EUROPE BOUND TRICKETT LOOKS FOR EVEN FASTER TIMES

AIS, Canberra, May 11: Libby Trickett is Europe-bound at the end of the month in the lead up to this year's FINA World Championships in Rome - and if things go according to plan then even faster times are very much on the cards.

The triple Olympic gold medallist and world record holder over 100m freestyle will embark on a training-racing tour which will see her hone her skills even more in Barcelona, Canet, Monaco and Paris.

Trickett rounded off a satisfying Duel in the Pool last night collecting the trophy with fellow leadership group member Patrick Murphy for the Telstra Dolphins win over Japan, as well as collecting the award for the Female Swimmer of the Meet.

On the back of her outstanding performances on the Saturday, Trickett won the 50m freestyle in 24.27 and then anchored the 400m medley relay team to victory with a time of 52.90 taking over from a sizzling 56.84 butterfly  leg by fellow Olympian Jessicah Schipper.

The relay leg was her fourth sub-53 second swim in the two days and finished off a meet that both the 24-year-old and her coach, Grant Stoelwinder, were extremely pleased with, ahead of preparations for the World Championships in July.

"It's always exciting when you swim fast and to be so close to my best times at this stage in the season is really promising.  It definitely builds my confidence leading into Rome and the Mare Nostrum tour before Rome," said Trickett.

"Basically we're going to have a good solid block of training for the next couple of weeks and then head over to Europe (Spain and Italy) on May 28.  Then we're racing for the following three weeks before another solid block of training leading into taper for worlds."

One of four members on the Dolphins leadership group, Trickett's role in the relays and the overall performance of the women's team was crucial in the Dolphins defeating Japan by the five points - 167 to 162.

"It's nice being part of such a strong women's team and we're proving that we are able to keep going with those performances. The men's team has been progressing well recently and hopefully they can keep building to the ultimate goal in 2012."

Stoelwinder, who also coaches three members of the men's team in Andrew Lauterstein, Eamon Sullivan and Matt Abood, said Trickett's progress is a good sign for the next part of their preparation.

"It was very impressive to have her go under 53 on four occasions, two in relays," said Stoelwinder.

"Progress is when she does her best times, and at the moment it's great to have her swimming at her very best.  For a swimmer of Libby's maturity and experience, swimming at her best regularly is very encouraging."

"I feel good about the way we are going and I think Libby feels good about it as well an. With the next block of racing that we are going to do in Europe, hopefully we can do more 52s and do better than 52 highs."

"We have a philosophy of the more we can do around those times the better we're going to be when she comes to race at the worlds."

The Telstra Australian Dolphins will compete at the FINA World Championships in Rome from July 19 to August 2.

The team will wind up its Orientation Camp in Canberra on Wednesday.