News Round-Up:

Mel Zajac Jr International, CAN: Park Tae Hwan (KOR) has thrown a few gauntlets down with a thud has he prepares to defend the Olympic 400m crown in London, his latest show of force a 3:44.22 (54.19, 1:51.50, 2:48.68) in a lonely solo swim way ahead of the next man home, Ryan Napoleon (AUS), on 3:54.20. Park also took second in the 50m dash, his 22.89 behind a 22.76 win for Brent Hayden (CAN) another warning shot across the bows of those who intend to be in the battle over 200m and 400m as Park takes them on down the last lap at London 2012. In other finals, touring Australians excelled in a number of events, Olympic champion Stephanie Rice taking the 200 medley in 2:12.51 ahead of Erica Morningstar (CAN), on 2:15.43; Bronte Barratt clocking 4:07.47 to win the 400m free; and Yolane Kukla taking the 100m 'fly in 59.02. Canadians Martha McCabe, on 2:25.81, and Tera van Beilen, 2:27.93, finished 1-2 in the 200m breaststroke.

Speedo Grand Challenge at Irvine Novoquatics, USA: Australia-based Brit Ellen Gandy clocked 58.90 to win the 100m butterfly while on tour with the Melbourne-based squad of Rohan Taylor, while Trojan teammates Rebecca Soni and Jessica Hardy went 1-2 in the 100m breaststroke, on 1:06.57 and 1:06.81 respectively. Hardy also won the 50m free, in 25.11.