Australian swim team captain Grant Hackett stepped up preparations for this year's world championships with a 400m freestyle victory at the Grand Prix meet in Brisbane.

Hackett looked sharp in his first hit-out since the Australian trials in March, posting a time of 3min 52.33s to easily account for fellow Queenslanders Nicholas Sprenger (4:01.31) and Cameron Smith (4:04.09).

The meet is one of two grands prix being used as a warm-up to the Montreal championships in July by the Australian team with national coach Alan Thompson keeping a close eye on his troops.

Olympic relay gold medallist Libby Lenton enjoyed a mixed night in the pool but could only manage to break through in one race with Alice Mills and Jess Schipper blocking her path in the other two events she contested.

Lenton (1:59.49) was the only female swimmer to break the two minute barrier in the 200m freestyle and set a new personal best on her way to claiming the spoils.

She looked set to claim her second win of the night less than 15 minutes later in the 100m butterfly but was pipped at the wall by Schipper (59.62s).

Lenton played the role of bridesmaid yet again in the 50m freestyle when Mills (25.51s) edged her out by .02 of a second.

Meanwhile, Ashley Callus made an immediate impact during his return to the pool with a solid victory in the 100m freestyle while Brenton Rickard took out the 50m breaststroke and Leisel Jones won the 100m breaststroke.

Adam Lucas claimed the 400m individual medley while Ethan Rolff (100m backstroke), Giaan Rooney (50m backstroke), Travis Nederpelt (200m butterfly), Lara Carroll (200m IM), Jim Piper (200m breaststroke), Sarah Paton (800m freestyle), Sophie Edington (200m backstroke) and Brett Hawke (50m butterfly) also tasted success.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP