Sarah Sjostrom, just off of her National Record breaking performance from day 1 of the Swedish Short Course National Championships, was back to breaking records on day two of the meet. She showed her highly underrated versatility by winning the 200 IM in a new Meet Record of 2:09.40, where she dominated every leg of the race save the breaststroke, where she actually slid back to 5th place. That’s a career-best time for her by four seconds. Petra Granlund touched just behind in 2nd in 2:09.70, which is a best time for her as well.
Though Sjostrom struggled on the breaststroke leg of the IM, that is not to say that she’s not a good breaststroker. In the individual 50, she placed 4th in a career-best time of 31.51 in a deep Swedish breaststroke field. That stands as the best time of her career. Even the presence of the star Sjostrom could not overshadow the victory of Jennie Johansson, who is a big-name in her own right, in 30.21. That’s a new Meet Record that was 10 years old set by Emma Igelstrom at 30.24. That’s the 7th-fastest swim in the world this year, but only Johansson’s third-best.
The 50 fly was without two of the best in the world, Therese Alshammar and Sjostrom, but still saw some solid performances. 15-year old Louisse Hansson took the win in 26.42, which moves her into the world’s top 25 despite her young age. In all, the top 14 finishers in the event were all born in the 90’s, which is indicative of a great youth movement in Swedish women’s swimming. Martina Granstrom took 2nd in 25.52, and Emma Svensson swam a career-best of 26.63 for 3rd. Svensson has had a great season in the NCAA at Florida Gulf Coast, and she could be a serious National Championships contender in her best event, the 50 backstroke, on Sunday.
The men’s competitors finally woke to life on the 2nd day of competition. Stefan Nystrand, one of the world’s most under-the-radar sprinters, took the men’s 50 free in 21.49, which moves him to 6th in the world this year. Peter Stymne touched 2nd in 21.88.
In the men’s 100 breaststroke, Jakob Dorch, the National Record holder, reintroduced himself to the swimming community by winning in 58.90, as the only swimmer under a minute. That’s the fastest he’s been, in textile, by a full second; and bumps him up to 15th in the world this year.
After placing runner-up in the 50 fly earlier in the meet, Martina Granstrom went way longer to take a victory in the women’s 800 free in 8:39.96.
Two of Sweden’s top sprint freestylers, Petra Granlund and Gabriella Fagundez, both train with the country’s top sprint club in Vasby. As we discussed yesterday, the Swedes are one great leg away from being medal contenders in the 400 medley relay, and both of those women posted great relay marks to help make a move at that solution. Granlund split a 52.93 on the anchor leg and Gabriella Fagundez anchored in 53.83.
Full meet results available here, in Swedish.