At the end of an exciting weekend of swimming that included 18 events, prelims-finals, over four days of short course racing at the Swedish Junior National Championships, Sarah Sjostrom finished strong with a new Meet Record.
In the 50 free, her first event of the last day, she marked a 23.82. That clears her own National Junior Record by four-tenths, and even that record was only two months old. It also ties her for 11th on the all-time list with the great Dara Torres. The runner-up was Michelle Coleman in 25.14; which is a good mark, but not quite as strong as her 100 free from Saturday.
Sjostrom would have to settle for a 56.70 Meet Record in her best event, the 100 fly. She set the bar so high when she was 15 in the rubber suits in this race, that even great swims don’t match her previous times. This swim was the fastest she’s been in textile, however. Louise Hansson, who is herself now 15, took 2nd in 58.97.
Sjostrom would zoom past that mark in leading Sodertorns’ medley relay to a championship. In that medley, she swam a 55.51 split on the butterfly leg. That’s nearly a second faster than the best relay-split she’s ever been in short course.
Alshammar still is a good baclstroker. 61.6 this year already, Is that a possibility for the medley relay? So many options for Sweden right now.
Back could be….Alshammar, Sjostrom, Coleman or Svendsen.
Breast could be….Johansson, Hoestman or Ejdervik.
Fly could be….Sjostrom or Alshammar.
Free could be….Sjostrom, Marko-Varga, Fagundez, Alshammar or Coleman
That is called having option’s.
I know T. Alshammar was a very good backstroker, and SC IM’er… Has Sjostrom swam IM?!