HACKETT EARNS TOP SPOT AFTER HEAT SWIM

 

BEIJING, CHINA, August  15: Grant Hackett has swum 14:38.92 for the 1500 metres freestyle, the second fastest time of his amazing career at the National Aquatics Centre to earn top spot for the final.

The swim team captain will swim for an unprecedented third consecutive Olympic gold in Australia's favourite event at 10.09 (Beijing time) on Sunday morning. No other man in history has won the same event at three Olympic Games. DAVID LYALL AOC REPORTS...

After Canadian newcomer Ryan Cochrane dropped ten seconds from his best time and clocked 14:40.84 to move past Kieren Perkins as history's second fastest man over swimming's longest distance, Hackett produced the best heat swim of his life to throw down the gauntlet to the pretenders to his Olympic crown.

Russian Yuri Prilukov (14:41.13, moving to third on history's list) was pushing Cochrane all the way whereas Hackett swam on his own for more than 500m.

Hackett was mildly shocked at the swiftness of his performance.

"That was surprising actually. I didn't think I was going that fast," Hackett said.

"The key all along has been on recovery and the man who can get the best out of himself not once but twice.

"I can't wait till Sunday."

Craig Stevens clocked 15:04.82 in his heat and finished 15th overall.

In a great night for the Australians at the pool, Cate Campbell and Libby Trickett qualified first and fourth following the helter skelter heats of the 50m freestyle.

Campbell clocked 24.20 and Trickett recorded a 24.67, the pair now set to swim in different semi-finals tomorrow.

Campbell, 16, swam her heat alongside - and beat - American veteran Dara Torres, who at 41-years-of-age is competing in her fifth Olympics. She made her debut at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Earlier today Trickett won the silver medal behind German Britta Steffen in the 100m freestyle.

In the women's 4x100m medley relay, Australia qualified fastest with a time of 3:57.94.

All four swimmers - Emily Seebohm (59.95), Tarnee White (1:06.81), Felicity Galvez (56.82) and Shayne Reese (54.36) performed sensationally.

The men's 4x100m medley relay squad then earned second place with a Commonwealth record time of 3:32.76, a mere 0.01 seconds slower than the American team.

The team of Ashley Delaney (53.74), Christian Sprenger (59.95), Adam Pine (51.66) and Matt Targett (47.41) were also brilliant but all will likely step aside for the final.