KATSOULIS, STUBBINS & ADCOCK FACE TEENAGE ONSLAUGHT

Melbourne, September 24: The stage is set for a pair of intriguing youth versus experience battles in tonight's finals after the last morning of heats were swum at the Telstra Australian Short Course Championships at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.

Samantha Marshall (Cook & Phillip, NSW), 16, and Tessa Wallace (Pelican Waters Caloundra, QLD), 15, look set to battle it out with wily veteran Sarah Katsoulis (CA Tritons, VIC) in the women's 200 metres breaststroke, while the star of the week, Ellen Fullerton (Pro-Ma Miami, QLD), will lead a host of teenagers into action against 24-year-olds Kelly Stubbins (Haileybury Waterlions) and Fran Adcock (Norwood, SA) in the 200m freestyle.

Both races will offer Katsoulis and Stubbins a shot at a rare National title in their main event while at the same time providing the teenagers with a chance for further glory.

Katsoulis won just the second Australian open title of her career earlier at this meet when she took out the 100m breaststroke, Stubbins, despite finishing second three times, is still looking to win her first senior National crown and Adcock, whilst a triple Australian short course champion over 200m backstroke, has never medalled in the freestyle.

Marshall was the fastest qualifier this morning in the endurance breaststroke event, posting a solid heat swim of 2:28.15 and looking like she could barely blow out a candle at the end. Qualifying one spot behind but also winning her heat was Wallace in 2:29.25. Katsoulis was third quickest after taking out her heat in 2:30.67.

In the 200m freestyle Fullerton was the top qualifier in 1:58.53 from 17-year-old Merindah Dingjan (Southside Wesley, WA) in 1:58.87 and Stubbins in 1:59.06. Adcock was next in 1:59.59, just ahead of 16-year-old Amy Levings (Pro-Ma Miami, QLD) (1:59.64) and a trio of 17-year-olds - Jessica Ash (Norwood, SA), Blair Evans (City of Perth, WA) and Tiffany Papaemanouil (Norwood, SA).

British Development Squad visitor Chris Walker-Hebborn was the fastest qualifier in the men's 200m backstroke, clocking 1:55.05 to edge out Robert Hurley (Wests Illawarra Aquatic, NSW), already a triple gold medallist at this meet, with his time of 1:55.90. A win tonight will give Hurley a backstroke treble at this week.

Another visitor, Korean John Goo, who represents Ryde Carlile in Sydney, was the quickest in the men's 200m butterfly with a time of 1:56.94, edging out Lachlan Staples (Kingswim, NSW) (1:57.64) and race favourite Chris Wright (Commercial, QLD) (1:57.67). Wright has won the 200m individual medley a few nights ago and was a member of the Telstra Dolphins squad at this year's FINA World Championships in Manchester.

In multi-disability heats, Shelley Rogers (Norwood, SA) (42.10) and Craig Morgan (Kinross Wolaroi, NSW) (28.59) were the top ranked swimmers after the respective 50m backstroke events. Tonight's program will also feature the finals of the multi-disability 100m butterfly.

Places in multi-disability events are calculated on the percentage of the world record in the respective classifications for each individual's performance.

Medals were won this morning in the timed finals women's 1500m freestyle with Luane Rowe (Willoughby, NSW) posting 16:33.76 to claim gold from Leah Cutting (Norwood, SA) in 17:20.14 and Laura Harney (Haileybury Waterlions, VIC) in 17:32.50.

The fastest seeded heat of the men's 1500m will also be swum tonight to decide the medallists with Cameron Smith (St Peters Western, QLD) the top qualifier from Robert Hurley and 16-year-old Christopher Ashwood (SOPAC, NSW). Andrew Beato (Bankstown City, NSW) set the standard by clocking 15:07.32 in his heat this morning.

In other finals tonight:

Beijing relay silver medallist Christian Sprenger (Commercial, QLD) is the fastest qualifier in the men's 50m breaststroke; Sprenger's Olympic teammate, 16-year-old dual Beijing bronze medallist Cate Campbell (Indooroopilly, QLD) will swim from the middle of the pool in her pet 50m freestyle; Mitchell Patterson (Warringah Aquatic, NSW) heads qualifiers in the men's 100m freestyle; Chris Wright (Commercial, QLD) leads the finalists in the 100m individual medley; Amy Smith (St Peters Western, NSW) is the favourite in the 100m butterfly; and Amy Cockerton (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) is the number one qualifier in the 50m backstroke.                                                                                              

Tonight's finals session begins at 6.30 and tickets can be purchased at the door.