Danish Open: Youngster Mie Nielsen Posts First Nordic Sub-1:00 100 Back – Video Included

BRONSHOJ, Denmark, March 24. MIE Nielsen, 15, made the Olympic squad with a scorching Danish record time of 59.69 at the Danish Open held in Bronshoj. That swim is the first sub-1:00 time in Nordic history bettering the 1:00.48 set by Louise Ornstedt in 2005.

Nielsen jumped to fourth in the world behind only Emily Seebohm (59.28), Belinda Hocking (59.39) and Anastasia Zueva (59.39). She also moved to 20th all time in the event's history. Alexandra Papusha placed second in 1:03.46, while Stine Raaby Jensen earned third in 1:04.14.

Video of Mie Nielsen's swim

Denmark also time trialed a men's 800 free relay with all the disparate nations that qualify through Denmark also available. This meant that Pal Joensen of the Faroe Islands was able to team with other Danish swimmers. Mads Glaesner (1:49.46), Daniel Skaaning (1:49.04), Anders Lie (1:49.09) and Joensen (1:47.79) put up a 7:15.38 to be in contention to compete in the 2012 London Olympics.

Video of relay swim

Pernille Blume touched out Lotte Friis, 1:59.71 to 1:59.76, for the women's 200 free title. However, neither swimmer secured a guaranteed Olympic roster spot in the individual event by clearing the FINA A cut. Grainne Murphy of Ireland took third in 2:00.50, while Cecilie Johannessen (2:00.92), Nathalie Lindborg (2:03.81) and Julie Brondum Petersen (2:04.88) made up the top six.

Andreas Schiellerup claimed the men's 100 back title in 55.91, while Marcus Back placed second in 58.70. Kasper Schultz finished third in 59.40. Adam Paulsson topped the men's 800 free in 8:23.39. Thomas Olsen (8:35.00) and Nicolai Frejvald Petersen (8:46.12) completed the top three.

Chris Christensen earned the men's 400 IM crown in 4:21.28, while Erik Persson touched second in 4:25.96. Adam Paulsson placed third in 4:34.63. Katrine Holm Sorensen posted a 4:47.38 to win the women's 400 IM. Julie Aglund Lauridsen turned in a Danish junior record with a 4:53.45, while Julie Leth-Espensen placed third in 4:55.98.

Niklas Hedegaard hit the wall in 28.84 to win the men's 50 breast, while Joachim Mortensen clocked a Danish junior record with a second-place 28.88. Mathias Andersen finished third in 28.95. Katrine Liljedahl claimed the women's 50 breast title in 32.55. Josephina Bartela and Louise Dalgaard tied for second with matching 33.11s.

In multi-class disability racing, Lasse Winther Andersen was listed first in the men's 50 free with a 26.31, while Amalie Vinther was listed first in the women's 50 free with a 32.97.

SEMIFINALS
Niklas Hedegaard topped the men's 50 breast semis with a 28.78, while Joachim Mortensen finished second in 29.13. Mathias Andersen wound up third in 29.27. Katrine Liljedahl clocked a 32.76 for the top time in the women's 50 breast, while Louise Dalgaard took second in 33.19. Josephina Bartela placed third in 33.66.

Nikolai Kirketerp-Moller snared the top seed in the men's 100 fly with a 53.78, while Daniel Steen Andersen posted a Danish junior record with a second-seeded 54.16. Soren Dahl qualified third in 54.26. Jeanette Ottesen Gray cruised in semis with a 58.88, just off her 13th-ranked season best of 58.47 from Antwerp in January. Christina Munkholm finished second in 1:01.35, while Pernille Juel picked up third in 1:01.83.

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