South Africa Long Course International Invitational Meet: Kirsty Coventry Doubles, Several World Pacesetters Clocked

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa, January 29. THE first day of the inaugural South Africa Long Course International Invitational produced some of the fastest swimming of the year thus far.

Kirsty Coventry walked away with the women's 200 free title in 2:02.06, while Tatiana Barbosa placed second in 2:03.54. Christy Lategan touched third in 2:04.79. Coventry returned in the women's 200 IM for a double with a strong 2:13.40. She clipped Mireia Belmonte by the slimmest of margins as Belmonte took second in 2:13.41. Both swimmers beat the early world best time of 2:14.68 set by Missy Franklin at the Austin Grand Prix. Kathryn Meaklim took third in 2:17.99.

Another world top time went up on the scoreboard in the women's 200 back when Elizabeth Simonds clocked a 2:09.28. That swim cleared the early leading time of 2:09.39 also set by Franklin in Austin. Coventry snared her third podium of the day with a second-place 2:11.12, while Natasha De Vos placed third in 2:16.19.

Joao Luiz Gomes Jr. knocked off Cameron van der Burgh, 28.00 to 28.06, in the men's 50 breast as both cleared the early world pacesetter of 28.23 clocked by Lennart Stekelenburg in Antwerp earlier this month. Neil Versfeld earned third in 28.47.

Fabiola Molina cruised to the finish in the women's 50 breast with a 28.50, second to only Grace Loh (28.34) for the top time in the world this year. Elizabeth Simmonds (29.09) and Chanelle van Wyk (29.53) completed the top three.

In a high-powered finale, Randall Bal topped Liam Tancock, 54.90 to 55.06, in the men's 100 back. Gerhard Zandberg checked in with a third-place 55.52. Fran Halsall won the women's 50 free in 25.80, while Barbosa earned her second podium with a second-place 26.20. Molina pocketed third in 26.83.

Meaklim earned the women's 800 free victory in 8:52.74, while Michelle Weber, 14, placed second in 8:54.62. Caitlin Kat picked up third-place honors in 8:58.47.

Gideon Louw raced to the win in the men's 100 free with a 50.30. Benjamin Starke touched second in 50.53, while Neil Watson completed the podium with a 50.64. Conchi Badillo touched out Lowri Tynan by the slimmest of margins, 1:10.99 to 1:11.00, in the women's 100 breast with Suzaan van Biljon finished just behind with a third-place 1:11.09.

Yannick Lebherz dominated the men's 400 IM in 4:19.89, while Riaan Schoeman placed second in 4:26.98. Diogo Yabe snared third in 4:29.26. Heerden Herman topped the men's 400 free in 3:51.19, while Lebherz took home second in 3:53.95. Ross Davenport finished third overall in 3:54.10.

Vanessa Mohr, 15, cleared 1:00 with a winning time of 59.90 in the women's 100 fly. Mandy Loots took second in 1:00.45, while Francesca Halsall clinched third in 1:00.60. Chad Le Clos earned the men's 200 fly title in 1:58.34, while Dylan Bosch (2:00.00) and Wesley Gilchrist (2:02.13) snagged second and third place in the finale.

Marco Koch and William Diering tied for the men's 200 breast title with matching 2:15.11s. Versfeld placed third overall in 2:15.76. Neil Watson won the men's 50 fly in 24.31. Starke (24.35) and George Bovell (24.74) rounded out the top three.

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