Paul Biedermann, of SV Halle, clocked 1:46.70 over 200m freestyle at Germany's Olympic trials in Berlin this evening but Marco Koch stole the show with his first sub-2:10 textile effort ahead of world-championships bronze medallist Christian Vom Lehn in the 200m breaststroke.

There was also an Olympic ticket for Silke Lippok, on 1:57.93 in the 200m freestyle, while the German 4x200m relays are well placed to make the FINA cut too.

Men's 200m freestyle

Biedermann booked his place at London 2012 ahead of Clemens Rapp, TSV Bad Saulgau, on 1:47.57 to claim silver just 0.01sec ahead of Dimitri Colupaev, of SSV Udine.  The champion led from the half-way point onwards (25.43, 52.32, 1:19.37, 1:46.70), Colupaev the first through among those who ended up on the podium, in 52.27, Rapp on 52.77. The third 50m saw Biedermann take control and by the 150m mark his feet flipped first for a split 0.6sec ahead of Colupaev. Up for relay places are Robin Backhaus, 1:48.19, Tim Wallburger, 1:48.69 and Christoph Fildebrandt, on 1:48.92. 

Biedermann, whose top five times, ranging from the world record of 1:42.00 to 1:44.71, date back to 2009, has a textile best that matches his 6th fastest ever on the clock, 1:44.88, from the final at Shanghai 2011 world championships, his reward the bronze medal behind Americans Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps.

How Olympic season is panning out (world top 5):

• 1:44.42 Agnel (FRA)
• 1:45.69 Phelps (USA)
• 1:45.96 Matsuda (JPN)
• 1:46.05 Sun (CHN)
• 1:46.09 Park (KOR)

Next on the list - 1:46.56 for Izotov (RUS) and Biedermann's 1:46.70.

Men's 200m breaststroke

Marco Koch, of Darmstadt, cracked 2:10 for the first time in textile, his 2:09.48 victory (29.62, 1:02.90, 1:35.98) earned from the front from the blocks, silver going to the man chasing the whole way, world-titles bronze medallist last year, Christian Vom Lehn, Wuppertal, on 2:10.07. 

Koch's best is 2:08.33, the fastest of three sub-2:10 efforts at a time when shiny suits were the order of the day. In textile, the true measure of the swimming and swimmer, Koch's best had been 2:10.83. He now steps up to a different league to give Germany a second man with an eye on a medal in London, Vom Lehn's 2:08.97 from nationals a year ago on the way to bronze in Shanghai in 2:09.06 the national textile standard.

Bronze in Berlin this evening went to teenager Maximillian Kraus, of Halle, in 2:14.72.

Women's 200m freestyle

Silke Lippok, of SSG Pforzheim, led the way at the 100m on 57.00, 0.16sec up on Daniela Schreiber, the closest threesome to them a second adrift. Lippok owned the race from that point on, turning on 1:27.09 with 50m to go, Schreiber on 1:28.22, with Halle training partner Theresa Michalak on 1:28.79.

Lippok, who has a best of 1:56.98 from 2010, stopped the clock at 1:57.93, 24th in the world this year and goods for the German junior crown as well as the senior title for the 1994-born swimmer. 

Michalak overhauling Schreiber for silver in 1:59.13 to 1:59.41, the race for relay places a tight one: 1:59.53 for Annika Bruhn, Alexandra Wenk on 1:59.81 and Paulina Schmiedel the first over 2mins, on 2:00.94.

Women's 200m breaststroke

The FINA A cut for London 2012 is 2:26.89, while the German crown went to Sarah Poewe, Wuppertal, in 2:27.47, 0.12sec ahead of Caroline Ruhnau, of Essen.