European champion Lukas Martens went 3:43.86 in the 400 free on the final day of the Berlin Open where he underlined his status as a contender ahead of the World Championships in Fukuoka.
Martens won the 800 on Saturday in 7:42.14 to head the rankings a day after second over 1500 in 14:40.85 behind Florian Wellbrock who became fourth-fastest all-time over 1500 in 14:34.89.
The 21-year-old won the European title in Rome last year after claiming world silver behind Elijah Winnington in Budapest in June 2022.
Come Sunday in Berlin and the 400 and Martens – who won world silver last year in Budapest – was out in 25.90, leading Oliver Klemet by 0.38 at 100 although his lead was cut to 0.01 at halfway.
Lukas Martens: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Staccioli / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Klemet – eighth in the 1500 at last year’s European Championships – went ahead to lead by 0.03 at 250 only for Martens to reclaim the lead with a 28.06 sixth 50.
Martens split 28.21/27.47 for a 55.68 final 100 to come home in 3:43.86, his second best of the season after his 3:43.32 at the start of the month.
Klemet was second in 3:45.34 ahead of Sven Schwarz (3:46.56) with on Friday – fourth in 3:49.30.
Sam Short heads the rankings after swimming the 10th-fastest 400 in history in 3:42.46 at the Australian Championships.
Isabel Gose won the women’s race in 4:03.84, 0.63 outside her national record and 0.27 swifter than the time in which she claimed the European crown in Rome last August.
It followed her 8:19.65 to win the 800 on Saturday in Berlin.
Matzerath At The Double In Berlin
Lucas Matzerath added the men’s 200br to his 100 title in 2:10.33 with Bente Fischer taking the women’s four-length race in 2:28.63.
Luca Armbruster won the 50 fly in 23.38 with Linda Roth – born in 2008 – sharing the women’s race with 2005-born Stella Lentge in 27.53
Cornelius Jahn upgraded second in the 100 back to first over 200m, coming home in 1:59.06 ahead of Ole Braunschweig – winner of the 50 and 100 – who clocked 2:00.67.
Luca Armbruster won the 50 fly in 23.38 with Linda Roth – born in 2008 – sharing the women’s race with 2005-born Stella Lentge in 27.53