African Long Course Championships: South African Dominates Day One; Lehesta Kemp Rounds Up Trio of Titles

NAIROBI, Kenya, September 10. THE South Africans kicked off a strong first day of action at the African Long Course Championships in Kenya with 10 total medals including six out of the seven gold medals on offer.

Lehesta Kemp pulled off a title trifecta with victories in the 100 free (57.98), 50 back (30.67) and as part of the 800 freestyle relay winning time of 8:39.57. Kemp raced to the 100 free win in front of teammate Kyna Pereira, who placed second in 58.32. Tunisia's Zeineb Khalfalla touched third in 58.83. Kemp them touched out 13-year-old compatriot Nathania Van Niekerk, 30.67 to 30.69, in the sprint backstroke with Tunisia's Asma Sammod winding up third in 31.06.

Kemp anchored the South African foursome of Pereira, Michelle Weber, Rene Warnes and Kemp to a triumphant time of 8:39.57 in the 800 free relay. Egypt's Hossam El Badri Rowan, Reem Mohamed Hussein, Hania Hany Abdelhamid and Shahd Tarek Osman took second in 8:53.64, while Algeria's Amel Melih, Fella Bennaceur, Souad Cherouati and Nesrine Khelifati placed third in 9:06.66.

Warnes bested 34-year-old teammate Mandy Loots in the women's 400 IM, 4:59.82 to 5:04.28. Egypt's Rowida Mohamed Tolba completed the top three in the distance medley with a 5:09.63. Myles Brown, meanwhile, hit the wall in 1:52.10 to snag the men's 200 free title. Tunisia's Ahmed Mathlouthi (1:53.19) and Kenya's Jason Dunford (1:54.79) rounded out the podium. Ricky Ellis topped Dunford in the men's 50 back, 26.74 to 27.18. Algeria's Ryad Djendouci earned bronze in 27.20.

Wasim Elloumi of Tunisia claimed the only gold medal that did not go to a South African. Elloumi raced to a 1:04.01 in the men's 100 breast for the win. Senegal's Malick Fall finished second in 1:04.52, while South Africa's Michael Meyer took third in 1:04.87.

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