AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, April 16. THE first night of the Amsterdam Swim Cup, featuring international competition battling over long course meters, produced some strong efforts including several national records throughout Europe.<\/p>\n
Femke Heemskerk began the night with a national-record time of 1:56.54 in the women's 200 free. Her time cleared her prelim record of 1:57.21, which in turn beat the 1:57.86 set back in June 2008. Inge Dekker also cleared the previous record with a second-place 1:57.47, while Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom took third in 1:59.77. Notably, Kim Vandenberg continued her European-based training with a seventh-place time of 2:01.25.<\/p>\n
Serbia's Mike Cavic crushed the competition in the men's 50 fly with a winning time of 23.25, just off his national record of 23.11 set in March 2008. Russia's Evgeny Korotyshkin missed his Russian record of 23.43 set during prelims, which beat the 23.60 he'd previously owned, with a second-place 23.79, while Joeri Verlinden placed third in 23.97. <\/p>\n
Moniek Nijhuis followed in the women's 50 breast with a winning time of 30.88. She finished nearly a second in front of Sweden's Joline Hostman (31.80), and cleared her Netherlands' record of 30.80 set during prelims, which cleared her old record of 31.70. Lia Dekker rounded out the podium in 32.18.<\/p>\n
In the men's 200 breast, Lennart Stekelenburg touched out Thijs van Valkengoed, 2:13.68 to 2:13.76, for the title. Robin van Aggele, however, remained the national-record holder for The Netherlands with a 2:13.12 set in 2006. Devi Wolthuizen completed the top three in 2:19.36.<\/p>\n
Sharon van Rouwendaal earned the women's 1500 free title with a time of 16:48.82, while Katharina David placed second in 17:10.72. Marcha Admiraal wound up third in 18:01.21.<\/p>\n
In the men's 400 IM, Diogo Yabe of Brazil claimed the title in 4:22.69, while Bram Dekker touched second in 4:35.12. Vincent van Iperen took third in 4:35.80.<\/p>\n
Germany's Daniela Samulski touched out Hinkelien Schreuder for the women's 50 back title, 28.33 to 28.36. Samulski missed Germany's record of 28.19 owned by Janine Pietsch, but Schreuder scorched Ranomi Kromowidjojo's record of 28.70 set in December 2008 with a 28.18 during prelims. Brazil's Fabiola Molina wound up third in 28.58, while Kromowidjojo took fourth in 29.17.<\/p>\n
Nick Driebergen lowered his Netherlands mark in the men's 200 back to finish the night. He clocked a 1:58.35 to beat the 1:59.26 he set in 2007. Bastiaan Lijesen placed second in 2:03.20, while Sweden's Linus Junefelt finished third in 2:05.71.<\/p>\n