NCAA medalist Laura Simon from the University of Virginia, who was the runner-up in the 200 breaststroke at the 2015 NCAA (American collegiate) championships three weeks ago, has made a surprise appearance at the German National Championships.
The surprise is because German National Team head coach Henning Lambertz commented in his pre-meet press-conference that Simon would not be present at the country’s primary World Championships qualifier.
Simon had a breakthrough season in Short Course (including winning an ACC title in yards over the American Record holder Emma Reaney), but historically hasn’t swum well at German Nationals. At this same meet last year, albeit three weeks later in the year, Simon placed just 8th in the 200 breast in 2:33.95 and 4th in the 100 breast in 1:09.53.
The road to this year’s squad will go through Vanessa Grimberg, the young 21-year old Stuttgart product who has already been 1:09.7 and 2:26.7 in pre-championship competition.
Not a fan of the 50’s stroke and hope Simon can swim a 100 LC breast!
Mens 100 free:
To qualify: 49.61 prelims, 49.07 final.
Athletes to look at: Biedermann, Oswald.
I think only biedermann will qualify, maybe s. dribbler will swim 100 free at kana.
Mens 200 fly:
To qualify: 1.58.69 prelims, 1.57.23 final.
Athletes to look at: Heintz, Gierke, Brandt, Zajusch, Kunert.
It would be a miracle if someone could qualify. Im very excited to see kunerts time.
Mens 100 breast:
To qualify: 1.00.89 prelims, 1.00.32 final.
Athletes to look at: Vom Lehn, Pilger, Feldwehr, Koch.
I think only koch/feldwehr have a chance to qualify, although koch probably will focus only at 200 breast at 2015 wc. He hasn’t tapered for this meet, so it… Read more »
Tomorrow we will see:
Womens 100 free:
To qualify: 55.44 prelims, 54.88 final.
Athletes to look at: Wenk, Kost, Bruhn
I don’t think that someone will qualify.
Womens 200 fly:
To qualify: 2.18.24 prelims, 2.10.72 final.
Athletes to look at: Höpink, Van Berkel, Zinnecker, Hentke.
I think only Hentke will qualify, im very excited to see höpinks time.
Womens 100 breast:
To qualify: 1.08.62 prelims, 1.08.29 final.
Athletes to look at: Hüther, Simon, Ruhnau, Grimberg, Willers.
I think only grimberg can qualify, although she’s better at 200 breast. Maybe hüther also has a chance to qualify.
Womens 200 back:
To qualify: 2.14.02 prelims, 2.11.69 final.
Athletes to look at:… Read more »
Results:
50 back women: Roas 28.30 qualified for wc
50 back men: Schwarz 25.27 qualified for wc, Glania 25.42 missed qualification by 0.02
50 breast women: Simon 31.43 qualified for wc
50 breast men: Feldwehr 27.35 qualified for wc
50 fly men: Bergmann 23.99 missed qualification, but s. deibler will probably swim 50 fly in kazan.
50 fly women: Wenk 26.55 not qualified for wc, missed qualification by 0.04.
This is a pretty bad time for her, i hope she can go faster (58 low) at 100 fly.
Really surprised to see that brandt lost 50 fly and 50 breast finals, i hope she will be better at 50 free.
400 free women: Köhler 4.07.00 qualified for wc,… Read more »
Laura Simon today qualified for Kazan with a 31.43 in the 50m breaststroke.
Way to go Laura. We are all very proud of you. Big things to come from UVA and Laura!