Well, that woke us up. Kirsty Coventry (ZIM), clocked aq 58.77sec world record in the second semi of the 100m backstroke to take lane four of the final. Natalie Coughlin (USA), who had held the record at 58.97sec since July 1, was second through, and Laure Manaudou (FRA) last through into a final for a second time in 24 hours after squeezing into the 400m free final yesterday.
Coventry split at 50m in 28.86, compared with Coughlin's 28.45 on the way to her record at US trials in Omaha.