Olympics, Swimming: Rebecca Soni Paces 200 Breast Semis

By John Lohn

BEIJING, China, August 14. ALREADY the gold and silver-medal finishers in the 100 breaststroke, Australian Leisel Jones and the United States' Rebecca Soni are looking like they'll finish in first and second in the 200 breast, too. This time around, could Soni actually knock off the premier female breaststroker in the world?

After setting an American record in the preliminary round, Soni qualified first for the championship final by winning the second semifinal in 2:22.64. The 200 breast is better suited for Soni and the New Jersey native is thinking gold, though it will take a monumental performance to defeat Jones, who has taken the breaststroke events to a new level over the past three years.

Jones, easing through her semifinal, was the second-fastest qualifier, clocking a time of 2:23.04. Jones will certainly up the pressure in the championship final and could take a run at her world record of 2:20.54, on the books since 2006. Following Jones in the No. 3 position for the final was Austria's Mirna Jukic, who checked in at 2:23.76.

Norway's Sara Nordenstam, continuing her rise up the international charts, was fourth in 2:23.79 and the fifth slot went to Canada's Annamay Pierse, who was timed in 2:23.94. Just missing going under 2:24.00 was Russia's Yuliya Efimova, who hit that number on the mark. Also advancing to the title race were Japan's Megumi Taneda (2:25.42) and Rie Kaneto (2:25.65).

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