World Championships: Tying American Mark, Jessica Hardy Paces Field for 50 Breaststroke Semifinals

By John Lohn

MELBOURNE, Australia, March 30. AMERICAN-record holder Jessica Hardy equaled her own national standard in the 50 breaststroke while managing to qualify first for the semifinal round. Fourth in the 100 distance earlier in the week, Hardy surged to the front of the field and touched the wall for a time of 30.85. That's also the time she clocked in Montreal two years ago, en route to the silver medal at the World Champs.

New Zealand's Zoe Baker, by way of Great Britain, was second-quickest in the morning, thanks to an effort of 31.35. The third position was shared by Australia's Leisel Jones and the United States' Tara Kirk, who posted identical times of 31.39 while racing side-by-side in the last of 11 heats. Already the winner of the 100 and 200 events, Jones is trying to become the first athlete in World Champs history to sweep the 50 through 200 distances of the same stroke. Kirk was the silver medalist in the 100 breast.

Sweden's Rebecca Ejdervik picked up the fifth seed for the evening session, as she negotiated her lap in 31.54, ahead of the 31.65 of Tarnee White (Australia) and the 31.73 of the Ukraine's Anna Khlistunova. Grabbing the eighth position was Germany's Janne Schafer (31.77). Defending champion Jade Edmistone, also the world-record holder, did not qualify to represent Australia.

Click Here to view event results PDF file.

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