Superstar Grant Hackett and a trio of young guns have teamed up to set the first world record at the Australian short course swimming championships in the 4x200m freestyle relay.

Hackett, Kirk Palmer, Grant Brits and Kenrick Monk posted a time of six minutes 56.41 seconds to carve 3.75 seconds off the previous record, set by Hackett, Ian Thorpe, Michael Klim and William Kirby in Perth in 2001.

Central Coast youngster Palmer led off with a sizzling opening leg of 1:43.12, which would have won him the individual 200m title earlier in the meet, before Hackett, Brits and Monk brought it home strongly.

"Full credit to these young guys, what an awesome effort," said Hackett, who earlier in the evening only just missed his own individual world record in the 400m freestyle.

"I knew we could do it and it's a thrill for me to still be here to play my part in this world record.

"There is nothing like a relay to get us fired up.

"Australia has a great history of relays and with this group of young guys we want to keep that tradition going.

"They represent the future of the sport and by the looks of things the future is pretty rosy."

Hackett continued to show he was back to his best by finishing just 0.78 seconds outside his 400m world record set in 2002, while he also gave his 800m mark a nudge earlier this week.

Brisbane teenager Bronte Barratt continued her record-breaking ways by registering her third Commonwealth record in the last month in the 400m freestyle, with a time of 4:00.60.

Libby Lenton cruised to wins in the 100m freestyle and 50m butterfly, while Brenton Rickard took out the 200m breaststroke.

South Australia's Frances Adcock successfully defend her 200m backstroke crown, while Leith Brodie broke his own Australian record in the 200m individual medley.

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