Aussies Jones, Graham Turn In Fast Times at World Champs Tune-Up

By Ian Hanson

BRISBANE, July 7. OLYMPIC silver medalists Leisel Jones and Elka Graham have started their World Championship campaign with encouraging performances on Day One of the final Telstra Grand Prix Swim Meet at the Chandler Aquatic Centre in Brisbane.

Jones and Graham each clocked the ninth fastest times in the world this year to win their respective 100m breaststroke and 200m freestyle events.

The Australian team will leave for their pre-Championship training camp in Singapore on Monday before leaving for this year's major meet which begin, for the pool swimmers in Fukuoka, Japan on July 22.

The 15-year-old Jones clocked 1:08.74 to defeat World Championship teammates Brooke Hanson (1:10.53) and Tarnee White (1:10.93), saying she was encouraged by the time.

"Any time under 1:09 is very encouraging when you are in heavy training," said Jones, who finished second in this event at last year's Olympics.

"I'm really getting excited for the World Championships and also adding the 200m breaststroke to my events is an added bonus."

Graham, from Manly, has been one of the success stories of Australian Swimming over the past two years and looked long and strong in winning the 200m freestyle in 1:59.83 from World Championship teammates Giaan Rooney (2:00.87) and Lori Munz (2:03.61).

The Australian champion clocked some outstanding performances on the recent Mare Nostrum Tour and has looked in great shape throughout the entire Telstra Grand Prix Series.

Munz later added the 200m individual medley in a time of 2:17.09 from Jennifer Reilly and Jessica Abbott.
The 22-year-old Munz will contest both the 200 Im and the 100m freestyle in Fukuoka.

Winding up a great night for the girls were Petria Thomas (women's 100m butterfly in 1:01.50), Amanda Pascoe (400m freestyle in 4:15.60) and Sarah Ryan (50m freestyle, 26.26).

The pick of the men's events saw Ashley Callus (50.65) win the 100m freestyle from Ian Thorpe (50.68) and Todd Pearson (50.80) and Matt Welsh take the 100m backstroke in 56.35 from fellow Olympian Josh Watson (57.26) and National Youth team representative Daniel Blackborrow (58.06).

RESULTS
Telstra Swimming Grand Prix, Three
Chandler Aquatic Centre
Brisbane
July 7

Men's 100 metre Freestyle
1. Callus, Ashley 50.65
2. Thorpe, Ian 50.68
3. Pearson, Todd 50.80

Women's 200 metre Freestyle
1. Graham, Elka 1:59.83
2. Rooney, Giaan 2:00.87
3. Munz, Lori 2:03.61

Women's 100 metre Breaststroke
1. Jones, Leisel 1:08.74
2. Hanson, Brooke 1:10.53
3. White, Tarnee 1:10.93

Men's 400 metre Individual Medley
1. Kent, Dean (NZ) 4:27.54
2. Lucas, Adam 4:30.11
3. Fielding, Shane 4:31.80
4. McGregor, Grant 4:32.86

Women's 100 metre Butterfly
1. Thomas, Petria 1:01.50
2. Houghton, Melanie 1:02.15
3. Ham, Julia 1:02.34

Men's 100 metre Backstroke
1. Welsh, Matthew 56.35
2. Watson, Josh 57.26
3. Blackborrow, Daniel 58.06

Men's 50 metre Butterfly
1. Huegill, Geoff 24.27
2. Reid, Burl 24.50
3. Pine, Adam 24.91

Women's 200 metre Individual Medley
1. Munz, Lori 2:17.09
2. Reilly, Jennifer 2:19.71
3. Abbott, Jessica 2:21.40

Men's 50 metre Breaststroke
1. Rogers, Phil 29.04
2. Cowley, Simon 29.23
3. Van der Zant, Robert 29.45

Women's 400 metre Freestyle
1. Pascoe, Amanda 4:15.60
2. D'Arcy, Sarah-Jane 4:15.76
3. Ward, Kristy 4:17.79

Women's 50 metre Backstroke
1. Rooney, Giaan 29.71
2. Calub, Dyana 29.79
3. Edington, Sophie 29.81

Women's 50 metre Freestyle
1. Ryan, Sarah 26.26
2. Henry, Jodie 26.41
3. Guehrer, Marieke 26.74

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