Anna Elendt Looks Sharp in Breaststroke Events at Berlin Open
Several impressive performances have been registered in the past few weeks in the women’s breaststroke events, and Germany’s Anna Elendt got in on the party during the first two days of the Berlin Open. During Saturday’s action, Elendt – a former standout at the University of Texas – clocked a German record of 2:23.93 in the 200-meter breaststroke. That showing handed Elendt a nearly 10-second win.
On Friday, the Olympian was also impressive, as she delivered a 1:05.97 showing on the opening day of the meet. En route to a five-plus second decision, Elendt was out in 31.15 and came home in a split of 34.82.
On the men’s side, Melvin Imoudu won the 100 breaststroke in 1:00.32.
Angelina Kohler, who won the 2024 world title in the 100 butterfly, was the quickest in the 50 butterfly. Kohler posted a swim of 25.62 for a comfortable margin. She was joined as a winner in that event by Singapore’s Mikkel Lee, who won the men’s 50 fly in 23.57.
In other action on Friday and Saturday, Rafael Miroslaw doubled in the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle. In the longer distance on Friday, Miroslaw claimed a narrow triumph over Philipp Peschke. Miroslaw went wire to wire for the win, but had to fend off a late charge by Peschke. Miroslaw touched first in 1:47.48, with Peschke going 1:47.69. A day later, he finished on top in the 100 freestyle, as his swim of 48.36 was the sole effort under the 50-second barrier.
Ole Braunschweig (24.89) was the winner of the men’s 50 backstroke on Friday, as he clipped Vincent Passek by .02. Meanwhile, Cedric Buessing cruised to a first-place finish in the 400 individual medley, behind a swim of 4:16.11. Buessing, who won the 200 backstroke on Saturday in 2:01.11, is a standout for the University of Indianapolis, one of the top collegiate programs in NCAA Division II.
Other winners included:
Nele Schulze (women’s 100 freestyle) – 55.57
Kenneth Bock (men’s 200 breaststroke) – 2:14.71