LEISEL STILL LOOKS THE GOODS..JUST DON'T MENTION THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Sydney, March 20: World record holder and Olympic champion Leisel Jones (Nunawading, VIC) dived back into competition at the Telstra Australian Swimming Championships this morning, notching up a slick time of 1.08.22 in the heats of the women's 100m breaststroke to show she can still mix it with the best despite a scaled back training regime.

Jones has declared she is unavailable for the FINA World Championships in Rome "at this stage" as she takes a break from major international competition for the year, and is undertaking a beauty therapy course in Melbourne.

Balancing three days a week in the pool with dry land training and her studies, Jones saw these championships as a way to test her new program.

"It wasn't too bad," Jones said after her heat swim. "It was quite surprising actually, I felt reasonably smooth."

Jones said her less intense schedule has given her time for reflection away from the pool.

"It just makes me think about swimming as a whole. I guess that swim now makes me think it's not that hard and not that bad. I've come here and seen all my friends, been smiling the whole time, and it just makes me realise how much I enjoy it, the thrill of the race, the excitement.

"Every time I'm about to race I feel sick and I think why do I do this to myself, why am I so nervous? That enjoyment makes you realise why. You're a competitor at heart."

The 23-year-old also spoke about becoming involved on causes she's passionate about.

"I'm working with the Society for the Protection of Animals and it's just been a really good release out of swimming. It's something that I'm passionate about, and have been passionate about since primary school. I can give my time to it now," Jones said.

A trip to the World championships is still off the cards, with Jones reiterating her preference at this stage to take a break from major international competition.

"I love Rome, it's a beautiful place. The whole time I've said I don't want to go because I'm having a sabbatical year. I would love to go but I'm not doing it at the moment. Pretty much it's a no at the moment."

The semi-finals tonight will also feature last night's 200m champion Sally Foster (Central Aquatic, WA) who finished right behind Jones in 1.08.91, dual Olympian Tarnee White (Chandler, QLD - 1.09.15), and Jones' club-mate and 50m champion Sarah Katsoulis (Nunawading, VIC - 1.09.68).

Others to watch out for include 17-year-old Australian Olympic Youth Festival champion Leiston Pickett (Southport Olympic, QLD - 1.10.14) and Castle Hill RSL Dolphins' Kristy Morrison (1.10.42).

DELANEY, TRICKETT AND LAUTERSTEIN HEADLINE NIGHT FOUR

Ashley Delaney (Nunawading, VIC) returned to the pool after his sensational Commonwealth record in the 200m last night to contest the heats of the men's 100m backstroke and qualified fastest for tonight's semi-finals in 55.03.

Delaney, who has studied video footage of five-time Olympic gold medallist and backstroke master Aaron Peirsol (USA) leading into this meet, looked in control this morning and is on course to complete the backstroke treble at this meet if he can win the 100m with victories in the 50m and 200m under his belt.

Standing in Delaney's path is Olympic bronze medallist Hayden Stoeckel (Norwood, SA); the two Olympic backstrokers dueling it out once again at this meet.

Stoeckel, the Australian record holder and fourth fastest man in history in the event, will be doing everything in his power to wrest the title away from Delaney and is the second fastest through to tonight's semi-finals with a time of 55.15.

Others in the mix and vying for a spot in the final include 400m freestyle champion Robert Hurley (Wests Illawarra Aquatic, NSW - 55.47), Melbourne Vicentre's Daniel Blackborrow (56.08), and silver medallist in the 50m Ben Treffers (Burley Griffin, NSW - 56.45).

World record holder Libby Trickett (SOPAC, NSW) was back in the water after her scintillating win in the 100m freestyle last night, and won her heat of the women's 50m freestyle in 25.11.

The time was equaled by Olympic bronze medallist Cate Campbell (Indooroopilly, QLD), who won her heat comfortably and will be challenging Trickett in tonight's semi-finals with hopes of gaining a good lane for tomorrow night's final.

It was a welcome return to form for Campbell, who failed to qualify for the 100m freestyle final earlier in the week.

Watch out for AIS-based breaststroke champion Sally Foster (Central Aquatic, WA - 25.27), dual Olympian Alice Mills (Chandler, QLD - 25.42), and butterfly champion Marieke Guehrer (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC - 25.69), who will all be staking their claims for a spot in the final.

Hot on the heels of his victory in the 50m last night, Olympic bronze medallist Andrew Lauterstein (SOPAC, NSW) powered through the heats of the men's 100m butterfly, winning his heat in a sizzling time of 51.98.

Lauterstein will be looking to secure a good lane for tomorrow night's final and defend his title at these championships.

Sydney University's Matt Jaukovic will line up alongside Lauterstein, hitting the wall in 53.21 in his heat, as will silver-medallist in the 200m Christopher Wright (Commercial, QLD).

Other semi-final contenders include 200m champion Nick D'Arcy (Maroochydore, QLD - 53.59), bronze medallist in the 200m Lachlan Staples (Kingswim, NSW), three-time Olympian Adam Pine (Ginninderra, NSW) and SOPAC training partners Garth Kates (53.86) and comeback king Geoff Huegill (54.05).

Christian Sprenger (Commercial, QLD) and AIS-based Brenton Rickard (Brothers, QLD), who last night dead-heated in the final of the men's 100m breaststroke and booked places in the event for Rome, will be back in action in the 50m breaststroke semi-finals.

Rickard was fastest through this morning's heats, clocking 28.55, with Tasmania's Karl Wurzer (The Hobart Aquatic Club, TAS) not far behind in 28.74, while Sprenger looked comfortable in winning his heat in 28.87.

Others seeking a place in the final include Sean Inkley (Aquaburn, NSW - 29.17), Traralgon pair Ben Geard (29.21) and Jeremy Meyer (29.52) and James Beasley (Manly Jets - 29.24).

Other semi-final action tonight includes the women's 50m backstroke, with Emily Seebohm (Brothers, QLD) returning to the water after her stunning win in the 100m last night.

Seebohm won her heat in fine fashion, touching in 28.76, while Olympian and silver medallist behind Seebohm, Belinda Hocking (Albury, NSW) recorded the fastest time of the morning, winner her heat in 28.61.

Also right in the mix and seeking a berth in the final will be Tayliah Zimmer (Monash University, VIC), Melbourne Vicentre's Grace Loh, 200m champion and Olympian Meagen Nay (St Peters Western, QLD), and Olympian and defending champion Sophie Edington (Unattached, QLD).

In finals action tonight in the men's 400m IM is Campbelltown's Brad Lewis, who collected the 200IM and 400IM double at last year's Australian Age Championships and will be aiming for his first National title after qualifying fastest with a time of 4.27.57.

Also chasing gold and a berth on the World championship team will be Stephen Parkes (St Peters Western, QLD) who was only just behind Lewis with a heat time of 4.27.84, Norwood's Declan Potts (4.28.29) and AIS-based Thomas Fraser-Holmes (Hunter, NSW - 4.28.42).

Teneal Houghton (Revesby Workers, NSW) will be chasing gold in the women's 100m backstroke Multi-disability final, alongside Samantha Gandolfo (Loreto Aquatic - S10 - 1.16.69), Paralympian Ellie Cole (Kings, VIC - S9 - 1.15.44) and Nerice Holland (Chandler, QLD - S14 - 1.16.79).

In tonight's final of the men's 100m backstroke Multi-disability, Grant Patterson (Central Cairns, QLD - S3, SB2 - 2.04.62) will be hoping to take gold ahead of Paralympic superstar Michael Cowdrey (S9 - 1.04.86).

The men's 400m freestyle Multi-disability final will see Brendan Hall (Redcliffe Leagues, QLD - S9 - 4.23.96) chasing gold, with David Lee (Gympie Gold Fins, QLD - S14 - 4.43.66), Jay Dohnt (PBA Piranhas, SA - S7 - 5.16.84) and Campbelltown's Patrick Donachie (S14 - 4.48.51) also vying for a place on the podium.