Magnussen in zone for world record

Australia's James Magnussen New coach Jacco Verhaeren says a world 100-metre freestyle record is possible for James Magnussen in this week's Australian Commonwealth Games swimming trials in Brisbane. Brazilian Cesar Cielo holds the world record at 46.91 seconds from the 2009 Rome world championships, but Dutchman Verhaeren says Magnussen is at a "fantastic level" ahead of Tuesday's six-day selection trials.
Magnussen, the world 100m champion, has clocked four sub-48 second times ahead of the trials and is FINA's top-ranked sprinter in the event with a year's best time of 47.59 set in Perth in late January. His personal best is 47.10.
"It's hard to talk about times but he's at a fantastic level," Verhaeren said ahead of the trials.
"For me, the first objective is to make the (Commonwealth Games) team. That might look easy for him but it isn't.
"Is he able to improve on that 47.10, and go 46? Maybe. Time will tell."
Magnussen said he has been working hard on his fitness ahead of the trials.
"My general aerobic fitness is at a better level this year to what it has been in the past," he said.
"We've focused a lot less on speed... so it's a matter of whether doing all that work on fitness has taken away from my speed in the first 50.
"I'm hoping as I get older and bigger and stronger, speed will take care of itself."
Verhaeren, the former coach of dual Dutch Olympic 100m freestyle champion Pieter van den Hoogenband, took over as Australia's head coach last October.
He has three current world champions bidding for selection at the Glasgow Games in July.
Apart from Magnussen, Cate Campbell and Christian Sprenger also won gold medals at last year's Barcelona world championships.
"Cate Campbell and James Magnussen would be world record-holders if we never had those (full-body) swim suits (banned in 2010), so we have virtual world record-holders," Verhaeren said.
Campbell was undefeated over 100m in 2013 and owns the event's fastest time of 52.33secs in a textile suit at last year's world championships.
Sprenger went from 100m breaststroke world semi-finalist in 2011 to London Olympic silver medallist to 2013 world champion.
"The past 24 months for me have been a real turning period," he said.
"I have not been a number on a team, I have been a performer. I might be 28 but I am out to make gains."
Source: AFP