Dutch Open: Day Three Finals Include Another Canadian Record

EINDHOVEN, Netherlands, December 8. THE third night of action at the Dutch Open held in Eindhoven, Netherlands, featured another Canadian record. Annamay Pierse completed the long course national-record sweep in the breaststroke events, while Marleen Veldhuis of the Netherlands took a shot at the 50 free world record after just claiming the short course standard during the FINA World Cup.

In the opening 50 frees, Veldhuis tried to add another world record to her resume after claiming the 50 free record over short course. She came up just short, however, of compatriot Inge de Bruijn's world record time of 24.13 in the 50 free over long course at the meet. Veldhuis torched the event with a top time of 24.30, while teammate Hinkelien Schreuder joined her sub-25 with a second-place 24.94.

In the men's splash-and-dash, Canada's Brent Hayden missed his national record by a slim margin with a winning effort of 22.23. Hayden currently owns the record with a 22.19 at in 2006. Croatia's Duje Draganja picked up second-place honors in 22.38, while hometown favorite Pieter van den Hoogenband finished third in 22.51.

In a definite change of pace following a quick sprint session with the 50s, the distance freestylers took to the water. Romania's Ionela Cozma captured the title with a time of 16:31.17 to complete the 400-800-1500 sweep during the meet. She placed ahead of Great Britain's Rebecca Cooke, who took second in 16:36.70.

Canadian record holder Ryan Cochrane won an exciting race to the finish in the men's side of the 1500 free. He beat Germany's Thomas Lurz by less than a second with a first-place time of 15:10.83. Lurz checked in with a second-place readout of 15:11.12 as he could not hold off Cochrane down the stretch.

Following the distance intermission, the sprinters returned to the pool. Canada's Pierse completed the breaststroke national-record sweep for Canada with a blazing time of 31.57. That effort eclipsed the 31.73 set by Rhiannon Leier in 2003 and gave Pierse the Canadian records in the 50-100-200 breaststroke events over long course. Meanwhile, Germany's Simone Weiler placed second in 31.92, while Netherlands' Moniek Nijhuis finished just off her national-record time of 31.93 with a third-place 32.03.

In the men's sprint breaststroke, Croatia's Daren Mew came ever-so close to breaking Croatia's national record with a time of 28.13. Vanja Rogulj, however, will remain in possession of the standard with a 28.08 from 2003. Netherlands' Lennart Stekelenburg took a major run at Robin Van Aggele's national record time of 28.10, but also came up short with a second-place time of 28.18.

In the sprint fly events, Schreuder gave the hometown crowd something to cheer for as she dominated the event with a time of 26.43. Austria's Fabienne Nadarajah and Israel's Amit Ivry tied for second in 26.94.

Canada's Joe Bartoch then completed a fantastic session of swimming for the Canadians as he claimed the closest race of the night in the men's 50 fly. Bartoch touched in 24.34, beating a pair of hometown swimmers as Bastiaan Tamminga and Joeri Verlinden picked up second and third place, respectively, with times of 24.35 and 24.55.

Click here to view event results PDF file.

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