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ROME, Italy, August 1. GREAT Britain's Liam Tancock crushed the world record in the men's 50 back semifinals at the FINA World Championships.
Tancock clocked a smoking time of 24.08 in the first semifinal to smash Randall Bal's global mark of 24.33 set last year.
Bal is not in Rome to defend his global standard. The U.S. does not hold Trials for the 50s of any stroke other than the freestyle, and the sprint backstroke specialist did not fare well in the 100 and 200 events to earn a spot on the team.
Japan's Junya Koga turned in a swift time of 24.29, also faster than Bal's now former world record in the event. France's Camille Lacourt placed third in 24.46.
Spain's Aschwin Wildeboer (24.48), Germany's Helge Meeuw (24.59), South Africa's Gerhard Zandberg (24.68), Italy's Mirco Di Tora (24.77) and Greece's Aristeidis Grigoriadis (24.77) comprised the rest of the championship heat.