Barcelona, July 29 (IANS): Missy Franklin's quest to become the first woman to win a World Championship gold medal directly after an Olympic gold in the 100 metres backstroke remains on track as she clocked the fastest time in the heats and booked her place in the semi-final of the event at the Palau St. Jordi here Monday.

Franklin, who won her first gold of the meet in the 4x100 metres freestyle relay Sunday, clocked 59.13 seconds, ahead of Hungary's Katinka Hosszu and Elizabeth Pelton with China's Fu Yuanhui fourth and 2009 bronze medallist Emily Seebohn in fifth, reports Xinhua.

Meanwhile, defending joint champion Camille Lacourt will have to improve in the semi-final as he was only able to post the tenth fastest qualifying time.

The 16-year-old Olympic champion, Ruta Meilutyte looked good as she stormed into the semi-final of the women's 100 metre breaststroke. Gold for the Lithuanian in Barcelona would make her the youngest person to win the event at both Olympic and World Championship level.

Ryan Lochte suffered a disappointment when he was part of the US 4x100 metres freestyle relay team sensationally beaten into second place by France and he appeared to be suffering a hangover from that disappointment when he was only ninth fastest in qualifying in the heats for the men's 200 metre freestyle with Britain's Robert Renwick fastest into the semis with a time of 1:46.88.

Finally there promises to be a thrilling final to the women's 1,500 metres freestyle between Denmark's Lotte Friis and 400 metre freestyle champion Katie Ledecky.

Friis was less than a tenth of a second faster than Ledecky in qualifying but the 16-year-old American had been on track for a new world record after swimming 400 metres and seemed to ease up with the race well under control and Tuesday's final could well produce a new world or championship record in the event.