Day 1 at the 2011 European Short Course Championships saw some big names win championships, without a whole lot of surprises. The field here is a bit thinned out without the majority of the French crew, as well as absent the major Swedish women (Alshammar and Sjostrom), or big names like Kromowidjojo, but Europe has become deep enough that theres’s still exciting racing. The British were out in force (and swimming fairly well), as were the Italians.
At the very least, this meet serves as a nice way for athletes to fill out the “medal record’ on their Wikipedia pages. We also had a huge show of strength by a certain Spaniard who made a name for herself donig the same thing at Worlds last year.
In the first women’s final, Spain’s Mireia Belmonte Garcia swam a 2:07.06 to take the crown. She fell well behind European Record holder Evelyn Verraszto on the first half, but was dominant on the breaststroke leg, where Verraszto is at her weakest. Belmonte-Garcia even outsplit Britain’s Hannah Miley, who is one of the better breaststroke-IM’ers in the world.
The Spanish champion then used her impressive endurance to hold on for a big victory in the 2nd-ranked time in the world this season. That’s the best swim she’s had since her breakout performance at last year’s short course World Championships following a disappointing long course season.
Verraszto ended up touching 2nd in 2:08.28, with Miley 3rd in 2:08.34. That’s Miley’s best time ever in textile (and afterward, she laughably lamented on Twitter that she was drug-tested for the 3rd time in 6 days, so she’s probably clean).
In true Belmonte fashion, she came back 15 minutes later and posted a victory in the women’s 200 fly in 2:03.37, which is the world’s best time and the fastest that she’s ever been in textile. In fact, it puts her in the 10-fastest performances ever, which is an amazing feat on such a brutal double.
Britain’s Jemma Lowe (2:04.04) and Jessica Dickons (2:04.80) took 2nd and 3rd in the race, respectively, with Dickons’ mark taking a new English Record. Former Olympic champion in the event Otylia Jedrzejczak of the home team took 5th in 2:05.11. She seems to really be rounding back into form after a post-Beijing retirement. Comments by her indicate that she didn’t peak for this meet.
Paul Biedermann kicked off the men’s medal ceremonies with a 3:38.65 win in the 400 freestyle. That’s easily the fastest time in the world this season, though it still doesn’t really show full-rest. Odds are he’s partially training through to the London Olympics.
The 2nd-through-5th place competitors all swam as though they were a week out from their taper, as they will all be headed to Atlanta for the Duel in the Pool. That includes Mads Glaesner in 3:39.30 and Pawel Korzeniowski in 3rd in 3:40.54. That’s a clear demenstration of where the strengths of the European DITP roster lies.
The 2nd victory went to the young Polish swimmer Radoslaw Kawecki. He tore up the age group ranks of Polish swimming, demolishing national records, and now that he’s finally out of his teens (he’s 20), he’s already nabbed a Eureopean title in the 200 back in 1:49.15, which is again the best in the world. Spain’s Achwin Wildeboer took 2nd in 1:50.63, and Peter Bernek was 3rd in 1:51.21.
Laszlo Cseh prepped for his Duel in the Pool appearance by winning the 200 IM in 1:53.43 ahead of Austraia’s Markus Rogan in 1:53.63. Both swimmers will be in Atlanta and so are unlikely to have rested much for this meet (the times reflected it), but the competition dropped off enough for them to still take the gold and silver with some ease. The bronze medalist was Gal Nevo in 1:54.87 (who went to college at Georgia Tech, where the DITP is to be held).
The final of the men’s 50 free (semi’s and finals of 50 meter events are held in the same day) saw the first two men in the world this year crack the 21-second barrier. Poland’s Konrad Czerniak took the 2nd title for the home country in 20.88, followed by Russia’s Sergey Fesikov in 20.95.
For Czerniak, that’s a career-best time and puts him among the ranks of only 18 men to have ever gone a 20-point in short course meters. He should be a huge buoy to the European sprint free relays next weekend in Atlanta, as they are without many of the continent’s biggest sprint names (aka the French).
The final individual win of the day came from Valentina Artemyeva of Russia in the women’s 50 breaststroke in 30.06. That might not seem like a big name, but she’s a short-course specialist who is having a great season so far – easily her best since the rubber suits went away. The improvements may be enough to get her back into the game for a spot on the Russian Olympic team in the crowded breaststroke events.
Germany’s Dorothea Brandt took 2nd in 30.17, with the other Russian, Daria Deeva in 3rd in 30.63.
In the always-excite 200 medley relay, the Italians finally got into the win column with a gold from the quartet of Mirco di Tora, Fabio Scozzoli, Paolo Facchinelli, and Marco Orsi. Orsi anchored the freestyle leg in a blistering 20.18, which is 9-tenths better than he was for bronze in the individual race.
Russia took silver, and Germany bronze, which sort of marked the three elite men’s teams that have sent large roster to the meet. The Netherlands men did surprisingly well to take 4th, just half-a-second behind Germany.
Full results available here.
Live video for every session available here.
look for Czerniak to also win the 100 fly. I believe he got second next to Phelps at Worlds. I wish Yulia Efimova would have gone over to swim. Seems like Russia’s stud men are also missing.
Belmonte needs to edit her events for the olympics for a chance at an Olympic medal.
Doing 200/400 IM, 200 fly, 400/800 free is insanity.
Because of her endurance, the 200 fly/400 IM would suit her. And maybe add 800 free if the schedule fits.
I am very happy with the British performance with us missing our ‘stars’. The European’s are beginning to look in a better position than i first thought for the Duel! Kawecki’s time would have been 3rd in the world last year and Czerniak joint with the best American.
I have a feeling Europe could pull a few heavier punches than the startlists suggest.
I believe Evelyn Verraszto went a 2:08.28 not a 1:50.63, and Miley was a 2:08.34, not a 1:51.21 😉