HACKETT, RICE EARN FINALS BERTH

 

BEJING, CHINA,August  10: Grant Hackett, Stephanie Rice and the Australian women's 4x100 metre freestyle relay team will swim for gold tomorrow after strong heat swims on Day 1 of the swimming program at the National Aquatics Centre.

Hackett qualified fifth in the 400m freestyle, Rice was equal third in the 400m individual medley and the relay squad was sixth. DAVID LYALL AOC REPORTS...

Jessicah Schipper (first) and Libby Trickett (12th) moved through to the semi finals of the 100m butterfly, while Brenton Rickard (fourth) and Christian Sprenger (equal tenth) progressed in the 100m breaststroke.

Rickard broke the first Australian record of the meet, becoming the first Australian to dip under the magical one minute mark when he hit the wall in 59.89. Sprenger clocked 1:00.36 in the same heat.

After the record breaking swim Rickard said he had the record in his sights.

"It's a milestone I have been chasing for some time and it is good to get it out of the way in the heat," Rickard said. "I can now get down to business."

But it was Hackett, the Australian swim team captain, who attracted the most interest from the packed crowd.

The 28-year-old clocked 3:44.03 to win his heat with a withering last 50m. American Larsen Jensen was quickest with a 3:43.10, making him the third fastest man ever over the eight lap event.

Hackett won silver in the event behind compatriot Ian Thorpe at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and is the second fastest man in history behind Thorpe with a personal best time of 3:42.51.

After the race Hackett said he was happy to be in what should be a sizzling final.

"It felt comfortable," Hackett said. "I knew it was going to be tight but I had the advantage of being in the (last) heat and I knew exactly what I had to do.

"It is going to be anyone's race and I'm just glad I've got a lane."

Craig Stevens clocked 3:50.22 and finished 25th.

Rice confirmed herself as a medal contender by easily winning her heat and said she enjoyed her first Olympic experience.

The all rounder was on world record pace at the 250m mark before easing off over the last 150m to stop the clock in 4:35.11 - equal third with Italian Alessia Filippi and behind American teens Elizabeth Beisel (4:34.55) and Katie Hoff (4:34.63).

"I loved it out there," Rice said when asked about her Olympic debut.

"I felt comfortable and in control and I can't wait to race in tomorrow's final."

Fellow Olympic rookie Samantha Hamill was 22nd in 4:41.89.

The team of Cate Campbell (54.65), Alice Mills (54.55), Melanie Schlanger (54.69) and Shayne Reese (53.92) posted a time of 3:37.81 in the relay.

It is likely that Trickett will come into the team for the final.

Schipper won her 100m butterfly heat in 57.58, while Trickett, who came into the event ranked first in the world, cruised into 12th with a time of 58.37.

Despite clocking a personal best time in the heats of the 400 metres individual medley, Travis Nederpelt failed to progress to the final.

Nederpelt posted a time of 4:15.37 to finish fifth in his heat and 14th overall behind American superstar Michael Phelps, who won the heat and qualified fastest in 4:07.82.

Nederpelt was eighth in the event at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

The first finals session begins tomorrow morning at 10.