Day 1 Danish Open 2016 (Olympic, European Championship and European Junior Championship Qualifying)
- April 13-17, Bellahøj Swimming Stadium
- Prelims: 10 a.m local time (4 am EST)
- Finals: 17:30 local time (11:30 EST)
- Live results
- Psych sheets
- Live scoreboard
- Olympic Qualifying Times/Selection Criteria
After a sleepy preliminary session, the game was on from the beginning of tonight’s finals session, with two male swimmers adding their names to the Danish Olympic list. Mads Glaesner made his third straight Olympic squad. Punching his ticket for the first time was Anton Ipsen, who scored a thrilling victory over Danish record-holder Glaesner in the 400. Notably, Pernille Blume was an agonizing .03 over the time standard she needed to qualify in the 100 free
Women’s 50 Breaststroke
The night started off with a non-Olympic qualifying race. Josefine Pedersen broke her own Danish Junior record to win the event, also hitting the Danish European Junior “A” standard in the process. Pedersen’s time of 32.22 was an improvement to a swim that scored her a final in Baku last summer.
Top three finishers:
- Josefine Pedersen, VAT 32.22
- Anouk Elzerman, Netherlands 32.40
- Mathilde Schrøder, OSLF 32.57
Men’s 400 Freestyle
The most thrilling race of the night featured a rare two male swimmers under the Danish Olympic standard of 3:48.73. Anton Ipsen, currently training at NC State, took control of the race from the very beginning. He needed all of his early cushion, as Glaesner made a late charge. It was too little, too late for Glaesner as Ipsen got the touch by .03. Ipsen recorded a 3:48.39, with Glaesner still holding the national record of 3:44.40 from 2009.
While the result is very positive for Danish swimming, it is sure to touch off discussion as both athletes were trained in the United States. Third place finisher Joan Casanovas is from Spain, while the best domestically trained distance swimmer was 4th place Pal Joensen in a disappointing 3:54.46. Joensen, who was born and represents the Faroe Islands in all non-Olympic competition, will need to swim much better than that in the 1500 later this week if he hopes to qualify.
Top three finishers:
- Anton Ipsen, SIGMA 3:48.39
- Mads Glaesner, SIGMA 3:48.42
- Joan Casanovas, SIGMA 3:52.19
Women’s 100 Freestyle
As mentioned above, Pernille Blume missed qualifying by a very narrow margin, swimming 54.46 in a race that she needed 54.43. All hope is not lost, as Blume will have another shot in the 50 later this week, and could also swim at the European Championships to qualify. But she looked shaky in this race, taking it out too slow (26.46) to give herself a fair shot at the standard.
The rest of the action centered around Junior qualifying and possibly relay additions. Neither Julie Jensen (55.71, fading badly from a 26.64 first 50) or Sarah Bro (56.07) showed enough to warrant relay selection. However, Jensen could lead a junior relay with good medal potential to Hungary this summer. Beyond her, Signe Bro swam 56.65, with Emily Gantriis and Amalie Mortensen both swimming 57 lows as well.
Top three finishers:
- Pernille Blume, Gladsaxe 54.46
- Magdelena Kuras, Sweden 55.70
- Julie Jensen, A6 55.71
Men’s 100 Backstroke
This race had only a sliver of Olympic potential, with the standard set at 54.12. That time would be a Danish record, and neither of the top two men had ever been under 55 seconds. Magnus Jakupsson got the better of Andreas Schiellerup by leading the race out in 26.82.
Top three finishers:
- Magnus Jakupsson, Farum 55.46
- Andreas Schiellerup, SIGMA 55.90
- Andreas Kaas Elmgreen, 57.03
Women’s 200 Butterfly
Once again, no Olympic standards were recorded but the result still bodes well for the future of Danish swimming. Katrine Villesen broke the Danish junior record in prelims, and broke it once again in finals, swimming 2:14.09. The second and fourth place finishers were also junior swimmers.
Villesen has had a huge progression this year. Twelve months ago she didn’t even have a registered personal best in this event. This past fall she swam 2:17 in SCM, and now this result. Helena Rosendahl-Bach in second was also nicely improved from last year and should make the European junior squad.
Top three finishers:
- Katrine Villesen, Thisted 2:14.03
- Helena Rosendahl-Bach, Holstebro 2:16.07
- Isabella Sorensen, Aalborg 2:17.23
Men’s 200 Breaststroke
A couple Danish men were able to salvage their pride and swim faster than Rikke Møller Pedersen’s women’s world record. Otherwise, there was little at play, with no significant qualifying times made by any swimmer in the final. Jacob Jørgensen built an early lead and held on for the win over Kristoffer Moos.
Top three finishers
- Jacob Jørgensen, KVIK 2:17.18
- Kristoffer Moos, Aalborg 2:18.37
- Niklas Hedegaard, Farum 2:20.55
