Danish Open: Jeanette Ottesen Gray, Lotte Friis Post Strong Times

BRONSHOJ, Denmark, March 23. THE Danish Open continued with a handful of world-ranked times during the second day of long course meter competition in Denmark.

Jeanette Ottesen Gray, who already qualified for the Olympics with a 53.45 at the 2011 World Championships, won the women's 100 free in 53.90 tonight. That swim pushed her to fourth in the world this year behind Ranomi Kromowidjojo (53.30), Fran Halsall (53.57), Melanie Schlanger (53.74) and Cate Campbell (53.84) — the only other swimmers to clear 54 seconds this year. Pernille Blume took second in 54.06 to move to seventh in the world, and also clear the Olympic qualifying standard in the event. Mie Nielsen set a Danish junior record with a third-place 55.10.

Lotte Friis confirmed her Olympic spot in the women's 800 free with an 8:28.52 for the win. She already qualified with an 8:18.20 in Shanghai, but locked down her spot tonight with a FINA A cut at Trials. She's been faster this year with a fourth-ranked 8:27.93 from Antwerp in January. Ireland's Grainne Murphy took second in 8:29.55, also under the FINA A cut. She jumped to seventh in the world rankings with the swim. Amalie Ostrup placed third in 8:55.85.

In what is a heavy rivalry in the region, Faroe Islands' Pal Joensen bettered Mads Glaesner for the second time this meet, 1:48.98 to 1:49.05, in the men's 200 free. Daniel Skaaning took third in 1:49.85. Yesterday, Joensen clipped Glaesner, 3:46.84 to 3:46.93, to earn an Olympic spot in the men's 400 free. Joensen downed his Faroese record of 1:50.04 set at the Danish Championships in 2009.

Russia's Andrey Grechin topped the men's 100 free in 50.08, while Jakob Andkjaer took second in 50.35. Kunzi Aurelien finished third in 50.86. Katrine Holm Sorensen won the women's 200 fly in 2:14.12, while Mathilde Pugholm Hivd took second in 2:16.30. Christina Munkholm picked up third in 2:17.48. Sebastian Strandberg checked in with a 2:03.09 to win the men's 200 fly. Jonas Sorensen (2:05.16) and Oliver Basse (2:05.91) completed the top three.

Josephina Bartela edged Elin Martensson, 1:11.13 to 1:11.28, for the women's 100 breast win. Katrine Liljedahl placed third in 1:11.30 with record holder Rikke Moller Pedersen recuperating from a stress fracture in her rib. Moller Pedersen already qualified for the Olympic team with a 1:07.13 in Shanghai, and is currently out of the water for a few weeks to heal the injury.

Chris Christensen claimed the men's 100 breast title in 1:03.37 with Morten Klarskov turning in a close second time with a 1:03.59. Joachim Mortensen earned third in 1:04.54. Daniel Svane Halkjaer claimed the men's 50 fly in 25.32, while Palmqvist Pontus took second in 25.50. Lasse Schroder Jakobsen placed third in 25.52. Anna Maria Svanbergsson topped the women's 50 fly in 28.54, while Olivia Burmester took second in 28.62. Christina Kaas Elmgreen finished third in 28.80.

SEMIFINALS
Olivia Burmester led the way in the women's 50 fly with a 28.60, while Christina Kaas Elmgreen took second in 28.82. Anna Maria Svanbergsson earned third in 28.83. Lasse Schroder Jakobsen (25.52) and Daniel Svane Halkjaer (25.55) finished 1-2 in the men's 50 fly. Palmqvist Pontus (25.56) took third. Aschwin Wildeboer cruised to the top time in the men's 100 back with a 54.50, while Andreas Schiellerup took second in 58.24. Magnus Jakupsson finished third in 58.63. Mie Nielsen paced the women's 100 back in 1:02.22, while Alexandra Papusha took second in 1:04.17. Ida Lindborg finished third in 1:04.63.

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