South African National Championships: Near African-Record Times Posted

DURBAN, South Africa, April 15. THE second night of swimming at the South African National Championships featured several performances that nearly cleared African records.

Chanelle Van Wyk opened the evening with a triumphant time of 25.96 in the women's 50 free. Karin Prinsloo finished second in 26.15, while Liezl Burger took third in 26.31. Roland Schoeman followed with a tremendous time to win the men's 50 free in 21.79. He downed Lyndon Ferns (22.27), Graeme Moore (22.49) and Darian Townsend (22.55) in the race.

Keri Plumstead topped the women's 100 breast in 1:10.66, while Achieng Ajulu-Bushell touched second in 1:11.62. Jessica Liss, 13, placed just behind in 1:11.92. Cameron van der Burgh just missed his African record of 59.96 with a winning effort of 1:00.02 in the men's 100 breast finale. William Diering claimed second in 1:01.74, while Neil Versfeld completed the top three in 1:01.88.

Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry eased through the women's 200 back with a victorious time of 2:08.32, while Jessica Pengelly placed second in 2:13.80. Jessica Ashley-Cooper wound up third in 2:15.58. Another near African record occurred in the men's 200 back with George Du Rand stopping the clock in 1:58.72. He just missed his 1:58.61 set at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Riann Schoeman took second in 2:00.10, while Charl van Zyl placed third in 2:02.12.

Kathryn Meaklim earned the women's 200 fly title in 2:10.81, while Mandy Loots (2:12.34) and Christy Lategan (2:14.09) placed second and third. Sebastien Rousseau then came up just short of his African record of 1:55.51 set during semis with a winning time of 1:55.56 in the men's 200 fly. Chad Le Clos (1:57.57) and Wesley Gilchrist (1:58.83) completed the top three.

Pengelly, Lategan, Caitlin Gardiner and Wendy Trott captured the women's 800 free relay victory in 8:26.83, while Jean Basson paced the men's 200 free semifinal round with a 1:46.62.

In multi-disability events, Renette Bloem snagged the women's 100 breast crown in 1:40.74, while Kevin Paul took the men's 100 breast in 1:08.60.

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