French Long Course Nationals: Fred Bousquet Posts World-Leading 50 Freestyle Time

STRASBOURG, France, March 24. THE second day of competition at the French nationals featured more fast swimming as more members are added to the world championship team roster.

Fred Bousquet and Alain Berrnard posted the first sub-22 second 50 freestyles of the year, with former world record holder Bousquet winning the splash-and-dash in 21.82. Bousquet previously had the top time in the world of 22.07 going into the meet. Bernard, the Olympic bronze medalist in the event, touched second in 21.98. Fabien Gilot almost dipped under the barrier with a third-place time of 22.09.

Camille Muffat took the women's 100 free with a 53.97, just short of the world's fastest time of 53.70 posted by Femke Heemskerk of the Netherlands earlier this month. Notably, Heemskerk is competing in the French nationals but swam the 200 IM today instead of the 100 free. And Muffat, ranked in the top 10 last year in the 200 IM, did not swim that event. In second place in the 100 free was Charlotte Bonet with a 55.34, and rounding out the podium was Mylene Lazare with a 55.76.

Heemskerk won the 200 IM in 2:13.13, which is the fifth-fastest time in the world for 2011. She used a strong freestyle leg to overtake Lara Grangeon, who was a tick behind for second in 2:13.14. Sophie Ronchi placed third with a 2:16.46.

The top three finishers in the women's 50 breaststroke mirrored yesterday's results in the 100 breast. Rikke Moller Pedersen of Denmark won her second breaststroke title today, claiming the 50 breaststroke race in 31.85. Sophie Ronchi was second in 31.92 as the fastest Frenchwoman in the race. Fanny Babou took third in 32.02.

Hugues Duboscq was the clear winner of the men's 200 breast in 2:11.99, the sixth-fastest time of the year. In second was William Debourg with a 2:14.73. Marand Thibault was third with a 2:15.00.

Ioannis Drymonakos of Greece won the final individual event of the session, the men's 400 IM, with a 4:16.67. The time is the sixth-fastest in the world this year. Placing second was Arnaud Rondane with a 4:20.48, and in third was Ganesh Pedurand in 4:23.98.

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