Jeremy Stravius Picks Up National 200 IM Mark, Two Wins in France

RENNES, France, April 11. JEREMY Stravius scored his first national record at the French world championship trials today, while Camille Muffat just missed another on the third day of competition in Rennes.

Stravius, the winner of yesterday's 100 backstroke, posted a 1:57.89 in the men's 200 IM to erase Fabien Horth's four-year-old French record of 1:59.58. The time puts Stravius third in the world rankings so far for 2013, just behind China's Wang Shun (1:57.50) and Japan's Kosuke Hagino (1:57.68). Stravius now stands 17th in the all-time world rankings. Hungary's David Verraszto placed second today with a 2:01.03, while Ganesh Pedurand was third with a 2:02.32.

Shortly before his national record in the 200 IM, Stravius picked up a win in the 50 backstroke, again beating Camille Lacourt 24.61 to 24.73. Florent Manaudou picked up third with a 24.98. Eric Ress was fourth with a 25.82.

Muffat skipped the 800 freestyle at this meet, setting aim on Malia Metella's national record of 53.49 in the 100 free, but fell just short with a winning time of 53.51. Like Stravius, Muffat leapfrogged into 17th place in the all-time world rankings and sits second in 2013 behind Australia's Cate Campbell (53.51). Charlotte Bonnet was second with a 54.45, while Beryl Gastaldello was third with a 55.63.

Three of the four members of France's winning 400 free relay at the 2012 Olympics will compete in tomorrow's 100 freestyle final. Yannick Agnel, the anchor of that relay, led qualifiers in today's semifinals with a 48.70. Relay teammates Fabien Gilot qualified third with a 49.23 and Amaury Leveaux was seventh in 49.76. (Clement Lefert retired from competition after the Olympics.) Second seed in tomorrow's final will be William Meynard with a 49.20.

With Muffat electing to not swim the 800 free, Aurelie Muller picked up the win with an 8:41.68, with Morgane Rothon second with an 8:42.82. Margaux Verger Gourson was third with an 8:49.29.

Lea Giraudon took the women's 200 fly with a 2:12.98, ahead of Marie Wattel's 2:13.27, which sets a new 17-year-old national record. Isabelle Mabboux picked up third with a 2:13.96.

Coralie Dobral won the women's 100 breast final with a 1:10.20, with Fanny Babou second in 1:10.59. Fanny Deberghes picked up third place with a 1:10.88.

In other semifinal action, Hungary's Evelyn Verraszto picked up the top seed in the women's 200 IM semis with a 2:12.74, while William Debourges will be the top qualifier in the men's 200 breast with a 2:14.71. Cloe Credeville qualified first for the women's 100 backstroke final with a 1:02.33.

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