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While Kira Toussaint commanded the spotlight with her second European 50 back record of the day, Arno Kamminga went 58.64 in the 100br and Ranomi Kromowidjojo went 53.13 over 100 free at the Eindhoven Qualification Meet.
The meet at the Pieter van den Hoogenband Swimming Stadium gives swimmers the chance to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics plus the European Championships in Budapest.
Kamminga Wins As Thrilling Breaststroke Battles Loom
Kamminga had gone 58.68 in morning heats, an indication of a speedy final to come, the morning after a new Dutch 50br record of 26.80.
The three-time European short-course champion was back in the evening to split 27.54/31.10 to take 0.04 off his morning effort.
Fabian Schwingenschloegl – who held a lead of 0.11 at halfway – was next home in 59.30, the pair the only men to dip inside a minute.
Arno Kamminga; Photo Courtesy: Foto Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia /Insidefoto
Kamminga – who is coached by Mark Faber at the National Training Centre Amsterdam – will compete in the 200br on Sunday, an event in which he became part of an exclusive club when he went 2:06.85 in December.
Men’s breaststroke is in fine fettle over both 100 and 200.
Kamminga – who has a best of 58.43 from the Antwerp Diamond Race in March 2020 – was displaced from third all-time by Nicolo Martinenghi who went 58.37 less than a fortnight ago at the Italian Championships in Riccione.
Next week we see world record-holder Adam Peaty at the British Championships in London, his 2021 best standing at 58.52.
The 200 is set to be a stormer in Tokyo with Shoma Sato having risen to second all-time this past week in 2:06.40.
Tes Schouten came from third at halfway to win the women’s race in 1:08.12, 0.04 ahead of Jessica Steiger (1:08.16) with 50br winner Rosey Metz third in 1:08.42.
Kromowidjojo Scorches To Win; Van Rouwendaal Dominant
Ranomi Kromowidjojo: Photo Courtesy: Mine Kasapoglu / ISL
It has been a scorching meet for Kromowidjojo. She went 24.11 on Friday to win the 50 free which was overshadowed by the ‘swim-off’ between Femke Heemskerk and Valerie van Roon with the former wresting back the second slot for the dash in Tokyo.
On Saturday Kromowidjojo set a PB of 28.20 in the 50 back before her 53.13 to win the 100 free ahead of Heemskerk (53.62). Germany’s Annika Bruhn rounded out the top three in 54.15.
Van Rouwendaal will tackle pool and open water in Tokyo after she booked a spot in the 200 back on Friday.
The Rio 2016 10k champion returned on Saturday to win the 400 free in 4:09.70 – the event in which she claimed silver at the 2015 worlds behind Katie Ledecky in 4:03.02, a Dutch record that still stands to this day.
Silke Holkenborg was almost five seconds adrift in 4:14.63 with Serena Stel next home in 4:15.82.
European bronze medallist Henning Muehlleitner of Germany won the men’s race in 3:47.44 after a morning prelim of 3:45.55.
Luc Kroon was the first Dutch swimmer home in second in 3:53.85.
Stan Pijneburg won the men’s 100 free in 48.63 ahead of Damian Wierling (48.83) and Nyls Korstanje (49.21).
Belgium’s Louis Croenen pulled away on the final 50 to win the 200 fly in 1:56.58 ahead of Germany’s Daniel Pinneker (2:00.08)
Kathrin Demler added the 200 fly title to the 200IM she won on Friday in 2:10.25, Lotte Hesper the first Netherlands swimmer touching in 2:16.31.
Arjan Knipping won the men’s 400IM in 4:17.91 with Kim Jansen van Galen taking the women’s title in 5:06.22.
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