Heartbreak for veteran New Zealand swimmer Laura Quilter at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore - despite a victory in her heat

The 33-year-old's won her women's 50-metre freestyle qualifier, edging a Slovakian teenager by 0.14 seconds .

But Quilter's missed out on the top-16 semifinals spots on time ... by 0.19 of a second.

No luck for compatriot Andrew Jeffcoat in his men's 50 backstroke heat, finishing eighth.

Fellow Kiwi Finn Harland has qualified from his 50 backstroke heat, finishing in a dead tie for third with an American and a Spaniard.

The trio qualify 10th-equal-fastest for the semifinals ... the Russian winner of their heat, Kliment Kolesnikov, topped the timesheets.