2013 Dutch Open Starts with National Record in 200 IM from Marrisen

The 2013 edition of the Dutch Open National Championships in Eindhoven began with a National Record.

Dutch swimming, though well-known for their incredible top-end talent, doesn’t look very deep in the post Olympic year, but in certain races things are turning back toward the level they were at in the heyday of the late 90’s and early 2000’s.

In the final men’s race of the night, Mike Marrisen broke the Dutch National Record in the 200 long course meter IM with a 2:00.71. That took down the old record, set in 1997, by the great swimmer turned great coach Marcel Wouda at 2:00.77.

That record was due to be broken after, at the Eindhoven Swim Cup earlier this year, Marrisen came within a tenth of a second of this record. Other impressive swims in that race include a 2:05.30 from 16-year old Kyle Stolk for 3rd place overall.

Wendy van der Zanden won the women’s race in 2:14.42; that’s a ways off of her lifetime best (that is just .01 away from the National Record).

In the women’s 100 breaststroke, Moniek Nijhuis won in 1:08.27.

Nijhuis said after the race that she was very happy with the swim, which history dictates she should be. After having a down season in 2012, that’s her second time faster than what she went at the Olympics last year, so she should bounce back and be in the hunt for a final at Worlds.

Anouk Elzerman was 2nd in that race in 1:10.49.

Jasper van Mierlo won the men’s 50 free in 22.55, which is right on the time he swam in April at the Eindhoven Swim Cup.

And finally, in the women’s 50 free (without Olympic Champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo who is south at the Mare Nostrum series this weekend), Inge Dekker won in 25.11. That’s right on her best time of the season; Femke Heemskerk took 2nd in 25.56, and Maud van der Meer was 3rd in 25.70.

Full, live results available here.