JAUKOVIC FLIES AGAIN: WORLD RECORD IN SIGHT

Melbourne, September 22: Matt Jaukovic was little more than a blip on the world swimming radar two days ago but his performances last night and today on the third morning of heats at the Telstra Australian Short Course Championships at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre has the 22-year-old on the verge of serious global recognition.

Jaukovic (Sydney University, NSW), fresh from his scintillating 100 metre butterfly effort last night where he clocked 50.37 to become the sixth fastest man in history, clocked 22.79 in the 50m butterfly to go one better and post a time that only four men have ever topped.

The world record of 22.60, set in 2005 by Brazilian Kaio Almeida, and certainly Adam Pine's Commonwealth record of 22.70, are under threat in tonight's semi-finals and tomorrow night's final.

Such was Jaukovic's dominance over the field, second quickest this morning, Warringah Aquatic (NSW) swimmer Mitchell Patterson clocked 23.76 to move into tenth on the Australian all-time list but almost a second in his wake.

And a meet that looked bereft of any major achievement with the vast majority of 2008 Olympians absent, suddenly has history beckoning courtesy of a former Montenegrin and newly naturalised Australian.

Athens Olympian Frances Adcock (Norwood, SA) qualified quickest in the women's 200m backstroke in 2:09.05 from rising stars Bridgette Rose-Taylor (Brothers, QLD) (2:11.48), Amy Lucas (West Coast, WA) (2:11.96) and last night's 100m backstroke winner Grace Loh (CA Tritons, VIC) (2:12.05).

Adcock is the defending champion and National record holder at 2:05.37 who narrowly missed qualifying for the Beijing Olympic Games and is preparing to relocate to Brisbane to further her budding media and swimming careers.

Great Britain Development Squad member Chris Alderton (3:46.12) was fastest in the men's 400m freestyle be a whisker from Robert Hurley (Wests Illawarra Aquatic, NSW) (3:46.22) and Ryan Napoleon (St Peters Western, QLD) (3:47.21).

In the corresponding women's event, Pro-Ma Miami (QLD) pair Ellen Fullerton (4:10.69) and Amy Levings (4:12.17) were the top qualifiers ahead of last night's 800m winner Blair Evans (City of Perth, WA) (4:12.71). Fullerton shocked everyone, including herself, when she shattered Olympic champion Stephanie Rice's Australian record in the 400m individual medley on the opening night of the meet.

Ryde Carlile (NSW) trained Korean John Goo was the quickest in the men's 200m individual medley, qualifying for tonight's final in 1:59.99. Second best was another visitor, Great Britain's Roberto Pavoni (2:01.10).

Silver medal winning Olympic medley relay heat swimmer Christian Sprenger (Commercial, QLD) swam 2:08.98 to earn the top berth in the men's 200m breaststroke final. Craig Calder (Albury, NSW) was next in 2:09.xx. Sprenger was disqualified for a false start when first to the wall in last night's 100m final, handing Calder his first National title.

Triple Paralympic medallist Jacqueline Freney (Aqua Z, NSW) was the top ranked swimmer after the heats of the women's multi-disability 100m freestyle with a time of 1:10.94, while Craig Morgan (Kinross Walaroi, NSW) (54.47) was the number one qualifier in the same men's event.

In further heats action this morning and progressing through to semi-finals tonight:

• AIS trained 17-year-old prodigy Ben Treffers (Burley Griffin, NSW) was fastest qualifier with a time of 25.01 in the men's 50m backstroke
• Sarah Katsoulis (CA Tritons, VIC) topped qualifiers in the women's 100m breaststroke in 1:07.73

In other finals tonight, Marieke Guehrer (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC), a member of the 2004 Australian Olympic swim team, will start from lane four in both the 100m freestyle and 50m butterfly; this year's FINA World Championships finalist Kristy Morrison (Castle Hill RSL Dolphins, NSW) will swim from the centre lane in the 100m individual medley; and Kyle Richardson (Commercial, QLD), already a winner at these Championships, is the fastest qualifier in the helter skelter men's 50m freestyle.

Tonight's finals session begins at 6.30 with tomorrow's heats due to start at 10am. Tickets can be purchased at the door and start at $3 for children / concession and $5 for adults.