Ranomi Kromowidjojo has been swimming exceptional in the early parts of the 2012 but it was this weekend that she solidified her spot as the favorite heading into London in the 100 free. In an event that looks to very, very deep it is Kromowidjojo who posted the fastest time ever in textile in winning against a strong field at the Eindhoven Swim Cup. Kromo posted an impressive 52.75 to better the previous all-time textile best of 52.99 from Australia’s Libby Trickett (although that was not the official mark as she swam it against Michael Phelps in a mixed relay in 2007). Also impressive in the race was Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom who touched in 53.30, just a hundredth off her semifinal time which was the previous best on the season. Third went to veteran Marleen Veldhuis in 53.95. This event is shaping up to be one of the most hotly-contested this summer with Kromo, Sjostrom, Halsall, Tang Yi, Melanie Schlanger, Cate Campbell, Jeanette Ottesen, and Veldhuis all posting times under 54 seconds already this year. Not to be forgotten are names like Britta Steffen and Aleksandra Herasimenia along with the American ladies which means this event is crowded!
Kromowidjojo posted a second textile best in winning the 50 free as she touched in 24.10. That bettered the previous mark of 24.13 which both Inge de Bruijn and Fran Halsall had posted in 2000 and 2012 respectively. She now sits seventh all-time in the event and tops the world rankings on the year. She again positions herself for a run at the sprint double in London but should get a very strong push in the 50 from Britain’s home crowd favorite Halsall. Marleen Veldhuis was second in the race in 24.32 which puts her third on the year.
Many other swimmers posted strong swims over the weekend with Bruno Fratus breaking into the 21 club with a strong 21.87 in the final of the men’s 50 free. That time ranks him fourth this season behind the likes of James Magunssen, Cesar Cielo, and Florent Manaudou.
Bastiaan Lijesen jumped into the top spot in the world with a 24.79 in the men’s 50 backstroke. That time cleared the previous best time from France’s Camille Lacourt of 24.81. That time also moves Lijesen into 16th all-time in the sprint backstroke.
Joeri Verlinden took the win in the men’s 100 fly with a time of 52.07. That is good enough to put him fifth in the world this season. Sarah Sjostrom took the women’s race in 58.08, well short of the blazing 56.79 she posted at the British Trials earlier in the year.
In the 200 backstroke it was Sharon von Rouwendaal (2:10.14) moved into the top 25 with a 21st ranked swim. On the men’s side it was Nick Driebergen who touched in 1:57.96 to move up to 14th on the year.