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GB's Elizabeth Simmonds, USA's Missy Franklin into 200m backstroke semi-finals

Great Britain's Elizabeth Simmonds qualifies 13th fastest for the World 200m backstroke semi-finals, while USA's Missy Franklin also makes it through.

Great Britain's Elizabeth Simmonds has qualified 13th fastest overall for tonight's 200m backstroke semi-finals at the World Championships, while the USA's Missy Franklin clocked the second-best time this morning in Kazan.

In heat four, former European champion Simmonds was on the shoulder of the top three at the first turn and moved ahead to finish third in 2:10.48.

Elizabeth Simmonds of Great Britain competes in the Women's 100m Backstroke Heats on day ten of the 16th FINA World Championships at the Kazan Arena on August 3, 2015© Getty Images

Olympic champion Franklin, who is yet to successfully defend an individual title in this meet, gave herself a strong lead at the halfway stage and maintained her dominance to finish first in 2:07.84 in the fifth heat.

Emily Seebohm, who won gold in the 100m backstroke earlier this week, clocked the seventh-fastest time overall, while Hungary's Katinka Hosszu will head into tonight's semi-finals as the fastest in the field after coming through the heat in 2:07.17.

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US Katie Ledecky (C), gold, poses during the podium ceremony of the women's 400m freestyle swimming event at the 2015 FINA World Championships in Kazan on August 2, 2015
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