Tatjana Smith Rattles African Record In Rotterdam; Dutch & Belgian Standards Tumble
Records fell and qualification slots were locked in for the World Short Course Championships on the second day of the Dutch Qualifiers in Rotterdam.
Tatjana Smith continues her return from retirement in the 100m breaststroke where she set a championship record of 1:04.66 in prelims. The South African returned in the afternoon to take 0.74 off that mark in 1:03.92, just 0.03 off her African record of 1:03.89 that has stood since October 2020.
She is only the second woman inside 1:04 this year and stands second in the rankings behind only Kotomi Kato who went 1:03.82 at the Japan National Championships earlier this month.
Nina Zusterzeel was the first Dutchwoman home but her time of 1:07.29 was outside the cut for December’s short-course worlds in Beijing.
The records tumbled in the men’s 100 back. Noah Verreth lowered his Belgian mark to 50.23 in prelims before he came back to take the title in 50.25. Kai van Westering set his second Dutch record in as many days, going 50.97 to take 0.42 off Nick Driebergen’s 51.39 mark from December 2009 as the supersuit era limped to its final demise.
It followed his 1:51.59 in the 200 back on the opening day which also consigned a Driebergen standard to history. However, his time over the shorter distance was outside the Beijing cut. Giovanni Phillipson set a Dutch junior record of 52.37.
Milou van Wijk sizzled to a 51.72 championship record in the 100 free and booked her place alongside Marrit Steenbergen. Imani de Jong and Valerie van Roon clocked 53.03 and 53.05 respectively.
Maaike de Waard delivered a 25.93 CR in the 50 back and will join Steenbergen in the event after booking her place in the 50 fly and 100 back on Thursday.
Thomas Jansen rubber-stamped his qualification in the 200IM having already gone inside the cut at the Astana World Cup stop.
Marte Hieke van der Kamp also set a championship record in the 1500 free although her time of 16:07.28 was outside the QT.
Evy Rozeboom was 0.27 off the cut in the 200 fly (2:09.12) with Emile Fouzai (7:57.73) winning the 800 free.
Para-swimming
A total of six Dutch titles were divided among six different swimmers. Impressive performances were achieved, with three world records and one Dutch record. Thomas van Wanrooij, Irene van Drimmelen and Rogier Dorsman each improved a world record, while Julian Hendriks set a new Dutch record.
Van Drimmelen improved the WR twice in the 50m backstroke (S11). In the heats she touched in 34.82 and clocked 34.14 in the final. Dorsman also improved the WR on the 200 medley in 2:17.99. Van Wanrooij improved the world record in the 100m backstroke in 56.23.