South African Long Course Nationals: Men’s 400 Freestyle Relay Squad Set; Three Swimmers Set Up Men’s 200 IM Battle

DURBAN, South Africa, April 20. THE South African long course nationals continued today with more swimmers added to the Olympic roster, while Chad Le Clos added yet another event to his London program.

Neil Versfeld, the 2009 NCAA champion in this event started the session with a win in the men's 200 breast in a time of 2:12.73, missing the automatic Olympic qualifying time of 2:11.74. Terence Parkin, the Olympic silver medalist in this event in 2000, placed second with a 2:15.63. Rory Buck was third in 2:17.71.

Karin Prinsloo was the class of the field in today's women's 100 freestyle semifinal, posting a 55.63 to lead qualifying for tomorrow's final. Well back in second is Lehesta Kemp's 56.84, and Vanessa Mohr qualified third with a 57.12. Leone Vorster, a product of the University of Arizona, is fourth with a 57.59.

Charl Crous is looking to sweep the backstroke events, qualifying first for the final with a 2:00.10 in today's semis. Crous is already on the Olympic roster, thanks to a win in the 100 backstroke on Wednesday, and will be looking to surpass the 200 back qualifying time of 1:58.48. Darren Murray qualified second with a 2:00.18, and Michael Meyer was third with a 2:01.36.

Mandy Loots won the women's 200 fly final with a 2:12.49, well off the Olympic qualifying standard of 2:08.95. Bianca Meyer was well back in second with a 2:16.53, and Lisa Cowling was third with a 2:22.52.

After posting an automatic Olympic qualifying time of 48.74 in yesterday's semifinals of the 100 freestyle, Gideon Louw won today's final with a 49.23, well off the qualifying standard of 48.82. The top four swimmers — all likely to swim the 400 free relay in London — finished within four tenths of each other. Roland Schoeman and Darian Townsend, who were part of the gold medal-winning 400 free relay in Athens, placed second and third, respectively, with times of 49.25 and 49.30. Graeme Moore was fourth with a 49.56. South Africa is already automatically entered in the 400 free relay for London based on their sixth place finish at the world championships. Leith Shankland, who was part of the relay at worlds, finished fifth with a 49.82, and Brad Tandy, who recently completed a breakthrough meet at the American junior college championships, was sixth in 50.05.

Suzanne von Biljon added her name to the South African Olympic roster with a 2:25.89 in today's 200 breaststroke semifinals, beating the qualifying time of 2:26.89. Ronwyn Roper qualified second with a 2:29.83, while Justine Macfarlane was third with a 2:32.26

Three swimmers will be fighting for just two Olympic roster spots in tomorrow's 200 IM final. Chad Le Clos will likely add a fourth event to his Olympic schedule after a top qualifying time in today's semifinals with a 1:58.87 that ranks him ninth in the world so far this year. After missing out twice on automatic Olympic selection this week — though likely selected for the 400 free relay — Darian Townsend got under the Olympic qualifying time of 2:00.17 with a 1:59.98 to qualify second for tomorrow's final. Townsend has been faster this year with a 1:59.28 from the Indianapolis Grand Prix. Sebastien Rousseau qualified third in 2:00.41, a shade off the automatic qualifying time. Rousseau has also been faster recently, with a 1:59.55 swum at last December's USA Swimming nationals.

In disability events, Charl Bouwer posted the fastest time in the men's 100 butterfly with a 58.78, slightly ahead of Achmat Hassiem's 58.79. Cornel Loubser was quickest in the women's 100 butterfly with a 1:09.16.

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