American Jessica Hardy kept the world records flowing at the world short-course championships with a sparkling victory in the women's 50 meters breaststroke on Thursday. Hardy, who won the world long-course title in 2007, clocked 29.58 seconds to beat the 29.90 set by Australia's Jade Edmistone in Brisbane in 2004. It took the world record tally to four after three marks tumbled on Wednesday's opening night. Kirsty Coventry, who broke the women's 400m individual medley world record on Wednesday, bagged her second title of the five-day championships with a championship record 57.10 seconds in the 100 backstroke. Coventry, third at the 50-meter mark, edged out Ukraine's Kateryna Zubkova (57.15), with Croatia's Sanja Jovanovic third. The US-based Zimbabwean was soon back in the water to win her 100m individual medley semifinal. Hardy seized control of the 50 breaststroke final from the start and finished more than half a second ahead of her nearest pursuer, Yuliya Efimova of Russia. Efimova was disqualified for a false start. Ryan Lochte claimed his second Manchester gold with a fluent defense of his 400m individual medley title. Liam Tancock had earlier brought the British hosts their first title with a bold victory in the 100m backstroke. __
