German Short Course Nationals: Britta Steffen Clocks Top-Ranked Time in the 100 Free

WUPPERTAL, Germany, November 25. THE second evening of racing at the German Short Course Nationals featured several world-ranked times, including a top-ranked effort by Britta Steffen in the 100 free in Wuppertal.

Steffen blazed to the fastest time in the world this year in the women's 100 free with a sterling time of 52.00. That swim cleared the 52.09 set by Missy Franklin at the Berlin stop of the World Cup, and closed in on Steffen's lifetime best of 51.76. Daniela Schreiber finished second tonight in 53.11, well short of her fourth-ranked season best of 52.37 also from Berlin. Silke Lippok wound up third in 53.77 to move to 23rd in the world rankings.

Paul Biedermann, who owns the top time in the world this year with a 1:42.42 from the Berlin stop of the World Cup, cruised to victory in the men's 200 free tonight in 1:44.06. Robin Backhaus placed second in 1:44.84 to move to 18th in the rankings, while Tom Siara claimed third in 1:44.91 for 20th.

Christian Diener topped the men's 50 back with a 24.03. He's been faster this year with a 10th-ranked 23.99 from Berlin. Stefan Herbst took second in 24.19 to move from 22nd to 16th in the world rankings, while Marco Di Carli placed third in 24.49.

Steffen Deibler, who stands third in the world in the sprint fly with a 22.89 from Berlin, won the men's 50 fly tonight in 23.00. Herbst claimed his second runner-up finish of the night with a 23.57, while Johannes Dietrich took third in 23.74.

Sarah Poewe touched out Caroline Ruhnau, 1:06.60 to 1:06.80, to win the women's 100 breast. Poewe improved to 19th in the world, while Ruhnau took 24th. Laura Simon clocked a 1:06.84 to place third in the event.

Marco Koch snared the men's 100 breast title in 59.44, while Johannes Neumann finished second in 59.82. Hendrik Feldwehr picked up third overall in 59.95, while Fabian Schwingenschlogl also cleared 1:00 with a fourth-place 59.96.

Dorothea Brandt clipped Paulina Schmiedel, 26.55 to 26.56, for the women's 50 fly win, while Franziska Hentke touched third in 26.98. Isabelle Harle topped the women's 800 free in 8:24.40. Sarah Kohler (8:27.41) and Sabrina Marzahn (8:31.24) completed the top three.

Jenny Mensing missed her 14th-ranked season best of 2:06.51 with a 2:06.81 to win the women's 200 back. Betty Buschick touched second in 2:10.13, while Alexandra Wenk finished third in 2:11.02.

In relay action, Jan-Philip Glania, Kai Heftrich, Martin Kutscher and Marco Di Carli won the men's 200 free relay in 1:28.63, while Paulina Schmeidel, Lisa Vitting, Sina Sutter and Caroline Ruhnau posted a 1:41.46 to win the women's 200 free relay.

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