Swedish Short Course Championships: Joline Hostman Shines, Petra Granlund Doubles

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, December 2. QUITE a few strong times went into the world rankings during day one of the Swedish Short Course Championships held in Stockholm today.

Joline Hostman tore through the women's 200 breast with a meet-record time of 2:19.57. That swim moved her to second in the world rankings behind only Leisel Jones' 2:18.86 from July. Hostman also cleared Emma Igelstrom's 2003 meet record of 2:19.64, and just missed Hostman's national record of 2:19.28 from last year. Jennie Johansson finished a distant second in 2:25.75, while Jessica Eriksson picked up third in 2:26.50.

Petra Granlund smoked the women's 200 fly in a meet-record 2:05.21. That swim crushed her 2008 standard of 2:06.70, and improved upon her already fourth-ranked season best of 2:05.50. She missed leapfrogging Yuka Kato's third-ranked season best of 2:05.06. Ida Marko-Varga (2:07.43) and Martina Granstrom (2:07.54) completed the podium.

Granlund doubled up in the women's 100 back with a meet-record 58.88. That swim smashed Lovisa Ericsson's 2009 mark of 59.22, and moved Granlund to 22nd in the rankings. Sandra Hafstrom (59.72) and Michelle Coleman (1:00.11) comprised the rest of the top three.

Notably, Granlund clocked a 24.69 lead 50 free during the women's 200 free relay to move to a 15th-ranked tie with Sarah Sjostrom in the rankings.

Sjostrom captured the women's 100 IM in 1:00.53. She cruised in the finale as she's been much faster with a sixth-ranked season best of 59.92 from the Berlin stop of the World Cup. Rebecka Palm took second in 1:02.10, while Ericsson took third in 1:02.24.

Lars Frolander lowered his meet record of 51.83 from 2000 with a winning time of 21.44. That time finished just shy of his eighth-ranked season best of 51.10 from the Tokyo stop of the World Cup. Daniel Lundahl finished second in 54.21, while Pontus Flodqvist earned third in 54.35.

Gabriella Fagundez won the women's 200 free in 1:55.58 to move to 19th in the world rankings. Sjostrom earned a second podium with a second-place time of 1:57.74, while Marko-Varga finished third in 1:58.00 for her second podium of the night as well.

Robin Andreasson won the men's 400 free in 3:52.84. Mattias Carlsson finished second in 3:53.11, while Kristian Kron touched just behind with a third-place 3:53.14. Mans Hjelm captured the men's 100 IM in 55.15. Sebastian Holmberg (55.25) and Konstantin Sundin (56.08) grabbed second and third. Simon Sjodin snared the men's 200 breast in 2:10.10. Jakob Dorch took second in 2:12.59, while Martin Gustafsson finished third in 2:13.03.

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