Australia's Trickett books trip to Rome

Australia's multi Olympic and world champion Libby Trickett booked a place yesterday in the national team for this year's world championships in Rome.

Trickett finished second behind Marieke Guehrer in the 50 metres butterfly at Sydney's Olympic Pool in a successful start to another massive programme.

She later turned the tables on Guehrer to qualify fastest in the 100 freestyle semi-finals while 16-year-old Cate Campbell, one of the rising prospects in women's sprinting, missed out on the final.

Trickett, 24, will be making her fourth appearance at the worlds. She already has eight world championship gold medals and three Olympic gold medals.

Ashley Delaney, a relay silver medallist in Beijing, broke his own national record to win the men's 50 backstroke, while Sarah Katsoulis won the women's 50 breaststroke in the absence of Leisel Jones.