Hoogie Shows Early Speed at Dutch Meet

By Oene Rusticus

DRACHTEN, The Netherlands, december 10. PIETER van den Hoogenband showed his talent early in this Olympic season, clocking 1:46.42 for the 200 meter freestyle during the Olympic Challenge Meet in the 50 meter pool in Drachten. Also his performances for the 50 (22.56) and 100 meter freestyle (48.85) were extremely fast.

"It's very nice to swim this fast on the first meet of the year," Van den Hoogenband said. Next step in the preparations for Athens is the
European short course Championships, starting this Thursday in Dublin,
Ireland. He might be up to swimming personal best times, although he has
declared that this short course meet is not of big importance in this
Olympic season.

Other highlights in Drachten were the 100 fly time of 53.34, swum by Joris
Keizer, and the 25.88 of his Philips teammate, Hinkelien Schreuder, for the 50 freestyle. Best foreigner was Heiko Hell who swam 3:52.55 for the 400 freestyle.

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