Lenton limbers up for big night

MELBOURNE, Mar 18 (Reuters) Australia's dominant women set the pace again in today's heats on day three of the Commonwealth Games swimming competition.

World champion and red-hot favourite Jessicah Schipper set a Games record of 58.49 seconds in the morning heats of the 100m butterfly, with Libby Lenton second quickest in 59.43.

Lenton's bid for a record seven gold medals came unstuck on Thursday's opening night when she was upset by Scotland's Caitlin McClatchey in the 200m freestyle.

Lenton clashes with fellow Australian Jodie Henry in Saturday's 100m freestyle final before going in the 100m butterfly semi-finals and the 4x200m freestyle relay final.

''It's my hardest night tonight but I've been preparing for it mentally,'' Lenton told reporters.

''Maybe when I'm older I'll start to cut back back at the moment I'm loving it.'' Australia lead the medals table in swimming with three gold and 14 in total but have been less dominant than at Manchester in 2002 where they won 27 of the 40 gold medals in the pool.

Australia's Leisel Jones followed her surprise gold in the women's 50 breaststroke with a conservative swim in the 100m to qualify third quickest for Saturday's final in 2:29.96.

Scotland's Gregor Tait set the fastest time before Saturday's men's 200m backstroke final, clocking 2:01.85 with South Africa's Johannes Du Rand second in 2:02.33.

England's Rebecca Cooke qualified quickest for Sunday's women's 800m freestyle final in 8:38.18 as she bids to retain the title she won in Manchester.

Australia's Eamon Sullivan set the best time in the morning heats of the men's 100m freestyle in 49.94.

South African medal favourites Ryk Neethling and Roland Schoeman swam conservatively before the evening's semi-finals, finishing fifth and 11th quickest respectively.

REUTERS VJ RAI0708