Barry Murphy yesterday qualified for the semi-finals by winning his heat of the 100m breaststroke.

Murphy’s time of 59.69 was over a second faster than his time at the European Championships in November and just .18 of a second off his Irish record of 59.51 set in 2008.

The USA’s Kevin Cordes was yesterday’s fastest qualifier in the 100m breaststroke heats clocking 57.54.

Murphy, who has withdrawn from the 50m freestyle today to concentrate on the butterfly and breaststroke events, will be back in action tomorrow in the 50m butterfly heats.

The Dubliner holds the Irish record in the event which he set at the European Championships in November of 23.57. Swimming in heat 14 he will come up against Olympic 200m butterfly gold medallist Chad Le Clos whilst USA’s double gold medallist at the London Games Ryan Lochte will also compete in the heats.