Eindhoven Swim Cup: Sarah Sjostrom Posts World-Leading Effort in Semis

EINDHOVEN, MAJALAH RENANG INDONESIA-The Netherlands, April 12. THE Eindhoven Swim Cup kicked off in The Netherlands with Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom continuing to add to her resume as an Olympic gold medal favorite this summer. 

In semifinal action, Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom jumped to the top of the world rankings with a scorching 53.29 in the women's 100 free. That swim clipped Ranomi Kromowidjojo's previous pacesetter of 53.30 from Amsterdam last month, and is in striking distance of Sjostrom's textile best of 53.05 from Eindhoven last year. Kromowidjojo finished second in semis with a 53.60, while Marleen Veldhuis (54.15) and Inge Dekker (54.43) took third and fourth. Veldhuis improved to 17th in the world with her swim, while Dekker moved into the top 25. Sebastiaan Verschuren topped the men's 100 free semis in 49.15. Stefan Nystrand (49.46) and Emmanuel Vanluchene (49.79) completed the top three qualifiers. 

Jennie Johansson edged Moniek Nijhuis for the women's 50 breast title, 31.52 to 31.57. Johansson has been faster this year with a second-ranked 31.24 from Amsterdam last month, while Nijhuis' best is a seventh-ranked 31.49 from Antwerp in January. Anouk Elzerman wound up third in 32.15. 

Joao Luiz Gomez Jr. topped the men's 50 breast in 27.82 to move up to a fifth-ranked tie with Li Xiayin. His previous best had been an eighth-ranked 27.92 from prelims today. Lennart Stekelenburg took second in 28.01 for 14th in the world, while Bram Dekker placed third in 28.06 for 16th in the world. 

Wendy van den Zanden captured the women's 200 IM title in 2:13.14, tying for 25th in the world rankings this year. Martin Granstrom placed second in 2:17.01, while Stefania Pirozzi wound up third in 2:17.13. Sebas van Lith won the men's 200 IM crown in 2:02.64. Mike Marissen (2:04.20) and Jens Bakker (2:04.26) rounded out the top three. 

Julia Hassler won the women's 400 free in 4:14.03. Katarina Filova touched second in 4:17.07, while Judith Stap earned third in 4:17.31. David Carry followed with a 3:50.52 to win the men's 400 free. Dion Dreesens (3:52.00) and Richard Nagy (3:55.58) finished second and third. (swimmingworldmagazine)