Gold medal hopeful Kelly Sotherton lies fifth in the heptathlon in Beijing after two events.

BEIJING was to be a learning curve for Melanie Nocher, a chance to dip her toes in Olympic waters and lay the groundwork for an assault on the London Games in 2012.

Aaron Peirsol and Natalie Coughlin each set world records in the men’s and women’s 100metres backstroke at the United States Olympic trials in Omaha.