Rickard wins 100 breaststroke, Sjostrom takes 100 fly _ both with world record times

Rickard, Sjostrom set more world records

ROME — 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.

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

ROME (AP) — Brenton Rickard of Australia has set the first world record of Day 2 at the world swimming championships, winning the 100-meter breaststroke.

Rickard touched in 58.58 seconds, beating the mark of 58.91 set by Japan’s Kosuke Kitajima at last year’s Olympics.

Igor Borysik of Ukraine took the silver in 59.23, while Germany’s Hendrik Feldwehr took the bronze in 59.33. American Eric Shanteau, who competed at Beijing after being diagnosed with testicular cancer, was fourth in 59.98.

Rickard’s record was the seventh at the championships.