Isabelle Harle dominates Women’s 400m freestyle heats - German World Championships Selection Trial
Isabelle Harle of SV Nikar Heidelberg cruised her way to the fastest qualification spot in the Women’s 400m freestyle on the first day of the 2011 German World Championships Selection Trial.
The championship is a selection trial for the German swimming team to compete at the Shanghai Aquatic Centre for the 2011 World Championships, during July.
The 22-year-old, Isabelle Harle, won the hearts of arena by claiming the fastest spot in the 400m event, with a timing of 4:13.07 minutes. Her effort was almost 14 seconds away from Federica Pellegrini’s world record of 3:59.15 minutes. Pellegrini made her record at the 2009 Rome World Championships. Harle was 7.23 seconds above the German record of 4:05.84 minutes, held by Anke Mohring in 1989.
Harle was followed by 17-year-old Silke Lippok and 18-year-old Franziska Jansen, who touched the wall for the second and third fastest qualification, clocking a time of 4:14.35 and 4:17.02 minutes, respectively.
Lippok emerged as the fastest swimmer in the start of the race, completing her first round in 1:00.27 minutes. She was followed by Jansen and Harle, who completed their initial 100 metres in the second and third fastest spots, posting 1:01.66 and 1:01.93 minutes, respectively.
Silke earned a lead of almost two seconds from Isabelle and Franziska, completing her first half of the race in 2:04.55 minutes against their 2:06.26 and 2:07.14 minutes efforts. Lippok sustained her speed in the third round, completing her swim in 3:09.28 minutes. Harle appeared as the second fastest swimmer, as she completed her third round in 3:10.09 minutes and was followed by Jansen, who posted 3:12.71 minutes.
The last round of the race was remarkable, as Harle geared up her swim and moved up to the fastest qualification spot, by clocking a time of 4:13.07 minutes.
Harle, who overwhelmed Lippok’s effort by almost one second, said that she will make a splash in the final round of her event. She was happy with her qualification and expressed that she aims to break the national record in the final round.
Tags: