Amsterdam Swim Cup: Sarah Sjostrom, Inge Dekker, Femke Heemskerk Shine

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, March 11. THE initial day of long course meter competition at the Amsterdam Swim Cup featured some particularly strong swims, including a new Dutch record.

Sarah Sjostrom improved her fourth-ranked season best in the women's 100 fly with a 57.91. Previously, she'd clocked a 58.47 last month. During prelims, Inge Dekker shot to the top of the world rankings with a 57.62 in qualifying. Dekker settled for second in the finale with a 58.43, while Marleen Veldhuis took third in 59.66.

Femke Heemskerk snagged third in the world rankings in the women's 100 back with a 1:00.03 during prelims. That effort also broke her Dutch record in the event of 1:01.28 set at the 2009 World Championships. Heemskerk followed with a 1:00.38 to win the event. Wendy van den Zanden earned second-place honors in 1:03.12, while Evy Witlox placed third in 1:03.89.

Lennart Stekelenburg cruised to victory in the men's 100 breast with a 1:01.26 to move to fifth in the world rankings, while Laurent Carnol touched second in 1:02.93. Bram Dekker finished third in 1:03.02.

Bastiaan Lijesen won the men's 50 back in 25.37 to grab sixth in the world rankings. Nick Driebergen finished second in 25.47, while Lavrans Solli touched third in 26.27. Driebergen finished the day in the top 10 in the world rankings.

Moniek Nijhuis nabbed eighth in the world rankings in the women's 100 breast with a 1:08.83. Jennie Johansson placed second in 1:09.04, while Tessa Brouwer earned third in 1:09.13 as Brouwer moved into the top 15. Johansson already stands fourth with a 1:08.37 from last month.

Konrad Czerniak improved his eighth-place world ranking with a 53.00 to win the men's 100 fly. Meanwhile, Joeri Verlinden earned second with a 53.11, just short of his seventh-ranked season best of 52.91. Martin Spitzer took third overall in 55.35.

Simon Sjodin took ninth in the world rankings in the men's 200 IM with a winning time of 2:01.44. Raphael Stacchiotti (2:07.14) and Jens Bakker (2:08.10) completed the podium.

Job Kienhuis won the men's 400 free in 3:53.42, while Dion Dreesens touched second in 3:57.27. Grad Kvale snared third in 3:57.42. Cecilie Johannessen followed in the women's 400 free with a 4:15.79 for the win. Rieneke Terink (4:17.57) and Esmee Vermeulen (4:20.79) placed second and third. Lieke Verouden captured the women's 200 IM in 2:15.37, while Lisa Dreesens (2:19.59) and Coralie Dobral (2:19.72) rounded out the top three.

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