The 2013 German National Championships rolled into their second day in Berlin on Friday, and continued to be probably the most impressive meet we’ve seen this championship season, when looked at a combination of top-end results, speed, and new young talent, outside of Australia (and probably fairly even with France).
Other than the 400 freestyles, there were no sluggish races in the 10 individual finals on Friday, and several German Age Records went down.
Men’s 200 IM
In the men’s 200 IM, the first men’s final on Friday, Markus Deibler confirmed his spot for the World Championships by finishing in the top two (he was prequalified via the Olympics, so regardless of time a top two finish got him to Barcelona). The younger of the two Deibler brothers would not be satisfied with simply qualifying, though. Using a great breaststroke leg, he held off a furious finish from countryman Philip Heintz, as the two were 1-2 in 1:58.18 and 1:58.34 respectively. Both times are under the FINA and German qualifying marks.
18-year old Kevin Wedel took 3rd in 2:01.08, breaking his second 18 & under National IM record of the meet. Absent from this race was the 400 IM National Record breaker Yannick Lebherz. After seeing his 4:12 in the longer race on Thursday, he probably would have been a big favorite to win this 200 (though it’s a race he hasn’t really challenged for seriously since 2010). For example: if you add up his fastest 50 butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle splits from his 400 IM, he would already be at a 2:02.7.
In fact, Lebherz didn’t swim any races on Friday, presumably saving his energy for the 200 backstroke on Saturday.
Women’s 200 IM
In the women’s race, Theresa Michalak won in 2:12.66, which is just off of her best time from last year but will easily clear the standard for the World Championships. A 2:14.71 for 18-year old Alexandra Wenk will also earn her the right to swim in Barcelona, leaving Kathrin Demler in 3rd in 2:15.65.
For Wenk, though that’s close to a best time, it’s not really her primary race. That honor goes to the 100 butterfly later in the meet, and with a very relaxed-looking opening split of 28.26 in her IM, expect that butterfly to be good for her.
Men’s 400 Free
In the men’s 400 free, absent the great Paul Biedermann, who is missing this meet, Clemens Rapp won in 3:50.24, breaking a near dead-heat with a strong closing 50. Tim Wallburger was 2nd in 3:50.41.
American-trained Martin Grodzki was a 3:54.25 for the 3rd seed in the heats, but scratched the final.
That leaves nobody to qualify for the World Championships: a rare occurence thus far at this meet.
Women’s 400 Free
Frankfurt 18-year old Sarah Kohler won the women’s race in 4:10.94, using a very good opening 100 meters (1:00.67) to hold off 17-year old Johanna Friedrich from Madgeburg. Frankfurt got two junior-level swimmers into the top three, with 15-year old Rosalie Kathner touching for bronze in 4:14.95.
50 Meter Stroke Races
The second day of competition also knocked out all three of the 50-meter stroke races already. Selina Hocke (28.69) and Jenny Mensing (28.81), born a decade apart, went 1-2 in the women’s 50 backstroke to both earn bids to Barcelona. 14-year old Laura Riedemann was 3rd in 28.96; her improvements over the last year have been unbelievable (without even tapering yet in 2013, her 100 back has gone from 1:06.1 to a 1:03.7 in the last 12 months). Look for her in a possible upset when the distance lengthens.
Nicolas Graesser won the men’s race in 25.46, shy of Worlds qualifying, followed by Christian Diener in 25.69. Marek Ulrich, a 15-year old from SV Halle, broke the National Age Record with a 25.86 for 3rd. Note that backstroke National Record holder Helge Meeuw isn’t swimming at this meet, though we’ve seen no official declaration of retirement from him.
Steffen Deibler won the men’s 50 fly in 23.35, followed by a new 18 & under National Record from Jonas Bergmann for 3rd in 24.04. In the women’s race, Dorotheae Brandt won in 26.63, and Alexandra Wenk put up another Worlds qualifying mark with a 26.69 for 2nd. That also breaks the German 18 & under National Record.
Brandt, the supreme sprinter who excels in the World Championship format, won the women’s 50 breaststroke in 31.29, followed by Caroline Runhau in 31.57. 15-year old Margarethe Hummel was 4th in 31.61, breaking yet another National Age Record in the race.
Hendrik Feldwehr won the men’s 50 breaststroke in 27.47. Despite typical depth for the Germans, he won this race pretty easily ahead of Erik Steinhagen in 28.28. Christian vom Lehn was just 7th in 28.73.