Stephanie Rice steals Schipper's 100 m butterfly title

Sydney, Mar 19(ANI): Australian swimmer Stephanie Rice booked a place at the 2010 Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi when she hit top form by upsetting former world champion Jess Schipper in the 100m at the selection trials in Sydney.

Rice (57.71secs) claimed her first national 100m butterfly title, mowing down Felicity Galvez (58.20) and Schipper (58.41) on the last lap of the final at Sydney Olympic Park.

The win ended the recent domestic dominance of Schipper, who had taken four of the last five national titles.

"I'm really happy with that time. It's around the same time as this time last year but in that was in a (Speedo LZR) Racer so it's just sort of brings to the fold more than anything that I'm in really good shape," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Rice, as saying.

"It's giving me a lot more confidence for the 400IM," he added.

Rice said she viewed 2010 as her best chance for butterfly success with Schipper not in peak form.

"I don't think she's in 100 per cent form. I think more than anything this is going to spur her on for Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacs," Rice said. (ANI)