Japan's Irie lays down marker to American rivals

Ryosuke Irie of Japan competes in the men's 200m backstroke swimming heats at the World Championships in Rome July 30, 2009.

ROME (Reuters) - Japan's Ryosuke Irie threw down the gauntlet to American rivals Aaron Peirsol and Ryan Lochte when he qualified for the men's 200 metres backstroke semi-finals with the fastest time at the world championships on Thursday.

Irie, who finished fourth in the 100m won by compatriot Junya Koga, claimed victory in his heat in one minute, 55.2 seconds.

World record holder Peirsol set the second fastest time in winning his heat, while Olympic and 2007 world champion Lochte qualified third overall.

"He (Peirsol) is my rival and I will beat him," Irie, who will not face competition from Koga in this event, told reporters.

Peirsol, however, remains confident despite failing to make it past the semi-finals of the 100m heats on Monday.

"I'm going to be gunning for it even more than usual," the 100m Olympic champion told reporters.

"It was the first time I've watched a world championship final from the stands," he remarked about Monday.

Cancer survivor Eric Shanteau of the United States set the pace in the heats of the men's 200 metres breaststroke with a time 2:08.55, the event's fifth championship record of the day.

Australia's Brenton Rickard, who won the men's 100 metres breaststroke with a world record time on Monday, only managed to scrape into the semis as the 16th-fastest qualifier.

His compatriot and defending champion Libby Trickett qualified for the women's 100 metres freestyle semis with the second fastest time after finishing behind America's Amanda Weir in her heat.

Germany's Olympic champion Britta Steffen was fourth fastest.

Italy's Federica Pellegrini originally entered the race but did not take part after winning the 200m and 400m freestyle titles with world record times.

However, she did swim in the 4x200m freestyle relay, helping Italy sneak into the final as the eighth qualifier with a fine charge on the last leg.

Britain went quickest, beating 2007 world champions the United States in their heat with a championship record of 7:49.04.

Olympic champions Australia also advanced with the fifth best time.

France's Annamay Pierse set a championship record of 2:21.68 to top the time sheets in the women's 200 metres breaststroke heats followed by American Olympic champion Rebecca Soni, who won the 100m title on Tuesday.

(Additional reporting by Mark Meadows and Ian Simpson; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)