Edington breaks Seebohm's world record

Sophie Edington snatched the world record for 50 metres backstroke at the Australian Olympic trials yesterday while the previous holder watched from the stands after electing to skip the race.

Edington stopped the clock at 27.67 seconds to win the final and slice 0.28 off the record set by Emily Seebohm in the semi-finals just 24 hours earlier.

Seebohm, a 15-year-old schoolgirl, pulled out of the final to concentrate on the 100 backstroke because the 50 is not an Olympic event and would not help her make the team for Beijing.

Seebohm set the fastest qualifying time for the 100 when she won her semi-final in 59.78, joining American Natalie Coughlin as the only women to break the one minute barrier.

"The job is not over yet, I still have to make the team tomorrow night," Seebohm said. "It is the first time that an Australian girl has gone under one minute and I am absolutely ecstatic about it."