Gostomelsky touches the wall in 27.73 seconds in the 50-meter backstroke semifinals, shaving 0.09 seconds off her previous mark.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFGostomelsky 88(photo credit: )
Anna Gostomelsky set an Israeli record en route to reaching her second final in three days at the World Swimming Championships (short course) in Shanghai, China.
Gostomelsky, 24, touched the wall in 27.73 seconds in the 50-meter backstroke semifinals, shaving 0.09 seconds off her previous mark, set at the European short course championships in December. Her time was also the fourth-best overall in the two semifinal heats. She came into the semis with the 10th fastest time from the morning heats, 28.40.
The final is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Sunday (Israel time).
On Thursday, Gostomelsky placed fifth in the 100 backstroke final, her best finish ever at a world championship. She also competed in the 200 backstroke heats on Friday, coming in 13th of 23 swimmers in two minutes 10.64 seconds. There are no semifinal swims in the 200-and 400-meter events.
Shai Livnat finished 13th of 36 in Friday's 400 freestyle heats (3:49.90), while 19-year-old Guy Barnea set a personal best while finishing 21st of 55 in the 50 backstroke (25.30) and 30th of 75 in the 50 butterfly (24.45).
Livnat and Barnea were back in the pool on Saturday for the 100 freestyle. Livnat touched the wall in 49.84 seconds to place 32nd and Barnea came in 37th of 96 with a 50.16-second result.
The short course championships differ in that each pool length is 25 meters, as opposed to 50 in an Olympic regulation pool.
Early Sunday - the last day of the five-day championships - Yoav Gat will make his lone appearance at the games in the men's 200 backstroke, hoping to repeat his success from 2002, when he reached the final. Barnea will also swim in the heats.
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