The Swedish Swimming Federation launched a massive nationwide virtual meet program at the beginning of May, giving swimmers the ability to submit times in specific events every two weeks to be scored by age group to supplement the absence of traditional meets during the pandemic.
The program features single-age classification groups (14, 15, 16 etc.) up to 20-year-olds, with a 21 & over category for the older swimmers.
The times are submitted by coaches from intrasquad time trials with no officials required. Due to this, the times won’t be officially recognized.
Week 2 featured the men’s and women’s 25 breast, 50 back, 100 fly, 400 IM and 800 free. Though not specified, based on the inclusion of 25-meter races and the times recorded by swimmers relative to their best times, it appears as though these are performed in short course meters.
Among the standouts was Edith Jernstedt, who also produced some top times during the first slate of events.
Jernstedt, 18, posted the fastest time overall for this period in the women’s 50 back (28.38), 100 fly (59.95) and 400 IM (4:46.63), while also recording a 9:08.95 in the 800 free. Her swim in the 50 back was an unofficial best, having previously been 28.52 last September.
Fellow 18-year-old Elise Oberg also posted some quick times, including an 8:59.98 in the 800 free for the top time. She also clocked 28.81 and 4:54.02 in the 50 back and 400 IM, respectively.
On the men’s side, Samuel Tornqvist, a rising senior at Virginia Tech in the United States, was the top performer in the 50 back, 100 fly and 400 IM. Competing in the 21 & over category, Tornqvist recorded showings of 25.02, 54.82 and 4:25.28, respectively.
Joel Hambraeus was the fastest 800 freestyler in 8:30.21, while Simklubben Neptun teammates Morris Martin (8:45.90) and Hjalmar Mueller (8:46.09) posted quick times from the 16-year-old age group.
