Danish Open: Pal Joensen Earns Olympic Bid

BRONSHOJ, Denmark, March 22. PAL Joensen, the star swimmer from the Faroe Islands, secured a spot on the Danish Olympic roster with a winning effort in the men's 400-meter free at the Danish Open.

Joensen made his small country's dreams come true as he secured a spot at the 2012 London Games with a winning time of 3:46.84. He touched out Mads Glaesner, who had already made the Olympic team at the 2011 World Championships, posted a second-place 3:46.93. Joensen's time replaced his Faroese record of 3:48.57 from the 2009 Danish Championships, and jumped him to seventh in the world. Glaesner tied Ryan Napoleon for ninth in the world with the swim. Frans Johannessen placed third in 3:56.76.

Lotte Friis, who already qualified for the Olympic team in the women's 400 free with a 4:04.68 in Shanghai, cruised to victory in 4:06.85 to move to ninth in the world rankings. Grainne Murphy finished second from Ireland with a 4:09.89, just missing the FINA A cut for qualification. Cecilie Johannessen earned third in 4:13.94.

Chris Christensen won the men's 200 IM in 2:03.32, while Erik Persson (2:05.80) and Niklas Hedegaard (2:06.34) picked up second and third. Katrine Holm Sorensen took the women's 200 IM title in 2:14.22, missing the guaranteed FINA A cut. Julie Aglund Lauridsen (2:18.78) and Julie Leth-Espensen (2:20.21) took second and third.

SEMIFINALS
Andreas Schiellerup paced semis in the men's 50 back with a 26.41, while Magnus Jakupsson placed second in 27.27. Alexandra Papusha topped the women's 50 back in 29.87, while Ida Lindborg earned second in 30.00. Andrey Grechin clocked a 50.01 for the top men's 100 free time, while Jakob Andkjaer turned in a second-place 50.30. Schiellerup went on to win the men's 50 back final in 26.17, while Papusha won the women's 50 back in 29.75.

Jeanette Ottesen Gray topped the women's 100 free semis with a 54.64, just off her 10th-ranked season best of 54.14 from British Trials. Pernille Blume placed second in 55.30, while Mie Nielsen touched in a Danish junior record 55.47.

Mathias Andersen edged Chris Christensen, 1:03.87 to 1:03.93, for the top seed in the men's 100 breast. Meanwhile, Elin Martensson posted a 1:11.32 for the top time in the women's 100 breast semis. Katrine Liljedahl finished second in 1:12.00.

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