JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, December 3. OLYMPIC swimmer George du Rand led the charge for gold and championship records as the continent's stars continued to shine brightly on third evening of finals at the 9th African Swimming Championships held at the Ellis Park Aquatics Centre.
While Du Rand collected the main honors in the 200 meter backstroke in a championship best time of 2: 01.02, to erase the previous record of 2:01.47 held by Egyptian Ahmen Hussen, Kenyan Achieng Ajulu-Bushell (32.64 in the 50 breaststroke) and Tunisian Oussama Mellouli (49.81 in the 100 freestyle), also had their names entered into the African Swimming Championship record books. Kenya's Jason Dunford (50.05) who ended second to Mellouli, previous held the championship record of 50.32.
Dunford went one better in the 50 butterfly to win gold in a championship record time of 23.50, eclipsing his previous mark of 23.89.
Three-time Olympian Mandy Loots also made it to the top of the medal podium in taking the women's 100 meters backstroke title in 1:05.21, while the SA men's line up of George du Rand, Darren Murray, Garth Tune and Thabang Moeketsane, claimed victory in the 400 medley relay in 3:48.36.
The experience of Loots, accompanied by the youth brigade of Megan Scott, Dominique Dryding and Robyn Ferguson, finished second in the women's 400 freestyle relay in 4:06.54, with the title going to Tunisia in 3:58.45.
The hosting of the African showpiece event in Johannesburg has been made possible through the support of Telkom, the City of Jo'burg, the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, Sport and Recreation SA, Gauteng Sport and Recreation, Arena and Bestmed.
Swimmers from countries including Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Guinea, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zimbabwe and the hosts, South Africa have been a part of the challenge for medals.
Special thanks to Swimming South Africa for contributing this report.
Results
Men:
100 meters freestyle: 1 O Mellouli (Tun) 49.81, 2 J Dunford (Ken) 50.05, 3 F Ben Jeddi (Tun) 53.23
200 meters backstroke: 1 G du Rand (SA) 2:01.02, 2 D Murray (SA) 2:06.08, 3 T Mrabet (Tun) 2:10.82
50 meters butterfly: 1 J Dunford (Ken) 23.50, 2 G Tune (SA) 24.42, 3 Y Yeiyah (Nig) 25.27
4 x 100 meters medley relay: 1 SA 3:48.46, 2 Tunisia 3:57.85, 3 Angola 4:11.98
Women:
100 meters backstroke: 1 M Loots (SA) 1:05.21, 2 J Briedenhann (Nam) 1:08.04, 3 K Lapham (Zim) 1:10.12
50 meters breaststroke: 1 A Ajulu-Bushell (Ken) 32.64, 2 S Lajnef (Tun) 34.07, 3 R Ferguson (SA) 35.03
4 x 100 meters freestyle relay: 1 Tunisia 3:58.45, 2 SA 4:06.54, 3 Kenya 4:16.33
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December 3, 2008 Looks like ol' Ous is taking A leaf out of you know who'S Book (what's the name of that guy again who won thAt SI award? Philps? Phulps? Sometghing like that?) and is edschewing the longer events in favor of the sprints.
49.8 unshaved untapered unrested and wearing a dragsuit equates to 46.5 @ Rome next summer, right, Mr. Salo?
What's next for Mr. Mellouli...a sub 22 50?
GO OUS!!! Submitted by: slickwillie32
December 3, 2008 I agree that this is a great swim for Ous, but I don't think he'll swim this in Rome because he's got the 400 on Day 1, the 1,500 on Day 8, and the 800 on Days 3 (prelims) and 4 (finals). The first two rounds of the 100 are before the 800 on Day 4. Submitted by: SwimDER94
December 4, 2008 Quite rite about Ous' Rome program.
He's trained for the longer stuff throughout his career and even if he got dowsn to 48.8 for the 100 he's still not really ciompetitive with the Bernards and the Sullivans of the swimming world.
South Africa's Ryk Nedethling was a v/good distgnce guy until lage '90s/early '900s when he got "religioin" and became a pretty good sprinter.
His coach @ Arizona, Rick DXeMont, was a distance specialist early in his carfeer too before switching to the sprints. Even won gold in the 400 free @ Munich before he got it taken away because his asthma medication had not been approved beforehand and so he tested positive.
Very ufnrtunate that. Submitted by: slickwillie32
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