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Semis: Textile Mark For Van Der Burgh

Jul 26, 2011  - Craig Lord

Day 3 semi-finals, Oriental Sports Center, Shanghai

Men's 50m breaststroke

Defending champion Cameron Van deer Burgh (RSA) produced the swiftest time ever in a textile suit, 26.90, to fend off a challenge by Felipe da Silva (BRA) in the second semi. The standard had stood to him and before him Oleg Lisogor (UKR) at 27.18. Da Silva was just 0.05sec away, while 100m champion yesterday Alex dale One (NOR) clocked 27.33, 0.04sec ahead of 100m silver medallist Fabio Scozzoli (ITA). Also through: Damir Dugonjic (SLO), Lennart Stekelenberg (NED), Hendrik Feldwehr (GER) and  Mark Gangloff (USA).

Women's 200m freestyle

Femke Heemskerk (NED) tested the resolve of defending champion Federica Pellegrini (ITA) with a stunning 1:55.54 in the first semi-final ahead of the Olympic champion, on 1:56.42. Those two will race centre stage tomorrow, with Kylie Palmer (AUS), on 1:56.59 and Camille Muffat (FRA), on 1:56.62. 

Also through: Sarah Sjoestrom (SWE), the butterfly ace showing her hand 1:56.71, Bronte Barratt (AUS), on 1:56.90, Silke Lippok (GER), on 1:57.02, and Allison Schnitt (USA), on 1:57.07.

In 1:54.97 in 2008, Sara Isakovic (SLO), 15 th today in 1:58.52, holds the textile world mark, while a 1:54.82 by Pellegrini was also swum in textile with a twist: the Italian claimed the Olympic crown while wearing two textile suits, a practice that was subsequently banned.

Men's 200m butterfly

Takeshi Matsuda (JPN) edged out Michael Phelps (USA) 1:54.30 to 1:54.85n in the second semi about an hour and a half after the American had taken silver in the 200m freestyle behind teammate Ryan Lochte. In the first semi, Chen Yin clocked 1:54.80 to  find himself placed on the right hand of the leader for the final. Dinko Jukic, the Austrian facing a doping panel hearing when he gets back home after refusing to submit to a test on grounds of hygiene, also cracked 1:55, by 0.06sec. 

Also through: Wu Peng (CHN), 1:55.28, Bence Biczo (HUN), Olympic youth champion on 1:55.35, Chad Le Clos (RSA), on 1:55.56, and 2005 champion Pawel Korzeniowski (POL), on 1:55.85. Among those locked out - Tyler Clary (USA), Kaio Almeida (BRA) and Olympic silver medallist Laszlo Cseh (HUN),