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ROME, Italy, August 1. AUSTRALIA's Sarah Katsoulis topped the women's 50 breast semifinals at the FINA World Championships.
Katsoulis clocked a 30.33 to lead qualifying out of the second semifinal. The Netherlands' Moniek Nijhuis placed second overall with a 30.38.
Russia's Yuliya Efimova finished third in 30.42, while world record holder Amanda Reason of Canada qualified fourth in 30.42.
The U.S. took fifth and sixth as Kasey Carlson (30.46) and Rebecca Soni (30.56) both made finals. Australia's Tarnee White touched seventh in 30.80, while Russia's Valentina Artemyeva and Canada's Annamay Pierse set up a swimoff for eighth place with matching 30.92s.
Pierse touched out Artemyeva, 30.98 to 30.99, in an exciting swimoff finale.