Pan Pacific Championships, Irvine, California, day 3 heats:

Action is underway on the third day at the Pan Pacific Championships, the biggest meet of the 2010 long-course season for non-Europeans who have no place at the Commonwealth and Asian Games later in the year. 

The two-per-nation rule was the theme of the heats once more, with Michael Phelps, Park Tae Hwan and the Elizabeths of America, Pelton (a championship record of 2:07.48 on the board in the 200m back) and Beisel, among those who made sure they lived to fight again, while Aaron Peirsol, world champion, will not race the final of the 200m backstroke, and Rebecca Soni will not race the final of the 50m breaststroke, her chance of a triple breaststroke success gone.

"It is what it is," said a dejected but pragmatic Peirsol. "It keeps you honest. I knew what I had to do, but what I had to do wasn't very easy. It was tough."

Morning heats summaries

Women 400m freestyle

Chloe Sutton led the way for the hosts on 4:07.64, with Katie Goldman securing the first Aussie berth on 4:08.04. Allison Schmitt's 4:08.47 kept Kate Ziegler out by 0.16sec under the two-per-nation rule, while Olympic silver medallist Katie Hoff was a further 0.3sec behind Ziegler, on 4:08.93. Blair Evans clamed the second Aussie berth on 4:09.96, locking Kylie Palmer out and all of that putting Lauren Boyle in the final for New Zealand on 4:10.68.

Men 400m freestyle 

Olympic champion Park Tae Hwan (KOR) led the way on 3:47.58 in heat 5. He had just watched Zhang Lin (CHN) take heat 4 in 3:47.80, with Charlie Houghin (USA) hanging on to his coat-tails to great effect: on 3:48.00 he managed to steal ahead of Peter Vanderkaay, on 3:48.39 for the first of the two American berths, Michael Klueh on 3:48.85 in heat 5. Australian's first two were Ryan Napoleon, on 3:49.03, and Robert Hurley, on 3:50.02 and in courtesy of Klueh's dismissal under the two-per-nation rule. Ryan Cochrane (CAN) also made the cut, on 3:49.69, as did Takeshi Matsuda (JPN), on 3:49.89.

Women 100m butterfly

Christine Magnuson (USA) was out ahead of 14-year-old Yolane Kukla (AUS) in heat 1, 57.82 to 58.46, and stayed at the helm to take lane 4 for the final. Dana Vollemr was next through, her 57.89, cutting out Kathleen Hersey, 58.32, with Alicia Coutts leading the Aussies on 58.44, Kukla in heat 1 keeping out Felicity Galvez, 58.61 and Jessica Schipper, 58.63. Yuka Kato was first Japanese in on 59.16, while teammate Tomovo Fukuda will also race in the finals, as will Canadians Katarine Savard and Audrey Lacroix. 

Men 100m butterfly

No mistakes from Michael Phelps in terms of pace needed to ensure what happened in blistering morning heats of the 400IM (two Americans inside the time in which the European crown was won, just to keep Phelps out), did not happen again: out in 24.44 and home in 51.48 for lane 4. Next through, teammate Tyler McGill, out in 24.25, back in 51.69. the best of Japan was Takuro Fujii, on 52.20, while Sydney 2000 bronze medallist Geoff Huegill went through as top Aussie 0.01sec further back on a time almost matching his best of 10 years ago. Timothy Phillips (USA) clocked 52.25 but goes out on the two-per-nation rule, while Chris Wright took the second Aussie berth in 52.51, in an upset for Olympic bronze medallist of 2008, Andrew Lauterstein, out in 24.17, home in 52.55. After Masayuki Kishsida (JPN) on 52.32, those making the grade courtesy of the two-per-nation rule were Commonwealth champion Ryan Pini (PNG), 52.77, and Wu Pend (CHN), 52.80.

Women 200m backstroke

Elizabeth Pelton cracked out a championship record of 2:07.48 (30.45; 1:02.89; 1:35.13; 2:07.48) to leave nothing to chance in heats that count so much for those with strength in numbers and time (the argument of those who set that French sprint free policy that caused so much consternation). Pelton was wise to set the pace she did: the other American Elizabeth, Beisel, winner of the 400IM yesterday, was close at hand, on 30.46; 1:03.06; 1:35.68; and 2:07.90, the dangerous third spot for America going to Missy Franklin in 2:09.22. Emily Seebohm (AUS) had a similar consideration as she sped to 2:08.45 as first Aussie, Belinda Hocking's 2:08.96 locking out Meagen Nay's 2:09.78. For Japan, Hiho Sakai, on 2:08.86, led Marie Kamimura, on 2:10.28. And all of that and the two-per-nation rule left room on the final for Genevieve Cantin (CAN), 2:10.84, and Melissa Ingram (NZL), on 2:11.25.

Men 200m backstroke

World record holder and champion on 1:51.92 last year, Aaron Peirsol is out of the final - and this time no escape route, it seems: Olympic champion Ryan Lochte took lane 4 in 1:55.26, while Tyler Clary's 1:55.56 locked the 100m champion out on 1:56.22. The three Americans at the helm were followed on the clock by Ryosuke Irie (JPN), on 1:56.65; Ashley Delaney (AUS), 1:58.12; Gareth kean (NZL), 1:58.62; George Du Rand (RSA), 1:58.69; Nick Thoman out as 4th American on 1:59.16; Canadians Tobias Oriwol and Charles Francis progressing in 1:59.56 and 1:59.63.

Women 50m breaststroke

World record holder Jessica Hardy (USA) leads Leisel Jones (AUS) 30.39 to 30.61, while Ann Chandler, on 30.90, keeps Rebecca Soni out by 0.12sec.

Men 50m breaststroke

Felipe Silva (BRA) set the pace in 27.34, ahead of Kosuke Kitajima (JPN), on 27.64, and teammate Ryo Tateishi, on 27.74. Mark Gangloff was first through for the hosts on 27.75, Brenton Rickard first Aussie, on 27.77.