South African Championships: Jessica Pengelly Leads Record Bonanza

DURBAN, South Africa, April 6. THE South African Championships came to a close at the meet held in Durban, South Africa. Several continental and national standards fell in the final day.

The evening began with Jean Basson, Darian Townsend, Jasper Venter and Sebastien Rousseau destroying the African record of 7:35.70 set in 2002 in the men's 800 free relay as the quartet clocked a time of 7:15.21.

Leone Vorster picked up a victory in the women's 100 free with a time of 57.02, while Elzanne Werth (57.71) and Trudi Maree (58.63) rounded out the top three.

Cameron van den Burgh came up short of his national record of 27.49 in the men's 50 breast when he won in 28.02. Donavan van der Merwe (28.78) and Waldo Kruger (29.42) placed second and third.

Suzaan van Biljon earned the women's 50 breast title with a time of 32.60, while Tazmyn Roe (33.25) and Amiro Kouza (33.52) made up the rest of the top three.

Warren Grobbelaar walked away with the men's 50 fly title in 24.65, while Neil Watson finished second in 24.68 and Mario Rankin finished third in 25.09.

Werth returned in the women's 50 fly to win the event in 27.72, while Lauren Sparg (27.83) placed second.

Riaan Schoeman took the men's 400 IM crown with a time of 4:18.02, while Jessica Pengelly crushed her national record in the women's 400 IM with a time of 4:41.35. That performance cleared Pengelly's 4:41.94 set in February.

In the 100 back, Gerhard Zandberg won the men's title in 55.13, while Claire Archibald took the women's crown in 1:03.49.

In the women's 400 medley relay, Lize-Mari Retief, Melissa Corfe, van Biljon and Mandy Loots demolished the African record of 4:05.06 set in 2002 when the foursome punched the wall in 4:03.63.

Finally, Troyden Prinsloo won the men's 1500 free in 15:11.22, while Heerden Herman finished second in 15:17.31.

Riaan Schoeman

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