Grant Hackett has shown that he is not far from recapturing his best form with a resounding win in the 200m freestyle final at the Australian short-course swimming championships in Hobart. The 1500m world record holder clocked 1:45.72 to finish over a second ahead of New South Welshman Kenrick Monk and Victorian Patrick Murphy (1:47.24). “I felt a little bit funny actually trying to sprint like that and I just wanted to go a 43 (one minute 43) and I went a 44, so it’s slightly disappointing,” Hackett told AAP.

“It’s my first 200m in a while so to get up and swim fast I should be happy.” “I think I will definitely swim the 1500m, as a training run just to go out and see what happens.” In other early results from the Friday night session, Jessicah Schipper made it clear who is best in the 200m butterfly by taking out the final ahead of fellow Queenslander Felicity Galvez - who had earlier qualified fastest for the final. Schipper, who set a new world record in the event in the Pan Pacs last week in Canada, touched in with the clock stopped at 2:04.42, with Galvez a further 0.55 seconds behind and Samantha Hamill claiming third with a time of 2:09.84. Earlier, the first title of the championships was decided when Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Melissa Gorman won the women’s 1500m freestyle in a time of 16:22.78 on a day that stars Leisel Jones (50m breaststroke, 30.80) and Libby Lenton (100m freestyle, 54.20) qualified fastest in their respective events. Christian Sprenger (27.78) was the fastest qualifier in the men’s 50m breaststroke, with Matt Welsh quickest in the 50m breastroke event (24.42).

original link