2016 SWEDISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- July 6 – July 10, 2016
- Norrköping, Sweden
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Swedish Olympic veterans Michelle Coleman and Therese Alshammar battled it out in the women’s 100 free on the final day of the 2016 Swedish Nationals. They were within a tenth of each other at the 50, but Coleman had the better back half to take the win in 54.31. That’s about 8 tenths shy of her season best 53.54, which has her tied for 10th fastest in the world this year. Alshammar, who will swim in her 6th Olympics in Rio, was 2nd in 55.90.
Louise Hansson and 400 IM champ Stina Gardell put together one of the most exciting races of the meet for the women. Hansson was behind at the 150, but made a late charge to win the the race by just 2 tenths, posting a 2:14.58. Gardell, a former NCAA swimmer for the USC Trojans, was 2nd in 2:14.78.
On the men’s side, Erik Persson swam to a new record in the men’s 100 breast, clocking a 1:01.71 to beat out 50 breast champ Johannes Skagius. Persson broke his own record, which he set at 1:02.24 in 2015. Skagius was also under the previous record with a 1:02.19 for 2nd.
Simon Sjodin cleared 2:00 in the men’s 200 IM, also setting a new meet record with his 1:59.57. That swim bettered his mark of 2:00.14 from 2015, and put him nearly 5 seconds ahead of 2nd place finisher Adam Paulsson (2:04.09).
Paulsson went on to win the 200 free almost immediately after, posting a 1:50.69.
The Helsingborgs S relay closed out the meet with a victory in the men’s 4×100 free relay. Christoffer Carlsen led off in 50.20 on the way to the team’s overall 3:21.94. Isak Eliasson had the only sub-50 split of the field, swimming the 2nd leg in 49.83.
Event Winners
Women’s 200 Back: Ida Marko-Varga, 2:12.20
Men’s 200 IM: Simon Sjodin, 1:59.57
Women’s 100 Free: Michelle Coleman, 54.31
Men’s 200 Free: Adam Paulsson, 1:50.69
Women’s 200 IM: Louise Hansson, 2:14.58
Men’s 100 Breast: Erik Persson, 1:01.71
Women’s 1500 Free: Christine Eckman, 17:21.15
Men’s 4×100 Free Relay: Helsingborgs S (Carlsen, Eliasson, Holmstrom, Bjork), 3:21.94
Where’s Sjostrom?
She was tired and went home to eat nachos.
She must not have felt too fresh.
Yeah, and swimming a 53.0 when the world is expecting to see her match Campbell’s 52.0 would not be good for Sarah’s confidence
Yep. Or she went home in order to get back to training on Monday morning.