Jacco Verharen, who took over the Dutch Technical Director role in November after coaching Ranomi Kromowidjojo to a double gold in London, has announced the Dutch National Team for the World Championships in Barcelona.
The team will consist of five males; Dion Dreesens, Bastiaan Lijesen, Joeri Verlinden, Sebastiaan Verschuren and Ferry Weertman and eight females; Elise Bouwens, Inge Dekker, Femke Heemskerk, Ilse Kraaijeveld, Ranomi Kromowidjojo, Moniek Nijhuis, Maud van der Meer and Esmee Vermeulen.
The team selection was based off of the results of the last weekend’s Swim Cup Eindhoven.
“These swimmers have qualified because they all have lovely views on finals,” said Verharen. “It’s a great team and we go with confidence to the World Championships in Barcelona”
After the meet in Eindhoven there is plenty to be optimistic about on the women’s side.
Double Olympic Gold medalist Ranomi Kromowidjojo was impressive in the 50 and 100 freestyle and the 50 butterfly.She won the 50 freestyle in a world best of 24.30 and finished second to Sarah Sjostrom in the 100 posting a time of 53.83, which is the third fastest time in the world this year right behind Australia’s Cate Campbell (53.51) and Sjostrom (53.66).
In the 50 butterfly she also showed some outstanding speed, recording a time of 25.80, which is second in the world with only Denmark’s Jeanette Ottesen Gray (25.76) ahead of her.
Not far behind Kromowidjojo in the 50 and 100 freestyle was Femke Heemskerk was who put up times of 24.90 in the 50 (fifth in the world) and 54.02 in the 100 (fourth in the world). Her most impressive swim was in the 200 freestyle where she recorded a time of 1:57.43, which ranks second in the world after Sjostrom who posted a time of 1:56.55 to win the event in Eindhoven.
Moniek Nijhuis put herself in the conversation as a contender in the sprint breaststroke events in Barcelona by swimming a 30.99 in the 50 and 1:07.40 in the 100. The 50 time ranks her second in the world with Olympic 100 breaststroke champion Ruta Meilutyte being the only woman faster posting a 30.57 in March at the British Gas International. The 100 time was a Dutch national record and is the fourth fastest time done in the world this year.
Inge Dekker looks like she is rounding herself into shape to challenge in the 50 butterfly. She put up a time of 26.53 in the 50 butterfly, which is the third fastest time in the world this year.
On the men’s side the biggest contenders in Barcelona will Bastiaan Lijesen, Sebastiaan Verschuren and Dion Dreesen.
Lijesen looked great in the 50 backstroke where he recorded a Dutch national record time of 24.73, which is also a world best. In the 100 backstroke he posted a time 54.04, which is good enough for seventh in the world this year.
Sebastiaan Verschuren had a strong 100 freestyle where he finished in a time 49.08, which is good enough to tie him with Anthony Ervin for eighth in the world.
The 19 year old Dressens won the 200 freestyle in a time of 1:47.93, which currently ranks him seventh in the world.
Veldhuis and Schreuder have no chance?
Is Femke Heemskerk not going to swim the 50 free in Barcelona?
because you stated that “Inge Dekker looks like she is rounding herself into shape to challenge in both the 50 butterfly and 50 freestyle”, although she’s only third in 50 free behind Ranomi and Heemskerk.
No Femke will be swimming the 50 freestyle. The post has been corrected, it should have only stated the 50 butterfly.
Ah ok thanks!
I was confused for a moment there.