Antje Stars at German Trials

BERLIN, June 18. Antje Buschschulte finally fulfilled her long-promised potential at the German Olympic Trials in Berlin, June 15-18, winning three events and setting a national record.
Buschschulte, known primarily as a backstroker, moved up to fourth on the world all-time list when she smoked the 100 free in a national record 54.39, soundly defeating Sandra Volker (55.03). She also won the 100 back in a world-leading 1:01.01, again 0edging Volker (1:01.41) and took the 200 back in 2:11.12.
Volker had an outstanding meet, setting a world record in the 50m backstroke in prelims at 28.25, then coming back to win in 28.29 in the finals. The German sprint star added another national mark when she took the 50 free in 25.09.
Franzi Van Almsick made the Olympic team in three individual events, winning the 200 free in 1:59.25 and the 200 fly in 2:10.58. She also placed second in the 100 fly (1:00.31). Her fourth place finish in the 100 free (55.18) put her on Germany's strong 4 x 100 freestyle relay team.
Seventeen year-old Hannah Stockbauer swam a world-leading 4:06.55 to win the 400 free, beating 31-year-old veteran kirsten Kielgass at 4:08.82. Stockbauer also took the 800 in 8:29.84.
Sylvia Gerasch, another 31-year-old veteran of the East German glory days, won the 100 meter breaststroke in 1:09.07, upsetting the field. Gerasch also added a win in the 50 breast (31.39).
Nicole Hetzer swam very fast times to win both medleys, clocking 2:14.71 in the 200 to edge Sabine Klenz, and 4:41.66 in the 400.
Newcomer Daniela Samulski, 15, took the 100 fly in a strong 59.87.

In the men's events, Thomas Rupprath was outstanding, taking all three butterfly events and setting a national record 52.58 in the 100. Rupprath also won the 200 in 1:56.82.
The 200 IM saw a battle between veterans Jens Kruppa and Christian Keller, with Kruppa out-touching his rival, 2:01.72 to 2:01.77.
Heiko Hell won the 400 (3:52.00) and 1500 free (15:11.84), with 31-year-old East German veteran Jorg Hoffman second in both events.
Mark Warnecke took the 50 and 100 breaststroke, clocking 1:01.74 for the 100
Christian Troger (49.79) and Torsten Spanneberg (49.94) were the only two sub-50-second 100 meter sprinters.

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