Lukas Märtens Goes Top Of 200 Free Rankings With 1:44 Victory In Berlin
Lukas Märtens became the first man in 2025 to break 1:45 in the 200 free when he posted 1:44.25 at the German Championships in Berlin.
A 1:45.31 in prelims indicated another fine performance to come from Märtens who scorched to the 400 free title in 3:40.61 on the opening evening, weeks after he set the world record of 3:39.96 in Stockholm.
Lukas Märtens: Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala, Deepbluemedia
He reached the first turn in 23.96, 0.67 swifter than his nearest challenger, and extended his lead throughout to come home in the second-fastest time of his career behind his 1:44.14 from last year’s German Championships. It elevated him to the top of the 2025 rankings, displacing Olympic champion David Popovici who went 1:45.07 at April’s Romanian Championships followed by Duncan Scott and James Guy who tied at 1:45.08 at the British trials.
Splits: 23.96/50.23 (26.27)/1:17.31 (27.08)/1:44.25 (26.94)
It was the sixth-fastest time in German history with Paul Biedermann posting the top four times – all at the supersuited worlds in 2009 including a 1:42.81 lead-off in the 4×2 relay – topped by his WR of 1:42.00.
It continued a superb meet for Bernd Berkhahn’s Magdeburg powerhouse where Märtens trains alongside the likes of Florian Wellbrock, Oliver Klemet and Sven Schwarz who lowered the European 800 free standard to 7:38.12 on Friday.
A strong second 100 propelled Jarno Bäschnitt to second in 1:47.10 with Timo Sorgius third in 1:47.29 after a 1:46.88 prelim.
Nina Holt cemented her place on the team with victory in the 100 free on Friday and she added the 200 title in 1:58.33 with Maya Werner coming strong on the second half of the race to take silver in 1:58.81. Zara Selimovic was third in 2:01.65.
Elendt Dominates To Clinch Double
The meet is another opportunity for athletes to qualify for the World Championships in Singapore with German policy dictating they could book a spot on the team at any World Aquatics-approved competition from 7 April to 4 May.
Anna Elendt: Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Anna Elendt posted 30.48 to clinch the women’s 50m breaststroke and complete the 50/100 double. The 23-year-old went 1:05.72 to win the longer race in which she won silver at the 2022 World Championships. She was in oceans of space at the head of the field with a 1.29sec winning margin over Lilly-Fay Wallbaum who was second in 31.77 with Lena Ludwig third in 31.86.
Melvin Imoudu posted 26.95 in the men’s 50m breaststroke prelims, 0.33 off his German record of 26.62 at last year’s national championships. He returned in the evening to go 27.14 for victory ahead of 100 winner Lucas Matzerath (27.18) with Felix Berling third in 27.95.
Ole Braunschweig won the men’s 50 back in 24.83 with Vincent Passek second in 24.93. Lise Seidel added the women’s 50 back title to her 100 gold in 28.89.
Noelle Benkler clinched the medley double with a 2:13.80 victory in the women’s 200IM. Jeremias Pock won the men’s short medley although Louis Dramm came charging down the final 50 after the former had turned at 150 with a 0.63 lead. Ultimately Pock took the win by just 0.02 in 2:00.07 to 2:00.09.
Louis Schubert was the only man inside 2mins in the 200 fly in 1:58.44. Leni von Bonin came from 0.03 down at the final turn to win the women’s 200 fly in 2:13.15 with Alina Baievych second in 2:13.23.
