BRISBANE, March 23: Grant Hackett extended his unbeaten streak in the 1,500 metres freestyle when he won his sixth straight Australian title Saturday night.
Hackett clocked 14 minutes 56.30 seconds as he continued an unbeaten streak that stretches back to 1996.
During that time he has won Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medals, two world championship golds and two Pan Pacific titles.
Hackett was well outside his world record of 14:34.56 set in Fukuoka, Japan, last year but easily beat Craig Stevens (15:27.88).
Daniel Kowalski was third in 15:32.74 as he completed a successful comeback from shoulder injury.
Not one world record was set at the Chandler Aquatic Centre during the six-day championships, which also served as trials for July’s Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
Australia will send a team of 41 to compete in Manchester.
World champion Petria Thomas, dominant in the butterfly events, overcame the pain of a shoulder injury to win the women’s 200m butterfly final in 2:09.52.
Thomas dislocated her shoulder during the final of the 50m backstroke on Friday but refused to withdraw from the butterfly event.
She won in 2:09.52 to easily beat Felicity Galvez and Heidi Crawford.
“I popped my shoulder last night but I have a great support crew and they got me through,” Thomas said. “I’m glad it’s over but I never considered not swimming. It’s not in my nature.”
Thomas has qualified to swim up to nine events at the Commonwealth Games.
Jim Piper won the men’s 200m breaststroke in a Commonwealth record time of 2:10.88 ahead of Justin Norris (2:13.69) and Regan Harrison (2:14.09).
He bettered the previous mark of 2:11.29 set by Nick Gillingham of Britain at the 1992 Olympic Games.
Piper’s time made him the fifth fastest man over the distance and gave him a breaststroke clean sweep at the championships.
Ashley Callus, who won gold medals in the 4x100m relays at both the Sydney Olympics and last year’s world championships, won his first Australian title in the men’s 50m freestyle. Callus clocked 22.57 to edge out world championship finalist Brett Hawke (22.65).
Australia named six world champions including triple world record-holder Ian Thorpe, in their swimming team of 41 on Saturday for the Commonwealth Games.
The Games will be held in Manchester, England, from July 25-August 4.
The other five current Australia world swimming champions are Matt Welsh, Grant Hackett, Petria Thomas, Giaan Rooney and Geoff Huegill.
Australia team:
MEN: Ashley Callus, Leon Dunne, Grant Hackett, Regan Harrison, Geoff Huegill, Leigh McBean, Grant McGregor, Adam Pine, Heath Ramsay, Rob Van der Zant, Jason Cram, Brett Hawke, Justin Norris, Jim Piper, Ethan Rolff, Craig Stevens, Ian Thorpe, Ray Hass, Matt Welsh, Todd Pearson.
WOMEN: Jessica Abott, Dyana Calub, Elka Graham, Amanda Pascoe, Yvette Rodier, Clementine Stoney, Petria Thomas, Kelly Tucker, Rebecca Creedy, Jodie Henry, Nicole Irving, Leisel Jones, Alice Mills, Giaan Rooney, Kelli Waite, Tarnee White, Brooke Hanson, Sarah Kasoulis, Sarah Ryan, Jennifer Reilly, Tammie Smith.—Reuters