Another World Record, American Record Heat as The Netherlands Wins Women’s 400 Free Relay at Worlds – Video

DOHA – The Netherlands crushed the world record in the women’s 400 free relay to close a huge run on global standards tonight at the FINA World Short Course Championships.

The Netherlands’ quartet of Inge Dekker (52.39), Femke Heemskerk (50.58), Maud van der Meer (52.55) and Ranomi Kromowidjojo (51.01) scorched the finale in 3:26.53. Aside from Dekker touching fourth, the squad took over the lead and never looked back with Heemskerk’s leg. Watch Race

That swim downed the previous Netherlands’ world record of 3:28.22 set by Hinkelien Schreuder (52.88), Kromowidjojo (52.12), Dekker (52.24) and Marleen Veldhuis (50.98) back in 2008.

It also is faster than the world best set by the European All Stars at the 2011 Duel in the Pool. There, Jeanette Ottesen, DEN (52.39), Fran Halsall, GBR (51.57), Aliaksandra Herasimenia, BLR (52.21) and Kromowidjojo (51.36) posted a 3:27.53 for the fastest time ever in the event. The time could not be ratified as a world record, however, as FINA requires all four legs to be of the same nation for that status.

That’s a record fourth victory for The Netherlands in this event, and also secured both the 400 and 800 free relay golds for the second time ever, following their feat in 2008.

The American foursome of Natalie Coughlin (52.25), Abbey Weitzeil (51.57), Madison Kennedy (51.82) and Shannon Vreeland (52.06) managed to get under the previous world record as well with a second-place 3:27.70.

That’s an American record, downing the 3:28.46 set by Coughlin, Jessica Hardy, Dana Vollmer and Missy Franklin at the 2011 Duel in the Pool.

Italy’s Erika Ferraioli (52.70), Silvia Di Pietro (52.30), Aglaia Pezzato (52.72) and Federica Pellegrini (51.76) earned bronze in 3:29.48.

Denmark (3:29.86), China (3:31.78), Japan (3:32.31), Brazil (3:33.93) and Germany (3:34.71) rounded out the finale.

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Scheduled Events

Women’s 200 medley relay finals
Men’s 50 back semis
Women’s 100 free finals
Men’s 50 fly semis
Women’s 200 back finals
Men’s 200 breast finals
Women’s 50 fly finals
Men’s 400 free finals
Women’s 100 breast semis
Women’s 100 IM finals
Men’s 50 free finals
Women’s 400 free finals
Men’s 200 IM finals
Women’s 400 free relay finals

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