South African Long Course Nationals: Chad Le Clos Claims 200 Fly Title; Kathryn Meaklim Earns 200 IM Win

DURBAN, South Africa, April 19. THE South African Long Course Nationals, which is also serving as part of its Olympic and Paralympic Trials process, continued through a fourth day of Olympic qualifying.

FINALS
After throwing down a third-ranked time of 1:55.30 yesterday, Chad Le Clos eased into the men's 200 fly Olympic roster spot with a triumphant 1:56.17 this evening. Sebastien Rousseau could not better his semifinal time of 1:57.63, taking second in 1:57.88 and missing the FINA A cut of 1:56.86 for an Olympic bid. Dylan Bosch completed the top three in 1:59.57.

After just clipping the FINA A cut of 2:13.36 with a 2:13.33 during semis of the women's 200 IM, Kathryn Meaklim had plenty in the tank to win the event in 2:13.64 tonight. Jessica Pengelly (2:17.06) and Rene Warnes (2:19.50) rounded out the podium.

Karin Prinsloo topped the women's 200 free in 1:59.53, well off the FINA A cut of 1:58.33, but inside the provisional qualifying time of 2:02.47. Leone Vorster placed second in 2:00.47, while Wendy Trott finished third in 2:02.80.

MULTI-CLASS FINALS
Special thanks to Swimming South Africa for the contribution
In the multi-disability section, Natalie du Toit improved on her time from this morning's heats when she raced to her third Paralympic A Qualifying Time of 1:05.75 in the 100m freestyle.

Charl Bouwer (S13), Hendri Herbst (S11) and Kevin Paul (S10) added to tonight's Paralympic A Qualifying Times when they recorded 52.89, 1:00.12 and 55.58 in the 100m freestyle. The trio has bagged four Paralympic A Qualifying Times each, to date.

In the S14 100m freestyle event, Craig Groenewald, Challis Wright and Sipho Mjoka made it to the medal podium in 57.70, 58.74 and 59.40, while Yvonne Smith (S14), Cornell Loubser (S15) and Christelle Kriel (S14) were victorious in 1:06.37, 1:04.70 and 1:17.68.

SEMIFINALS
Gideon Louw raced to a FINA A cut in the men's 100 free with a 48.74. That swim bettered the A cut of 48.82, and moved Louw to 16th in the world rankings. Darian Townsend clocked a second-seeded 49.10, while Graeme Moore (49.53) and Leith Shankland (49.55) qualified third and fourth. Roland Schoeman placed fifth in 49.77.

Mandy Loots led the way in the women's 200 fly with a 2:13.05, well ahead of second-seeded Bianca Meyer (2:18.54), but well back of the FINA A cut time of 2:08.95. Loots' time did, however, clear the provisional mark of 2:13.46. Jessica Liss, 16, placed third in 2:23.09.

Neil Versfeld dominated the men's 200 breast semis with a 2:12.35 after posting a 2:12.10 during prelims. His target in finals is the FINA A cut of 2:11.74. Rory Buck (2:17.55) and Olympic silver medalist Terence Parkin (2:18.35) qualified second and third. Parkin, a deaf swimmer who earned silver in the 200 breast at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, is vying for another Olympic appearance.

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