Milou van Wijk Registers Speedy 50 Freestyle at Dutch Champs; Nyls Korstanje Claims 100 Fly Title
Through the first two days of the Dutch Championships, Marrit Steenbergen was unbeatable while securing titles in the 100-meter freestyle and 100 backstroke. But on Night Three, Steenbergen was denied a third gold medal. Racing the 50 freestyle, Milou van Wijk sped to a championship-record time of 24.29, an effort that was comfortably clear of the 24.69 recorded by Steenbergen.
The finish in the 50 freestyle was a reversal of the finishing order in the 100 free, which Steenbergen won in 52.78, with van Wijk claiming the silver medal in 54.00. But over one length of the pool, van Wijk had too much speed while posting a time that ranks in the top-1o in the world. On the road to the World Championships in Singapore next month, van Wijk’s victorious effort signified a personal best by .27 and made her the No. 5 performer in Dutch history.
Several strong performances were produced in men’s action, highlighted by a 51.24 outing from Nyls Korstanje in the 100 butterfly. That swim handed Korstanje a win by more than a second over Sean Niewold, who touched in 52.48. Meanwhile, Caspar Corbeau topped the field in the 200 breaststroke, going 2:10.02.
Backstroker Kai van Westering continued to produce quality swims as he established a championship record in the 50 backstroke, on the strength of a 24.89 clocking. Van Westering won the 100 backstroke earlier in the competition.