Australia seek to end swimming meet in style

BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom, Aug 03 (AFP): World record holder Ariarne Titmus qualified comfortably for the women's 400m freestyle final at the Commonwealth Games on Wednesday as Australia seek to end the swimming competition in style.

The powerhouse nation have dominated events at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre, winning 22 golds out of 43 on offer so far.

Olympic champion Titmus was third-quickest in qualifying for the 400m freestyle final in a time of 4min 08.25sec.

New Zealand's Erika Fairweather (4:07.27) was fastest, with 15-year-old Canadian Summer McIntosh second.

Titmus, who won the 200m and 400m freestyle at last year's Tokyo Olympics, is attempting to repeat that double in Birmingham.

McIntosh has been one of the stars in the pool at the Commonwealths, winning gold in the women's 200m and 400m individual medleys.