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Britta Steffen Answers Trickett with Euro Record
Posted April 22, 2008 | Views: 590 | Comments: 9

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By David Cromwell

She didn't get her world record back, but she did improve upon her own European record.  Britta Steffen smoked the field at the German Olympic Trials with a 53.20 100m free and appears to be able to give Libby Trickett a run at the Olympics after all.  What's more, the German relay looks strong again with Petra Dallmann (54.90), Antje Buschschulte (55.04) and Daniela Gotz (55.04) rounding out the top four.

Helge Meeuw didn't equal his European record performance in the 100m back, but still finished with a strong 1:57.92 in the 200m back, good enough to make the Games.  But one of the most exciting races of the day had to be the men's 50 free, where Steffen Deibler and Rafed El-Masri traded records throughout the day.  Deibler ended up getting his national record back in the final with a splendid 22.11, after El-Masri (22.26) had broken Deibler's previous standard earlier.

In the women's 200m breast, Sarah Poewe just missed the national record with a fast 2:25.53, while second place finisher Anne Poleska also cleared the Olympic Cut in 2:25.79.  A notable fifth was the woman who owns the national record (set just last year), Birte Steven, who touched well off that time at 2:31.57.

Those who won their event but missed qualifying for Beijing were Markus Deibler (2:02.23 200m IM) and Jenny Mensing (2:12.29 200m Back).

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Comments (9)

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Trickett will probably be going 52.5 by Beijing, I think Steffan will probably miss a medal here, after the USA trials where they will go around 53.0.
who are you expecting a 53.0 out of? I don't see the German team challenging for a relay medal let alone gold.
I think Coughlin can go 53.0. But I dont think anyone else will get close to that. Joyce and Nymeyer will probably get under 54 and Weir is a toss up. Coughlin will most likely be the only American to challenge for a medal in the 100.
Will have to think that Steffan will at least be in the medal mix for the 100. She may be coming from too far back in the 4/100 however. The rest of her tema look to be only swimming 54 low-mid (flying start)whereas the Dutch & Aus teams (on 08 times) are looking at 3 sub 54 legs let alone the "big guns" Trickett & Veldhuis. The US 4/100 has been a powerful but misfiring engine for the past 4 years but one can think that at worst they will be in a similar range to the Dutch & Aus teams.
I can DEFINITELY see Natalie going 53 flat or even sub-53 at Trials or racing Trickett and Steffen and Veldhuis at the Olympics; it's going to be those three on top. For the rest of the Americans, Joyce and Hoff will go sub-54 probably, then Torres and Nymeyer and Weir 54.0-54.5; who thinks that they can win the relay? P.S. Who thinks the US is unstoppable in all the men's relays plus the women's 4x200?
The mens 4x100 relay is definately a toss up, and I would even go so far as to say France is the favorite for the gold (the top 4 flying start times from relays at french trials broke the WR) And the women, though definately in the hunt for gold in the 4x100 and 4x200, will need a world record in both considering the increase in speed of the Dutch over 4x100 and the Aussies with in the 4x200 (who will have likely 3 sub 1:56 performers and 1 1:57)
srry, meant 3 1:56 performers (trickett, top two from trials) and a 1:57 (stephanie rice went 1:57 in semis in the 200 and pulled out of the 100). Add in flyign starts and you could have a couple of 1:55's and two 1:56's
opps, meant pulled out of the final not the 100
I definitely think the U.S. women will have a strong showing at US trials. I think Coughlin could definitely challenge Tricketts record. With Jodie Henry gone, I think if Coughlin can do sub-53 and Hoff, Joyce, Nymeyer, and Torres (perhaps Weir) can do 53's the U.S. should be a sure gold.
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