The Danish Short Course Nationals got underway tonight in Gladsaxe. Mie Nielsen provided the only world competitive swim on the night that saw many of the best Danish swimmers forego competing. Nielsen won the 100 backstroke in 57.31, well off her national record 55.99 but good for second in the world. Many of the best Danish swimmers were noticeably absent from the first day of competition.
Nielsen was also victorious in the 100 IM, posting a 59.68 that put her just outside the world top five.
Instead of the usual stars, young swimmers carried the night. 19 year old Christian Rasmussen of Odense won the men’s 100 IM in 55.88. Gustav Friberg, just 18 years old from Ringsted, won the 100 backstroke in 53.91. Sigma’s Sara Krog Kristofferson (19) won the 200 breaststroke in 2:28.71
On veteran who did take part was Sigma’s Mads Glaesner, who led the whole way to win the 400 freestyle in 3:46.18. That time is well back of Glaesner’s national record of 3:36.82 from 2009.
Pernille Blume won the 50 free easily for the home team Gladsaxe in 24.80. Also of note was a junior swim from 16 year old Emily Gantriis out of Helsinge who finished second in 25.57.
Magnus Jakupsson put up the fastest time in the 50 freestyle in 22.31. Jakupsson was joined in victory by his Farum teammate Niklas Hedegaard, who won the 200 breaststroke in 2:10.41
Also of note on the night was British swimmer Marco Loughran, who was ineligible for a medal but put up the fastest time in the 100 backstroke (51.84)
