2 more world records on day 2 of swim championships _ but Peirsol done in 100 back

More world records fall, but Peirsol knocked out

ROME — Aaron Peirsol has failed to qualify for 100-meter backstroke final at the world swimming championships on a day two more records fell in two earlier races.

Peirsol had the ninth-best time in the semifinals. It was a stunning development considering he won the 100 back at the last two Olympics and set a world record in the 100 back this month.

But his semifinal time of 53.22 was nearly a second behind top qualifier Junya Koga of Japan at 52.39. Peirsol was a tenth of a second out of the eighth spot, which would have gotten him through to the final.

Australia’s Brenton Rickard and Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden set world records about 5 minutes apart to win the men’s 100 breaststroke and the women’s 100 butterfly.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

ROME (AP) — Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden has kept up the assault on the record book at the world swimming championships, breaking the mark she set a day earlier to win the 100-meter butterfly.

Sjostrom touched in 56.06 seconds Monday, easily knocking off her semifinal time of 56.44. Australia’s Jess Schipper also lowered the previous record of 56.23, but good for only silver. China’s Jiao Liuyang was third in 56.86 and American Dana Vollmer shared fifth.

Sjostrom’s record came about five minutes after Australia’s Brenton Rickard set the first world mark of Day 2. He won the 100 breaststroke in 58.58, beating the 58.91 by Japan’s Kosuke Kitajima from the Olympics.

Eight worlds records have been set at the championships, the last major meet with high-tech suits.