Simone Manuel had the fastest time in the 100 freestyle in the morning preliminaries and then won her heat in the evening semifinals at the U.S. Olympic trials.

Sugar Land’s Simone Manuel took another step toward making her third Olympic team by qualifying for the final of the women’s 100-meter freestyle at the U.S. swimming trials Tuesday in Indianapolis.

Manuel, who had the best time of the morning prelims, won her semifinal in 53.16. Torri Husk won the other semifinal in 52.90.

The top two finishers in Wednesday’s final will qualify for Paris. Finishers 3-6 will be eligible to be included as 4×100 freestyle relay members.

Manuel, 27, won two golds and two silvers in Rio in 2016. In the Tokyo Olympis in 2021, Manuel took a bronze in the 4×100 relay after suffering from overtraining syndrome.

She took a break but has returned and is among the U.S. best. She had just missed a top-six finish in the 200 freestyle Monday and a spot on the 4×200 freestyle relay. She will also swim the 50 freestyle in the final two days of the trials Saturday and Sunday.

But the 100 has been her trademark event.