DOHA – The Netherlands kicked off the morning with a bang as Ranomi Kromowidjojo keyed a world record in the women’s 200 free relay at the FINA World Short Course Championships.
The foursome of Esmee Vermeulen (25.09), Kromowidjojo (23.01), Maud van der Meer (23.89) and Inge Dekker (23.75) crushed the world record with a sizzling time of 1:35.74.
That swim eclipsed the 1:37.04 set by Denmark’s Pernille Blume (24.90), Jeanette Ottesen (23.66), Kelley Rasmussen (24.63) and Mie Nielsen (23.85) at last year’s European Championships in Herning.
The Netherlands still owns the world best and European record with a 1:33.25 from 2009, but FINA did not retroactively recognize all potential world records upon recognizing this event last year.
France’s Anna Santamans (24.15), Melanie Henique (24.49), Mathilde Cini (24.50) and Marie Wattel (24.62) took a distance second with a time of 1:37.76, while Team USA’s Abbey Weitzeil (24.23), Amy Bilquist (24.13), Kathleen Baker (23.90) and Amanda Weir (24.61) put the U.S. within striking distance of the American record with a third-place 1:37.87.
Georgia, led by Kara Lynn Joyce, set the American record with a 1:37.27 at the 2004 NCAA Championships.
Italy (1:38.47), Denmark (1:38.55), Denmark (1:38.55), China (1:38.67), Japan (1:39.92) and Brazil (1:40.12) will also vie for the title tonight.
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Scheduled Events
- Women’s 200 free relay
- Men’s 200 back
- Women’s 200 breast
- Men’s 200 fly
- Women’s 200 free
- Men’s 400 medley relay
- Women’s 400 medley relay
- Men’s 1500 free
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