The final session of the Swedish Championships concluded today in Sundsvall. To Finish off the meet, the women swam the 200 fly, 100 free, 200 I.M., and 1500 free. The men’s action included the 200 I.M., 200 free, and 100 breast. Full results can be found here. Day 5 finals highlights:
Women’s 200 Fly
Ida Marko-Varga won the first race of the day, taking the women’s 200 fly title in 2:13.87. She was well ahead of the rest of the field, as Frida Berggen came in 2nd at 2:18.40. Behind Berggren, Ellin Podeus swam into the wall for 3rd with a 2:21.39.
15 year old Hanna Rosvall made another championship finals appearance in this event, touching the wall 5th in 2:21.73. The young swimmer was just tenths off of the podium.
Men’s 200 I.M.
The men’s 200 I.M. meet record went down as Simon Sjödin raced to the finish in 2:00.14. He held the meet records previously at 2:00.47, which he set in 2013. Running away with the event from the start, he was a full 7 seconds ahead of the rest of the swimmers in this final.
Linus Kanth won the silver in a 2:07.14. He just barely held off Simon Frank, who charged home on the free leg to finish 3rd in 2:07.19.
Women’s 100 Free
The women’s 100 free meet record fell next, no surprise that it was at the hands of Sarah Sjöström. She clipped her meet record of 53.03 from 2014, this time cracking 53 with a 52.97. Flipping at 26.13, half a second faster than anyone else, she ripped open the gap down the stretch to finish almost 2 seconds ahead of Michelle Coleman.
Coleman, a Swedish Olympian, put up a respectable swim herself. She finished in a quick time of 54.89. 3rd place finisher Magdalena Kuras, who took silver in the 50 free, was 3rd with a 56.24.
USC’s Henriette Stenkvist was 5th in 58.12, while FGCU-based Emma Svensson finished in the top 16 at 59.00.
Men’s 200 Free
Oscar Ekström won another freestyle gold in the men’s 200. In a close race with Robin Andreasson, he put up a strong final 50 to touch the wall in 1:51.83. Andreasson came in 2nd at 1:52.19.
Jesper Jonsson and Victor Johansson were neck and neck in the final 50 meters to race for bronze. Jonsson held on to finish in 1:53.60, while Johansson came within a tenth of him at 1:53.69.
Women’s 200 I.M.
Louise Hansson added another medal to her total in the 200 I.M. She finished in a 2:14.60, good for gold ahead of USC-based Stina Gardell.
Gardell, the current meet record holder, grabbed silver with a 2:15.67. She was the only other swimmer under 2:20.
Frida Berggren won her 2nd medal of the evening by placing 3rd in 2:20.27. She narrowly edged out Vilma Ekstrom after closing the gap in the freestyle leg.
Breaststroke medalists Ekstrom and Sophie Hansson were 4th and 5th in the final, finishing in 2:20.39 and 2:23.06 respectively.
Men’s 100 Breast
Erik Persson won gold again, setting the 3rd meet record of the night. He flew through the water on the back half to win in 1:02.24. The previous meet record of 1:02.50 was set in 1980 by Martin Gustavsson.
After taking it out in a fast 29.15, Johannes Skagius held on for 2nd in 1:03.10. Niklas Tour rounded out the medals, placing 3rd in 1:04.17.
Women’s 1500 Free
The Swedish Championships closed out the individual events with the women’s mile. Erika Dahlgren finished over 10 seconds ahead of the rest of the field. She earned her first gold with a 17:17.20, after winning silver in the 400 and 800 free earlier this weekend.
Hanna Eriksson raced to 2nd place in 17:30.83. Behind her was Ellen Olsson, who earned bronze in 17:43.24.
15 year old Lina Sjöholm swam to a top 8 finish, placing 7th at 18:10.92.
Notable Men’s 4×100 Free Relay Splits:
Oscar Ekström 49.76
Simon Sjödin 50.15
Jesper Jonsson 50.67
Mattias Carlsson 50.83
Robin Andreasson 50.85
Alexander Linge 50.94 (Leadoff)
Isak Eliasson 50.95
There’s Katinka on the photo who was swimming at French Open today.
It’s a stock photo of a past event
She just announced scratch for 200 free at Worlds ……boooo. I don’t blame her, but ….booooo
Will she ever contest the 200 or is she waiting to test her strength at Kazan before committing to the event in Rio?
Everyone talks about the 200 battle, but the 100 is shaping up to be a match-race between Cate Campbell and Sarah. I see Cate taking a lead off the start into the turn but the last 50 will be a real fight between the two strongest and fastest 100 swimmers today.