Australian Jones wins 100m breaststroke gold medal

MELBOURNE, Mar 27 (Reuters) Leisel Jones of Australia posted the second fastest time in history to win the women's 100 metres breaststroke final at the world championships today.

Jones led all the way to win the gold in one minute 05.72 seconds, just 0.63 outside the world record she set in Melbourne at last year's Commonwealth Games, to successfully defend the world title she won in Montreal in 2005.

American Tara Kirk finished second in 1:06.34 and Ukraine's Anna Khlistunova was third in 1:07.27.

Jones provided Australia's third gold medal of the championships after Libby Lenton won the 100 butterfly yesterday and the women's 4x100 freestyle team won the first relay final on Sunday.

Reuters DH RK1716