Istanbul, World Short-Course Championships, Day 4 semi-finals:

Men's 100m medley

Ryan Lochte shaved 0.06sec off the world record held by Peter Mankoc (SLO) to book lane 4 for the final in 50.71. George Bovell (TRI) was closest in 51.66, while kenneth To (AUS) had taken the first semi in 51.47 and will race the other side of an American celebrating his second world mark of the championships after a pioneering 1:49.63 victory in the 200m yesterday. Mankoc had held the world standard at 50.76.

Also through to the final Simon Sjoedin (SWE), Conor Dwyer (USA), Mankoc, Daiya Seito and Japan teammate Takuro Fujii.

Women's 50m backstroke

Zhao Jing took out her own championship record of 26.27 with a 26.11 second-semi response to efforts of 26.56 and 26.57 from Aleksandra Urbanczyk (POL) and Olivia Smoliga (USA). Also through to the final: Baumrtova (CZE), Davies (GBR), Loh and Goh (AUS) and Molina (ITA).

Men's 100m freestyle

We will see tomorrow in the final what Vladimir Morozov (RUS) has left in his legs but after turning at the 50m mark in a scorching 21.41, 0.31sec inside world record pace set by Amaury Leveaux back in 2008, the fastest man ever in a textile suit (45.52 from the relay lead-off on day 1) appeared to ease back a touch on his way to a 45.79 finish. 

Much talk and tweeting about the world record being under threat: it stands at 44.94 from a time of shiny suits. It will take some going - and precise pacing - for Morozov to get more than half a second off his best ever in the battle for gold tomorrow.

Closest to him going through were Luca Dotto (ITA), 46.83, and Tommaso D'Orsogna (AUS), 46.89. Watch for Matt Grevers (USA), on 47.14 not long after taking silver in the 50 back final. Also through: Jimmy Feigen (USA), Hanser garcia (CUB), Lu Zhiwu (CHN) and Evgeny Lagunov (RUS).

Women's 100m butterfly

After a solid build-upm on world cup tour, Ilaria Bianchi (ITA) led the ay to the final in 56.560 in the first semi, chased down all the way by 16-year-old Canadian breaker Naoemie Thomas, on 56.64, her third national mark in asa many days. "I’m really excited to see when I’m in the finals under more pressure to see if I can out-touch a couple people instead of being out-touched myself," Thomas said.

Jemma Lowe (GBR), on 57.16, and 2008 Olympic 200m champion Liu Zige (CHN) were next through at the helm of the second semi. Also jun the final: Claire Dononhue (USA), Silvia Di Pietri (ITA), Kathleen hersey (USA) and Louise Hansson (SWE).

Men's 50m breaststroke

Damir Dugonjic (SLO) had company from Olympic freestyle dash champion Florent Manaudou (FRA) as those two finished at the helm of the first semi, 26.27 to 26.49. Jaoo Gomes (BRA) followed up with a 26.50 to 26.51 win over Alex Hetland (NOR) in the second semi. Also through: Giulio Zorzi (RSA), Sergei Geibel (RUS), Kevin Cordes (USA), Felipe Lima (BRA).