Samantha Murray qualified comfortably from semi-final A, crossing the finish line at the head of the field alongside Lena Schoneborn, Germany's Beijing 2008 Olympic gold medallist, and Michelle Kelly of the host nation United States.

Murray's performances included setting the fastest time of the group in the pool, clocking 2:09.69 for the 200m freestyle.

GB team-mates Mhairi Spence (pictured above right)) and Heather Fell (pictured below) progressed comfortably from semi-final C, with Spence finishing third and Fell seventh.

But there was disappointment in group A for Freyja Prentice.

With a large field of 76 competitors at World Cup 1 in Charlotte, North Carolina, a top-12 finish was required in each of the three semis to progress to the final.

The 21-year-old finished in 13th place in semi-final A, just eight seconds off the 12th place that would have seen her progress.


Murray said: "I'm really happy to have qualified.

"I had a bit of a shaky start in the fence, but I pulled back up the field with my strong swim and my combined was really good.

"I'm really pleased and I'm looking forward to Saturday's final."

Spence said: "It was quite strange having three semi-finals, we've only done it once before.

"It meant everyone raised their game for the semi-final.

"It was good to have a really good run out at the first World Cup of the year."

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