Trickett breaks 53 seconds for 100 freestyle

Libby Trickett recorded the second fastest time for the women's 100 metre freestyle at the Australian championships yesterday to book her second individual swim at this year's world championships in Rome.

Trickett stopped the clock at 52.99 seconds, just 0.11 outside her own world record, after sealing a world championship spot in the 50 butterfly on Wednesday.

Brisbane schoolgirl Emily Seebohm, who teamed up with Trickett to win gold in the medley relay at last year's Beijing Olympics, won the 100 backstroke title while Sally Foster won the 200 breaststroke in the absence of Australia's Olympic champion Leisel Jones.

Christian Sprenger and Brenton Rickard dead-heated in the men's 100 breaststroke while Ashley Delaney won the men's 200 breaststroke and Andrew Lauterstein the 50 butterfly.

The Australian championships are doubling as the country's trials for the world championships in Italy in July and August.