Captain Hackett eyes record

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Grant Hackett has wrapped a brilliant week at the Telstra Trials in Sydney by clocking the fastest 1500m ever in an Australian pool and taking his fourth national championship of the meet.

Hackett, who was named Australia’s team captain for July’s world championships in Montreal, swam a time of 14 minutes 44.94 seconds, completely outclassing his rivals in the event and believes he can break his own world record in Canada later this year.

“If everything goes well, and I am consistent and feel as good I did pretty much this week and my taper runs well, I am sure I can get under 14:34,” he told AAP. “By how much I do not know but I just want to win it, I will be happy with that.”

“I do not want to put too many expectations on myself, but the world record happens to be my PB and that is what you have to look at, I am not here to swim backwards or to swim at the same level.”

He became the first man to win four Australian freestyle titles since Justin Lemberg in 1984 after adding his pet event to the 200m, 400m,and 800m crowns he claimed earlier in the meet.

To cap it all off, he was announced as the team leader, the first time that honour has been bestowed on anyone since the Moscow Olympics.

Alice Mills was the other star of the final night, clocking 24.49 seconds and breaking the Commonwealth record for the 50m freestyle.

The 18-year-old downed Athens Olympic bronze medallist Libby Lenton (24.86) to grab her second title of the meet. Jade Edmistone (31.02) booked her spot on the team with a win in the 50m breaststroke, while Matt Welsh (25.23) made it five backstroke ‘triple crowns’ with a win in the 50m.

Adam Lucas (4:18.49) edged out Travis Nederpelt (4:18.93) in the men’s 400m individual medley, while Lara Carroll (4:45.73) won the women’s event.

Swimming Australia announced a 38-strong squad for July’s world championships, with 16 Queenslanders, 11 Victorians, seven NSW, and four West Australian swimmers in the squad.

Team: Men: Leith Brodie (Qld), Grant Hackett (Qld), Brett Hawke (Vic), Brendon Hughes (Qld), Michael Klim (Vic), Andrew Lauterstein (Vic), Adam Lucas (WA), Kurtis MacGillivary (Qld), Andrew Mewing (Qld), Patrick Murphy (Vic), Travis Nederpelt (WA), Jim Piper (WA), Andrew Richards (NSW), Brenton Rickard (Vic), Mark Riley (Qld), Nic Sprenger (Qld), Matt Welsh (Vic).

Women: Bronte Barratt (Qld), Lara Carroll (WA), Lara Davenport (NSW), Sophie Edington (NSW), Jade Edmistone (Qld), Felicity Galvez (NSW), Brooke Hanson (Vic), Jodie Henry (Qld), Leisel Jones (Qld), Libby Lenton (Qld), Linda MacKenzie (Qld), Danni Miatke (Vic), Alice Mills (Qld), Melissa Mitchell (NSW), Sarah Paton (NSW), Haylee Reddaway (Vic), Shayne Reese (Vic), Giaan Rooney (Vic), Jess Schipper (Qld), Louise Tomlinson (Qld), Tay Zimmer (NSW).