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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
