Paul Biedermann On Fire In Berlin; Johannes Hintze Fastest 14-Year-Old 200 IMer

BERLIN, Germany, May 3. THE German Long Course Nationals kept steamrolling the world rankings, but none more eye-popping than Paul Biedermann’s success in the men’s 100-meter free. Meanwhile, 14-year-old Johannes Hintze keeps breaking barriers as Germany’s answer to Michael Andrew.

Biedermann, in his first significant swimming in quite some time after a lengthy sabbatical, charged to the finish in the men’s 100-meter free with a sizzling 48.31. That effort almost broke the German record of 48.24 owned by Marco di Carli as the middle-distance swimmer is demonstrating some speed. His time puts him fifth in the SwimVortex world rankings after a strong 400 free victory last night. Steffen Deibler pocketed second with a 48.56 to move to eighth in the world rankings, while Bjorn Hornikel (49.29) and Dimitri Colupaev (49.52) finished third and fourth.

Franziska Hentke, the 400-meter IM victor on night one, dominated the women’s 200-meter fly finale tonight with a 2:07.67. That performance vaulted her to seventh in the world rankings as one of just nine swimmers this year to break 2:08. Alexandra Wenk placed well behind with a 2:12.69, while Tina Ruger finished third in 2:14.34.

Hendrik Feldwehr became just the seventh swimmer under 1:00 this year in the men’s 100-meter breast as the German-record holder rocked a 59.81 for the win. That skyrocketed him to fifth in the world rankings this evening. Marco Koch, who has been resting throughout the early sessions of the meet, turned in a second-place 1:00.08 to better his season best of 1:00.24 from prelim that ranks him eighth in the world. Christian vom Lehn picked up third tonight in 1:00.69 to rank 20th in the world.

Following an incredible double-sprint victory last night, Essen’s Dorothea Brandt chased down the title in the women’s 100-meter free with a 55.05. Last night, she won both the 50 breast and 50 fly and now has her third national title of the meet. Annika Bruhn touched second in 55.34 with Paulina Schmiedel (55.76) and Alina Weber (55.97) also breaking 56 seconds to take third and fourth.

Wiesbaden’s Jenny Mensing, the German-record holder in the women’s 200-meter back, topped the event with ease tonight in 2:09.25. That swim pushed her to fifth in the world rankings and just a second off her German record of 2:08.20 from 2012. Lisa Graf (2:10.37) and Sonnele Ozturk (2:11.36) earned second and third-place honors in the finale.

This morning, Johannes Hintze became the first 14 year old to ever break 2:04 in the men’s 200-meter IM with a blistering 2:03.99 in prelims. That’s faster than the fastest time we can find of 2:04.13 from Michael Andrew earlier this year before he aged up to 15.

Hintze then went even faster tonight with a sizzling 2:03.68 to finish sixth in the men’s 200-meter IM finals. Markus Deibler won the title in 1:58.00 to move to eighth in the world rankings, while Philip Heintz (1:59.47) and Philipp Forster (2:01.54) wrapped up the top three.

Frankfurt’s Jan-Philip Glania cracked the top 15 in the world in the men’s 200-meter back with a 1:57.40 for the win. That put him 12th in the world rankings. Christian Diener touched just behind with a second-place 1:57.93, off his prelim swim of 1:57.50 that ranks him 17th. Yannick Lebherz rounded out the top three in 1:58.16.

Neukolin Berlin’s Robin Backhaus touched out Neuss’ Philip Lucker, 1:58.73 to 1:58.74, in one of the most exciting finishes of the night in the men’s 200-meter fly finale. Markus Gierke picked up third overall in 1:59.01 as Alexander Kunert just missed the top three with a 1:59.03 for fourth.

Essen’s Caroline Ruhnau tracked down the women’s 100-meter breaststroke title with a 1:08.24, while Vanessa Grimburg of Stuttgart wound up second in 1:08.48. Julia Willers of Halle (Saale) posted a 1:08.86 to break the national junior record in Germany.

Theresa Michalak of Halle (Saale) cruised to victory in the women’s 200-meter IM with a 2:13.16, while Kathrin Demler placed well behind with a second-place 2:15.23. Franziska Jansen touched third in 2:15.99.

In distance freestyle action at the end of the evening, Sarah Kohler won the women’s 1500-meter free in 16:26.28. That put her ninth in the world rankings. Isabelle Harle claimed second in 16:27.09 for 10th in the world, while Leonie Antonia Beck finished third in 16:32.75 to break into the top 15 in the world. Soren Meissner then won the men’s 800-meter free in 7:54.93 to close the night. That moved him to eighth in the world. Florian Vogel took second in 7:58.44 tonight, while Poul Zellmann claimed third in 8:02.34.

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