FINA World Championships, Swimming: Great Britain’s Jemma Lowe Paces 200 Fly Semis

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SHANGHAI, China, July 27. GREAT Britain's Jemma Lowe posted the fastest time in the women's 200 fly semis at the FINA World Long Course Championships.

Lowe clocked a 2:06.30 for the top seed, and will be hoping to join Gemma Spofforth (2009 100 back) and Katy Sexton (2003 200 back) as Great Britain's only female world titlists.

"Tonight was very, very fast," Lowe said. "I gave it my best shot, and I'm very excited for finals."

Japan's Natsumi Hoshi qualified second in 2:06.65, and is looking for her first world championship medal. Hoshi is also looking at tracking down her Japanese record of 2:06.05 set in April of this year.

China's Liu Zige, the world record (2:01.81) and textile best (2:04.40) holder, will be looking for her first world title after taking second to Australia's Jessicah Schipper in 2009. Tonight, Liu clocked in with a 2:06.69.

Great Britain's Ellen Gandy (2:06.73), Hungary's Zsuzsanna Jakabos (2:06.77), Schipper (2:06.93), China's Jiao Liuyang (2:06.99) and Australia's Stephanie Rice (2:07.32) earned the rest of the transfer spots into the finale.

"I'm just back from Brazil for the World Military Games," Jiao said. "I have not fully adapted to the local time zone yet. I woke up quite early this morning, but I felt okay for the race. I had expected to finish the race under 2:07, and I just made it."

Schipper will be looking for a threepeat after winning the world title in both 2007 and 2009.

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