The 2017 Eindhoven Swim Cup splashed into action and was highlighted by a new meet record and a Dutch record.
Germany’s Marco Koch uncorked a 2:09.07 in the men’s 200 breast to post a new meet record. His time takes down the previous meet record of 2:11.24, set in 2016 by Great Britain’s Nicholas Quinn. Koch’s time moves him up to second in the world rankings, behind Ippei Watanabe’s World Record swim of 2:06.67 from earlier in the year.
Racing Koch proved to be beneficial for Arno Kamminga as he delivered a 2:10.34 finish to post a new Dutch record. Kamminga’s time lowers his own record of 2:10.98 from last winter.
Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Maaike de Waard, both of the Netherlands, delivered a 1-2 punch in the women’s 50 fly to rocket up the world rankings. Kromowidjojo touched first with a 25.85, followed closely by de Waard’s 25.88. Their 1-2 finish moves them to third and fourth, respectively, in the world rankings for the 2017 season. Belgium’s Kimberly Buys touched third with a 26.16 to enter the top ten world rankings.
Femke Heemskerk of the Netherlands delivered a smooth finish in the women’s 200 free, finishing more than two seconds ahead of the competition with a 1:56.62. Heemskerk’s time moves her to fourth in the world rankings, where the top five athletes all sit within one second of each other. 15-year-old Isabel Gose grabbed the silver with a 1:59.12, followed closely by the Netherlands’ Robin Neumann’s 1:59.15.
Marek Ulrich of Team Germany kicked off the men’s 50 back with a top showing of 24.90 for the gold. Teammate Christian Diener turned in a second place finish of 25.23, while Aquarijn’s Jesse Puts was third overall with a 25.58.
On the women’s side, it was Kira Toussaint of the University of Tennessee who touched first. Toussaint turned in the only sub-28 second swim with a 27.96 finish. De Waard posted second at a 28.06, followed by Simona Baumrtova of the Czech Swimming Federation and her time of 28.35.
Gergely Gyurta of Hungary posted the top time in the men’s 400 IM, stopping the clock at a 4:18.98, however, Gyurta has been as fast as a 4:13.36 so far this season. Patrick Staber picked up second overall with a 4:19.31, followed by Jacob Heidtmann’s 4:20.56.
The women’s 200 breast was a close race as Germany’s Jessica Steiger and Belgium’s Fanny Lecluyse edged each other to the finish. A strong third 50-meters was enough for Steiger to pull ahead and hold off Lecluyse for the victory and a time of 2:25.84. Lecluyse settled for silver and a 2:25.98. Czech Republic’s Martina Moravclkova finished third overall with a 2:27.04.
Jeannette Spiwoks posted the fastest time in the women’s 1500 free, finishing exactly ten seconds ahead of the competition with a 16:43.90. Laura van Engelen took second overall with a 16:53.90, followed by Martina Elhenicka’s 16:57.09.
