85, more than two seconds slower than the Americans.

Greece also qualified, pleasing hundreds of fans on hand to watch the heats. But that wasn't the day's biggest surprise.

The U.S. men were shut out of the 100-meter freestyle when Jason Lezak, the fastest swimmer in the event this year, and Ian Crocker failed to qualify for the semifinals.

Lezak finished 20th with a time of 49.87, while Crocker was originally scheduled for a two-man swimoff after he dead-heated in the 16th spot with Ukranian Yuriy Yegoshin.

But that swimoff never took place. George Bovell of Trinidad was reinstated after being initially disqualified, becoming the 16th swimmer to make the semifinals.

Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands qualified fastest and Australian Ian Thorpe was fifth in the 100-meter freestyle semis, this after they beat American Michael Phelps in the 200-meter free Monday night.

"I'm a bit tired this morning," said Thorpe, who won gold ahead of the silver medalist Dutchman and bronze medalist Phelps. "I got home late last night and only got six hours sleep."

Van den Hoogenband, the world record holder, qualified first in a time of 48.70. Russian legend Alexander Popov, who won gold in the 50- and 100-meter freestyle events in 1992 and 1996, was eighth.

In the women's 200-meter butterfly, Otylia Jedrzejczak of Poland had the best time in today's heats. American Kaitlin Sandeno also qualified with the fourth best time.

In the men's 200-meter breaststroke, Hungary's Daniel Gyurta finished first in the heats, Americans Brendan Hansen, the world record holder, and Scott Usher also made it into tonight's semifinals.