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Halsall: Makes final
"I have been told if you can do something three times you can improve and I have swum three times in the high 53s so improving on that would be nice tomorrow morning."
Fran Halsall
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Great Britain's Fran Halsall qualified for the Olympic final of the 100m freestyle in Beijing.
Halsall, who suffered 4x200m freestyle relay disappointment on Wednesday, touched in a time of 53.94 secs to finish third in her semi-final and fifth overall while Australian Libby Trickett only just made it.
The gold medallist in the 100m butterfly and the world record holder in this event sneaked in after Chinese swimmer Pang Jiaying was disqualified for a false start.
Halsall said: "It was bit harder than last night. After the relay I was physically and emotionally drained so to get in and do another 53-point this morning was great.
"I have got a night off now so I can get focused and ready for tomorrow morning.
"I have been told if you can do something three times you can improve and I have swum three times in the high 53s so improving on that would be nice tomorrow morning.
"I don't know what it's going to take to win it but if my time is good enough I will be more than happy."
Joy for British men
Meanwhile Gregor Tait reached the final in the 200m backstroke, as he finished sixth with a time of 1:56.72 in the semi-finals.
Defending champion Aaron Peirsol set the fastest time in the semi-finals with 1:55.26, with Ryan Lochte and Markus Rogan second and third overall.
"That was the aim, to make the final," said Tait. "I didn't really think about what time I needed but to go quicker than yesterday is good and it's only a fraction off my best time so hopefully I can get up again tomorrow morning and go a bit quicker."
James Goddard and Liam Tancock did enough to qualify for the final of the 200m individual medley.
Goddard finished third in his heat behind quickest qualifier Lochte, who was just 0.01s faster than Michael Phelps, who won the first semi-final with Tancock touching in fourth.
"It was good fun," said Tancock. "It was my last individual event. I wasn't seeded to make the final but I'm really enjoying the experience.
"Racing with someone like Michael Phelps is pretty impressive. It's nice to be in the field with him but I'm doing it for myself.
"The first half of the race is my strength, after that the lactic builds up and the freestyle is going to suffer a little bit. The backstroke is my main event, this is my fun one but it felt quite nice to be leading after the backstroke."
