BEIJING - China's Zhou Yafei makes to the women's 100 meters butterfly semifinal with a new Asian record of 57.70 seconds here Saturday night.

Zhou Yafei of China celebrates after winning her women's 100m butterfly heat at the National Aquatics Center during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 9, 2008. [Agencies]

Zhou's time was 0.12 seconds faster than the Asian record. The new record is also Zhou's personal best.

Australian swimmer Jessicah Schipper entered the semifinal as the top seed at 57.58, with U.S. swimmer Christine Magnuson trailing behind.

World's No. 1 seed Australia's Libby Trickett ranked 12th in the heat, with a time of 58.37.