Marco Koch cranked out a sizzler in the men’s 200-meter breast at the FFN Golden Tour in Amiens tonight.
Koch, who led the world last year with a blistering 2:07.76 at Worlds, posted a faster time today with a 2:07.74 to win the men’s 200-meter breast.
That swim is in the top 20 all time, and just off Koch’s German record of 2:07.47 from the 2014 European Championships. And, this is the first weekend in February.
Akihiro Yamaguchi might just finally see his surprise world record of 2:07.01 from Japan in 2012 finally fall this year.
Erik Persson took second in 2:11.98 with Ross Murdoch placing third in 2:13.98.
Sarah Sjostrom turned in a 53.53 to win the women’s 100-meter free. That performance was just a second back of Bronte Campbell’s top-ranked effort of 52.52 from Worlds last year. Charlotte Bonnet took second in 54.37 with Anna Santamans claiming third in 54.93. Hosszu qualified fourth in 56.17 but scratched finals.
Sjostrom doubled up with another sizzler as she clocked a 56.37 in the women’s 100-meter fly. That’s less than a second off her top-ranked 55.64 from Worlds last summer. Marie Wattel (1:00.19) and Justine Bruno (1:01.37) rounded out the top three.
Florent Manaudou turned up the heat in the men’s 50-meter free with a time of 21.57. That’s just half-a-second off his top-ranked time of 21.19 from last year. Jeremy Stravius placed second in 22.37 with Fred Bousquet taking third in 22.49.
Hosszu won the women’s 100-meter breast against some fairly weak competition. She posted a 1:09.73 for the win. Adeline Martin took second in 1:10.36 with Adeline Williams turning in a third-place time of 1:10.86.
Hosszu, who owns the world record in the women’s 200-meter IM with a 2:06.12 from Worlds last summer, put in an easy pace 2:09.11 for the win. Aimee Willmott took second in 2:13.06 with Evelyn Verraszto claiming third in 2:14.36.
Coralie Balmy topped the women’s 400-meter free with a 4:04.58. That would have ranked her sixth in the world last year. Martina Dememe took second in 4:11.66 with Bonnet placing third in 4:12.83.
Hosszu, falling away from her ironman-like performances, scratched after qualifying fourth in 4:14.20. That’s the second likely loss of the night she scratched out of.
Hosszu next swam in the women’s 200-meter back with a 2:08.47 for the win. That’s a full two seconds back of her top time last year of 2:06.18 at Worlds. Anastasia Fesikova finished second in 2:09.67 with Daryna Zevina taking third in 2:09.75.
Robbie Renwick topped the men’s 200-meter free in a time of 1:47.94, while Jordan Pothain took second in 1:48.12. Duncan Scott picked up third in 1:48.85.
Camille Lacourt, the third-ranked swimmer in the world last year with a 52.48 from Worlds, won the men’s 100-meter back tonight in 54.34. Charlie Boldison placed second in 55.85 with Thomas Avetand taking third in 56.29.
Simon Sjodin won the men’s 200-meter fly in a time of 1:57.14. Jordan Coelho turned in a second-place time of 1:57.52. Cameron Brodie placed third in 1:59.99.
Last weekend he already swam a 2:07,69 in Luxembourgs Euro Meet. 🙂
That’s 2 x 2:07’s within a week of each other. Has any other breaststroker ever done that before?
Not that we can find.
Wes Thomas
I can’t walk that fast!!