Helge Meeuw triumphs Men’s 100m back-stroke heats - 2011 German World Championships Selection Trial
Helge Meeuw of SC Magdeburg has won the Men’s 100m back-stroke event, on the second day of the 2011 German World Championships Selection Trial.
The championship is a selection trial for the German team to take part at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, this July.
Meeuw won the top qualification spot in the finals, by clocking a time of 53.76 seconds. He was 1.32 seconds ahead of his following swimmer, Marco Di Carli of SG Frankfurt, who occupied the second fastest qualification, posting a time of 55.08 seconds. Di
Carli out-touched his team-member, Jan-Philip Glania, who secured the third fastest qualification spot, reporting a time of 55.20 seconds.
Helge won the silver medal in the 100m back-stroke at the 2009 Rome World Championships and also secured the gold medal in the 50m back-stroke at the 2006 European Short Course Championships.
The 23-year-old German stayed only 1.82 seconds behind the world record of 51.94 seconds, made by Aaron Peirsol in 2009. He was 1.65 seconds above the European mark of 52.11 seconds, set by Camille Lacourt of France in 2010. Meeuw was 1.49 seconds slower
than his German mark of 52.27 seconds, which he previously achieved at the 2009 Rome World Championships.
Meeuw was evident for the fastest qualification spot form the start of the race. He completed his first lap, with an outstanding effort of 26.14 seconds and overwhelmed Di Carli’s 26.76 seconds effort. Di Carli finished his first lap in the third fastest
place, behind Glania, who completed his swim in 26.54 seconds.
In the final lap, the German champion cruised his way towards the finishing wall, completing his second lap in 27.62 seconds, to post 53.76 seconds on the board. Marco failed to overcome Helge’s effort and completed his swim in a time of 28.32 seconds to
earn the second fastest spot in the final.
The final of the same event will take place in the next session, where the winners will be provided with a chance to represent their country at the upcoming 2011 World Championships.
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