Jess Fox is second-fastest in the semifinal.

She was 1.5 seconds ahead through the first checkpoint, and was comfortably the best through the tricky seventh and eighth gates.

Just 0.13 of a second in the lead through the second and third checkpoints despite some tough battles through the rapids and ultimately finished 0.45 of a second ahead of Monica Doria Vilaruubla of Andorra.

Gabriela Satková was the only one still to come, but the Czech paddler has sent down a phenomenal run to pip fox by 0.53 of a second and the top two qualifiers for the semi go through to the final in first and second spot. Set your alarms for 1:25am AEST.

There's less than a second between the top three.

Brutal for the local fans, with French star Marjorie Delassus, who finished fourth in Tokyo, dropping out of the 12th qualifying spot on that last run from Satková.