Louis Croenen fourth in the 200m butterfly in Monaco
(Belga) Louis Croenen placed fourth in the 200m butterfly on Saturday during the first day of the Monaco meeting, the first stage of the Mare Nostrum swimming circuit (large pool).
Croenen clocked 1:57.62, 2 seconds off his national record (1:55.39). The Swiss Noè Ponti, bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics in the 100m butterfly, won in 1:56.51 ahead of the South African Chad Le Clos (1:56.74), Olympic champion in the distance in 2012, and the Brazilian Leonardo de Deus (1:57.14). Croenen was eliminated in the heats of the 50m butterfly with the 22nd time, 24.67. His personal best is set at 23.73. Lucas Henveaux finished seventh in the 400m freestyle in 3:54.49. The resident of Liège Natation has a personal best in 3:51.99. South African Matthew Sates won in 3:49.27. Ambre Franquinet finished eighth in the 400m medley with a time of 4:53.68. His reference time is set at 4:49.09. The Hungarian Zsuzsanna Jakabos dictated her law in 4:43.31. Sunday, Croenen and Henveaux will line up in the 200m freestyle. Croenen will also compete in the 100m butterfly while Franquinet is engaged in the 200m medley. The Mare Nostrum circuit consists of three stages. The second will be held in Barcelona on May 25 and 26, the third in Canet-en-Roussillon on May 28 and 29. (Belgian)