Australia set new women\\\'s 4x100m freestyle relay world record

Australia set new women's 4x100m

freestyle relay world record

GLASGOW, July 25 (AFP): Australia set a new women's 4x100m freestyle relay world record of 3min 30:98sec as they retained their Commonwealth Games title in Glasgow Thursday.

Having already broken the Commonwealth Games record in the heats, the addition of 100m freestyle world champion Cate Campbell to the final team proved the difference as they shaved more than seven tenths of a second off the previous record held by the Netherlands.

England took the silver medal with Canada coming third for bronze.

"It wasn't even a topic that we had discussed, but I think we all had an inkling in the back of our heads that it was possible," said the elder stateswoman of the team, Melanie Schlanger.

And Schlanger believes more world records will tumble in the near future as swimmers from all over the world get closer to the times set before a ban on high-tech swim suits in 2009.

"It is pretty cool. I am 27 now and coming towards the end of my career so I never thought I would break another world record.

"Australia used to break them all the time and I am sure we will see more in the next couple of years as we get closer to the super suit times.

"The suits put those targets a little bit away from everyone, but to have an Aussie record now is pretty exciting.

"At the Commonwealth Games, Australia dominate a lot so sometimes it can be less exciting, but breaking a world record is always exciting and these girls are so talented it is clear Australian swimming is in safe hands."

It was a particularly special evening for another of the team Emma McKeon as she also claimed gold in the 200m freestyle and qualified for the 100m butterfly final.