Jones breaks world 100 breaststroke record

MELBOURNE, Mar 20 (Reuters) Leisel Jones smashed her own world record for 100 metres to complete a unique breaststroke treble at the Commonwealth Games today.

The 20-year-old Australian left her opponents swimming in her wash as she powered to victory in one minute 05.09 seconds.

Jones sliced 0.62 seconds off the previous mark of 1:05.71, which she set at last month's Australian trials and added the 100m title to the 50m and 200m she won earlier at the Games.

Jade Edmistone of Australia took the silver in 1:07.24, more than two seconds behind her team mate, while Scotland's Kirsty Balfour grabbed the bronze in 1:07.83.

Jones has been one of the outstanding swimmers at the Games and is on course to win a fourth gold medal in the medley relay, where Australia are again hot favourites.

It is the latest in an extraordinary turnaround for Jones who is only just starting to reach her peak despite leading the way in women's breaststroke since winning silver at the 2000 Sydney Olympics as a 15-year-old.

Although she won gold in the medley relay at the Athens Olympics in 2004, Jones was criticised for her dour reaction to missing out on gold in her two individual events.

Stung by the criticism, Jones made several changes in her personal and professional life, chopping her hair and splitting with long-time coach Ken Wood to join Stephan Widmar.

She broke through to win the 100m-200m double at last year's world championships in Montreal before setting world records for both events at this year's Australian trials six weeks ago.

REUTERS PM KN1512