Domestically, the big story surrounding German Nationals is going to be one we’ve seen in many other countries this qualification season. The German World Championship qualifying standards are totally brutal, and appear to be the toughest on the books thus far this year. They effectively coincide with the world’s current top 8 rankings, which means it’s going to be a tough go for the competitors. Still, the German federation still thinks that they can qualify in the neighborhood of 18 swimmers to Shanghai, each of which should be at the least a semi-final participant.
The big swim on the first day of the meet was a 4:14.02 in the 400 IM from Yannick Lebherz. Lebherz hasn’t really made a splash internationally, though in 2008 he was the first German under two minutes in the 200 IM, but at 22 he’s entering the prime of his swimming career. That time broke his own National Record by three-tenths from the Rome World Championships in 2009. It also ties him with Brit Joseph Goddard for 8th in the world this season, which means it ties the World Championship qualifying standard.
This demonstrates the ideas in the first paragraph, where many swimmers are going to have to break National Record to get to Shanghai.
In the day’s only other final, the 1500m free, Christian Kubusch won in 15:09.94 (which is nowhere near the National Record, which has shockingly stood since 1991). This time ranks him 14th in the world this year, but won’t get him to Shanghai. The runner-up was Georgia junior Martin Grodzki in 15:14.68. That time ranks him 18th in the world this year, after finishing tied for runner-up in the equivalent distance at the NCAA Championships last year. Watching him, Michael McBroom, and Chad La Tourette battle next year is going to be quite a sight.
Preliminary Action
Despite a relatively light schedule in finals, there was a lot of significant preliminary round action. The most focused-upon of these was probably the women’s 50 free, where Britta Steffen continues her return to competitive swimming after more than a year of injury and illness. She was the top qualifier after the semi-finals, with a 24.98 to lead the back. Close behind her was Dorothea Brandt in 25.03. These times rank them 12th and 14th in the world, respectively, and builds much excitement for tomorrow’s final.
In the men’s 50 free, Steffen Deibler placed the fastest in the prelim in 22.26. That ties him for 15th in the world, but he’ll need to lop over two-tenths off of that time to qualify for Shanghai.
Translations:
Freistil = Freestyle
Rucken = Backstroke
Brust = Breaststroke
Scmetterling = Butterfly
Lagen = IM
Frauen = Women
Männer = Men
Finale = Final
Vorlauf = Preliminary
Tag = Day
Abschmitt = Session
Startliste = Start List
Ergbenis = Results
I actually like this non-conventional schedule. All prelims on weekdays and all the actions of final on the weekend
When is the 50m freestyle final if this is only prelims?
There’s 3 finals on Thursday (women’s 400 IM) before things relay get ramped up on Friday. The women’s 50 free final isn’t until Sunday. A bit of an unconventional race schedule, but I sort of like it…saves most of the finals for the weekend, when fans are most likely to show up.
Right but keep in mind last year at NCAAs Grodzki took second in 14:48 and then went 14:34 this year. So the fact that its a big drop makes sense. I do agree that La Tourette appears to have a much bigger upside in long course, but I think Grodzki has more in him. A 14:34 scy mile would suggest he is capable of a sub 15 minute 1500m.
Agree that he has a sub-15 in him, but I think he’ll be hitting it at the perfect time (summer of 2012) rather than this year. He’s younger than La Tourette though, so plenty of time for him to play catch-up.
Grodzki was the top qualifier in prelims of the 400 free in 3:52. Going to take a 3:46 to make Shanghai.
Chad La Tourette nearly tied Grodzki’s 1500 mark at the Speedo meet in Cali. Crazy how even those two are.
Sure is. The big question is: does Grodzki have the same top-end potential in long course. Certainly did in short course, but in long course, that 15:14 seems to be a career best (by a LOT), whereas La Tourette’s going to have no problem going sub-15 in Shanghai, and I’d be shocked if Grodzki had that much more taper left in him (for whatever his long course taper meet will be-possibly US Nationals?)