Australians have dominated the heats for the women's 200m Individual Medley, with the Aussie girls primed to claim all three medals in the Day 1 finals ranking first, second and third in the heats.
Brooke Hanson reasserted her dominance after illness had interrupted her 2005 campaign. She led early in the third heat, and qualified fastest with a time of 2 minutes 15.26 seconds.
Australia's Lara Carroll also swam well, with a first placing in Heat Two (2:15.30).
Despite illness in 2005, 28-year-old Hanson still managed three gold and two silver medals at the 2005 Australian Short Course Championships. Now fully fit, she hopes to do well at these games, and emulate her excellent 2004 form which saw her win six gold medals at the Indianapolis World Short Course Championships.
Helen Norfolk of New Zealand did well to finish second behind Hanson in the third heat and finished fourth fastest to qualify for the final.
Australia's Stephanie Rice comfortably won her heat on her way to qualifying third fastest with a time of 2:16.44.
The Australians will provide an exciting showdown in the final, with only 0.04 seconds separating Hanson and Carroll, with Rice just over a second behind.
The finals for the women's 200m Individual Medley will be held tonight 16 March at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatics Centre.
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