Thorpe continues record breaking

Ian Thorpe set his third world record in as many days when he broke his own 200 metres freestyle mark at the Australian championships yesterday.

Thorpe (17) confirmed his status as Olympic favourite when he clocked one minute 45.51 seconds in the final, shaving 0.18 of a second off the time he set in Sunday's semi-finals.

Thorpe also broke his own 400 metres freestyle world record on Saturday, opening day of the championships which double as the country's Games trials.

"There was a lot of incentive out there for me tonight," said Thorpe. "When Olympic positions are at stake, you have to go for it."

Once again, Thorpe overshadowed the rest of the programme, despite some memorable performances.

Leisel Jones (14) became the youngest Australian in 24 years to make the Olympic team when she won the 100 breaststroke final in 1:08.71. Her training partner Tarnee White was second in 1:09.05.

"I'm really amazed. I never imagined I'd be on the Olympic team at 14," Jones said. "It was in the back of my mind but I just wanted to do my best."

But former world champion and record holder Samantha Riley missed out, finishing a distant seventh. A regular in Australian teams over the past decade, Riley's last chance of reaching the Games rest on the 200.

While Riley struggled, her great friend Susan O'Neill was in career-best form, posting a Commonwealth record of 1:57.47 to head the qualifiers for the women's 200 freestyle.