The 2001 Mare Nostrum series got under way on Friday night with City of Barcelona Championships at the Club Natacio Sant Andreu in Barcelona.

With a host of international stars competing, the stage has been set for one of the most exciting series ever.

Slovacia's Martina Maricova got proceedings off to an exciting start when she won the 50m butterfly in an titanic tussle with the Australian duo of Judith Draxler and Julia Ham.

Maricova was off the blocks like a bullet but with 15 meters to go it was Draxler who had edged ahead. Coming into the wall it was anyone's race and with the capacity crowd providing serious vocal support it was Maricova (27,74) who out-touched Draxler (27,81).

"I was hoping to go under 27 seconds tonight," said Maricova after the race." I'm pretty happy with my performance considering that I have been ill , on antibiotics and only been back in the water for three weeks now.

Julia Ham (28,12) held off a fast finishing Kouze Watanbe (28,13) from Japan and South African Mandy Loots (28,26).

The men's 50m butterfly saw Finland's Jere Hard dominate proceedings from the gun despite the attention's of Olympic gold medallist Lars Frolander.

Hard and Jorge Ulibarri were the early leaders with Frolander playing catch-up. Coming into the last 10 meters the trio matched each other stroke for stroke but it was Hard (24,12) who held on to win from Frolander (24,30) and Ulibarri (24,88).

In the 50m breastroke for ladies it was South African Sarah Poewe (32,10)who took the title in convincing fashion from Canada's Rhiannon Leier(32,82),Denmark's Majken Thorup(32,82) and Beata Minska (33,08).

"It was good for the first race." said Poewe after the race.

The men's event saw Ukrainian Oleg Lisogor(28,58) hold off a determined and fast finishing Patrick Isaksson(28,82) from Sweden. Finland's Jarno Pihlava (29,16) had to settle for bronze while Canadian Chad Thomsen can feel satisfied with his effort of 29,42 to take fourth spot.

Isaksson, a former multiple world champion was content.

"I'm pretty happy. It's the fastest time I've swum for a while. I've had a short taper and perhaps I could go faster."Isakkson will return to Sweden to prepare for the forthcoming Swedish Nationals.

The ladies 50m backstroke saw Canadian Jennifer Carroll (29,59) go into an early lead but it was local lass, Nina Zhivanevskaia (29,29) who outstretched both Carrol and China's Li Yanqing (29,29) to snatch the gold in the death.

The drama however was yet to unfold. At the medal presentation despite the scoreboard reflecting both Carrol and Yanqing having tied for second spot, it was fellow Canadian Michelle Lischinsky (29,94) who was awarded the bronze medal after Carrol was DQed for exceeding the 15m rule. A distraught Carrol had to be assisted from the podium in tears.

In the men's event it was Hungarian Peter Horvath (26,32)who put one over rival Ronaldo Falcon (26,35) from Cuba while the mornings fastest qualifier, Austria's Markus Rogan (26,62) had to settle for bronze.