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Murphy survives le Clos encounter

Barry Murphy set a new national record to qualify for the 50m fly semi-finals at the World Short Course Championships in Istanbul.

Updated 10.00

IRELAND’S BARRY MURPHY showed his speed to book a place in the 50m butterfly semi-finals at the World Short Course Championships in Istanbul.

Drawn against South Africa’s double Olympic medallist Chad le Clos, Murphy held his own to finish sixth in the last of the morning’s 14 heats.

The Dubliner set a new national record in 23.52, the 14th fastest time overall, guaranteeing his place in the semis this evening at the Sinan Erdem Dome.

“Thank you all again for the support,” he tweeted. “New best time and national record. Semis tonight on Eurosport at around 5pm. Goal is to get faster!”

Brazil’s Nicholas Santos, the winner of Murphy’s heat, equalled the world championship record as the fastest qualifier in 22.40, leading home le Clos who was second overall in 22.78.

Murphy’s main event, the 50m breaststroke, starts tomorrow. The 27-year-old had his best-ever finish at the European SC Championships in Chartres last month when he qualified for the final and placed sixth overall, setting a new national record of 26.60.

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