Crocker throws down challenge to Phelps

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MELBOURNE, Mar 30 (Reuters) Ian Crocker was threatening to gatecrash Michael Phelps' private pool party at the world swimming championships today.

Phelps has already won four gold medals in Melbourne and is hoping to finish with a record haul of eight, but faces his toughest test yet from his American team mate.

Crocker is the reigning world champion and world record holder for 100 metres butterfly and underlined his domination in the event by setting the fastest time of 51.44 seconds in Friday's heats, 0.26 ahead of Serbia's Milorad Cavic.

Phelps briefly held the 100 butterfly record for 24 hours at the 2003 world championships in Barcelona before Crocker snatched it from him and said he had his work cut out beating him in Melbourne after qualifying third fastest in 51.95.

The pair are drawn in the same semi-final on Friday night and are both likely to go through to Saturday's final.

''It gives me a new goal,'' Phelps told reporters.

''Ian and I have raced a few times, he's had the upper hand since the Olympics. We're going to race again tonight, we'll be next to each other so hopefully we can have a rematch.'' Crocker lost the gold medal to Phelps at the 2004 Athens Olympics when he mistimed his final touch and said he could not afford any mistakes this time.

''It's an interesting challenge and one that I've never had before of this magnitude,'' Crocker said.

''He's always brought out the best in me so that's what I want to think about.'' Although he will have to cool his heels for the 100 butterfly final, Phelps can still pick up his fifth gold medal on Friday night after the U.S. qualified fastest for the 4x200 freestyle ahead of Australia and Canada.

MANAUDOU DOMINANT Laure Manaudou of France remained on course for a third gold medal in Melbourne after setting the fastest time of eight minutes 25.65 seconds in the heats of the women's 800 freestyle.

Manaudou has already won the 200 and 400 titles and was 2.46 clear of her biggest threat, America's 1500 champion Kate Ziegler (8:28.11).

Poland's Bartosz Kizierowski set the quickest time in the men's 50 freestyle heats. The European champion powered down the Susie O'Neill pool to reach the wall first in 22.03.

Australia's Eamon Sullivan was second in 22.06 after finishing third in the 100 freestyle on Thursday night while American Cullen Jones was third in 22.09 after teaming up with Phelps to win the 4x100 freestyle relay on Sunday.

Jones captured the imagination of the swimming community last year when he became the first African-American to set a world record and he hopes his success will break down racial sterotypes in a sport dominated by whites.

''I walked in and felt all these eyes on me. I know everyone is gunning for me,'' Jones said.

''It's a new feeling for me. I guess I'm doing well with it.

I'm having a great time.'' Zimbabwe's world and Olympic champion Kirsty Coventry set the pace in the women's 200 backstroke by winning her heat in 2:07.99. Esther Baron of France was second quickest in 2:09.77 ahead of American Margaret Hoelzer's 2:10.25.

Australia's defending champion Danni Miatke topped the qualifiers for the women's 50 butterfly in 26.34, ahead of American Rachel Komisarz (26.58) and Inge Dekker of the Netherlands (26.60).

Miatke's team mate Libby Lenton missed out on a place in the semi-finals by 0.05 after winning the 100 butterfly title on Monday.

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