National Records Chased On Final Day Of Belgian Open

Fanny Lecluyse

The top Belgian swimmers made one more thrust toward qualification for the world championships and Olympic Games on the final day of the Belgian Open, with three athletes already on the world team adding to their programs.

No national records were set on the third day of the meet, but three got close. Fanny Lecluyse got within a second of her record of 2:25.92 in the 200 breaststroke with a 2:26.83 to earn qualification for worlds and the Olympics. Second place was nearly six seconds back with Lise Michels posting a 2:32.11.

Francois Heersbrandt nearly earned his second new national record of the meet with a 25.50 in the 50 backstroke, missing his own record of 25.36 but will go after it again in August at the world championships. George Bovell of Trinidad and Tobago, one of the top swimmers from the Italian ADN Swim Project team at the meet, was second with a 25.70 while Greece’s Michail Kondizas rounded out the sub-26 second swims with a 25.81 for third.

Kimberly Buys nearly beat her Belgian record of 55.53 in the 100 freestyle with a winning time of 55.66. She fell short of the FINA automatic qualifying standard of 55.05 for the world championships, but by beating the “B” cut, she might get selected to swim the event in Russia. Hilke Goethals got within three tenths of Buys’ national record in the women’s 50 back with a 29.34, with Jade Smits also getting under 30 seconds with a 29.97 for second place.

Greece’s Odyssefs Meladinis took the men’s 100 free final out fast with a 23.12 split at 50 meters, but couldn’t hold on to the pace and finished fifth with a 49.78. Belgium went 1-2 in the event, with Jasper Arents taking the win in 49.27 and national record holder Pieter Timmers second with a 49.48. Greece’s Christos Katrantzis was third with a 49.57 and Belgium’s Glenn Surgeloose took fourth in 49.69.

After blazing through the 200 fly earlier in the meet to get into the top five in the world, Louis Croenen won the 100 fly with a 53.86. By beating the FINA “B” standard, he will be able to swim the event in Russia to give himself two events at worlds. Joeri Verlinden of the Netherlands, the Dutch national record holder in the event with a 51.75, settled for second with a 54.07. Gilles De Wilde, who was quick at 50 meters with a 24.70, faded to third with a 54.18.

In the distance events, Mathieu Mattelaer held off a late charge from Ken Cortens to win the men’s 800 free with an 8:13.81 to Cortens’ 8:14.46. Edith Mattens was in clear command of the women’s 1500 free, winning by nine seconds with a 17:19.35.

Greece won two events to close out the meet. Dimitrios Koulouris won the 200 breast with a 2:13.14, while Kristel Vourna took the women’s 100 fly in 59.38 to outtouch Buys’ 59.56.

2015 Belgian Open (Long Course) – Complete Results

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