The spark was there at the start of the Australian Commonwealth Games trials in Melbourne, courtesy of a 30.31sec world record over 50m breaststroke from Jade Edminstone in the morning heats but the fizz in the finals was not as bright as the hype suggested.

Edminstone clocked another scorcher, of 30.37sec in the semis, but all eyes were on the much-awaited women's 200m freestyle final. What could Libby Lenton, the sprinter who had threatened to join Germany's Franziska Van Almsick in a private club of sub 1:57 swimmers, achieve?

The answer was a 1:58.53 - solid enough but a far cry from the lead-off relay leg of 1:57.06, a Commonwealth record last year in Montreal - and second place to fellow Queenslander Linda MacKenzie, who defended her crown in 1:58.49. Lenton led the field from the blocks and was more than a body length up on MacKenzie going into the last lap. MacKenzie has a strong finish but Lenton was clearly struggling on the way home.

Perhaps Lenton is keeping her best for the real thing, the Games in the same Melbourne pool in March, when she will climb on to her blocks as clear title favourite despite the trials result today. Or maybe the curse of the 200-metres freestyle has struck, the event having proved, for women at least, one of the most difficult to master.

Whatever the answer, Australia's relay quartet will arrive back in Melbourne in March a gold-medal cert: Bronte Barratt took third place in 1:59.38, with Kelly Stubbins fourth on 1:59.61 and Shayne Reese fifth on 1:59.80. Jodie Henry raced the morning heats in 2:01 but did not take her place in the final.

Edmistone, meanwhile, was the star of the first day, setting the first world record in the new Commonwealth Games pool in Melbourne in 30.31, 0.14sec below the time she established last July en route to the world title in Montreal. Edmistone said: "I am surprised how fast I swam. It was a blur looking back on it." Leisel Jones was second-fastest through to the finals in 30.85.

In the absence of Thorpe and Hackett, the men's 400m free looked a tame affair, the tough going to Craig Stevens in 3:50.33, with Nick Frost second on 3:51.93 and Brendon Hughes third on 3:53.59.

Travis Nederpelt succesfully defended his Aussie crown over 200m butterfly, with a 1:56.84 victory that left him a stroke ahead of Joshua Krogh, on 1:57.41, with Andrew Richards third on 1:57.52.

Alice Mills is Commonwealth record holder but was absent from the 200m medley. Victory went to Brooke Hanson, six-times world s/c champion in 2004, in a swift 2:13.09, with Lara Carroll second on 2:14.06 and Stephanie Rice third on 2:14.09. Another 1-2-3 in prospect for the hosts of the Games in March.