ANTWERP, Belgium, May 4. IT’s been a productive few days for Belarus’ Aliaksandra Herasimenia at the Belgium Open Championships as she took two more titles tonight in Antwerp.
Herasimenia, who already stands 11th in the world with a 53.89, took home the women’s 100-meter free title tonight in an easy speed 54.77. Jolien Sysmans was the top Belgian with a 56.34, while Czech’s Anna Kolarova finished third in 56.43. Herasimenia doubled up with a 28.35 to win the women’s 50-meter back. She’s been faster this year with a seventh-ranked 27.96 from the Belarus Open. Maaike Ramael finished second in 29.78 with Hanne Calleeuw earning third in 29.80.
Pieter Timmers posted a 49.26 to win the men’s 100-meter free. Jasper Aerents took second in 49.44 with Emmanuel Vanluchene placing third in 49.64. Emmanuel Vanluchene touched out Viktar Staselovich by the slimmest of margins, 26.20 to 26.21, in the men’s 50-meter back, with Michail Kontizas placing just behind with a third-place 26.22.
Fanny Lecluyse dominated the women’s 200-meter breast in 2:28.88 for the win, while Jolien Vermeylen finished well behind with a second-place 2:34.19. Lise Michels touched third in 2:34.54. Jonas Coreelman hit the wall in 2:13.64 to win the men’s 200-meter breast, while Basten Caerts placed second in 2:15.33. Raf Vandevelde claimed third in 2:17.00.
Kimberly Buys, the Belgian record holder with a 58.62 from 2009, won the women’s 100-meter fly tonight in 59.24. Belarus’ Aksana Dziamidava placed second in 1:01.25 with Sara Vanleynseele earning third in 1:01.26. Francois Heersbrandt checked in with a 53.06 to win the men’s 100-meter fly. Louis Croenen (53.80) and Gilles De Wilde (54.53) rounded out the top three.
Ken Cortens topped the men’s 800-meter free in 8:13.23 with Belarus’ Uladzimir Zhyharau placing second in 8:14.63. Czech’s Pavel Janecek wound up third in 8:18.95. Edith Mattens took home the women’s 1500-meter free title in 17:13.62. Axelle Dawans (17:35.58) and Lindsay Joris (17:57.15) placed second and third.