Rice, Coutts both third in heats
STEPHANIE Rice and Alicia Coutts reached the semi-finals of the 200m medley fairly unconvincingly, both finishing third in their heats.
Rice was well adrift of heat winner and apparent gold certainty Shiwen Ye, who was nearly two seconds faster than any other qualifier.
The Beijing gold medallist was the ninth quickest qualifier at 2:12:23.
Coutts finished third behind American Caitlin Leverenz and Katinka Hosszu, ending up fifth fastest overall with 2:10.74.
Bronte Barratt and Kylie Palmer, meanwhile, both qualified for the semi-finals of the women's 200m freestyle heat after finishing second and fourth in their heats respectively.
