Yuliya Efimova, Ruta Meilutyte Set Up Epic Battle in 100 Breast Semis at 2015 FINA World Championships

Photo Courtesy: Joao Marc Bosch

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Russia’s Yuliya Efimova and Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte set up a potentially epic battle in finals during the women’s 100-meter breast semis at the 2015 FINA World Championships.

Efimova topped the second semifinal in 1:05.60 to move to second in the world rankings behind Meilutyte’s world-best 1:05.46 from the Canet stop of the Mare Nostrum.

Meilutyte earned the second seed heading into finals with a time of 1:05.64.

The two took gold and silver in the 2013 edition of this meet with Meilutyte defeating Efimova, 1:04.42 to 1:05.02.

The bronze medalist in 2013, Jessica Hardy, looked to be a lock for the finals after a 31.19 front half, but she faltered down the stretch with a 36.03 as she faded to 10th overall in 1:07.22 to miss finals.

Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson qualified third in 1:06.21 to down her Jamaican record of 1:06.59 and move to fourth in the world rankings.

China’s Shi Jinglin (1:06.28), Japan’s Kanako Watanabe (1:06.64), Sweden’s Jennie Johansson (1:06.76), Italy’s Arianna Castiglioni (1:06.95) and Iceland’s Hilda Luthersdottir (1:07.11) also moved on to the finale.

SCHEDULED EVENTS

Men’s 100 breast finals
Women’s 100 fly finals
Men’s 100 back semis
Women’s 100 breast semis
Men’s 50 fly finals
Women’s 100 back semis
Men’s 200 free semis
Women’s 200 IM finals

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