South Africa Age Group Championships: National Age Group Records Fall

DURBAN, South Africa, March 20. CHAD Le Clos got in on the record breaking act as he swung his arms in over drive in the sprint 50m Butterfly. The race was close, he was only 0.16 seconds ahead of Brett Walsh, but when le Clos looked up at his time and saw 24.71, he had another record. It was also his sixth title of the championships.

This record was one of four individual South African age group records bettered last night.

Brenden Crawford, 14, of Bishop Bavin Seals in Johannesburg, broke the long standing record of Terence Parkin in the 100m Breaststroke. His time of
1m07.41 bettered the silver medalist from the Sydney Olympics time marginally, but no one could do it for 16 years as the record stood since
1995 and should have brought a wry smile on his coach's face. Terence Parkin and Crawford's coach, Theo Verster, had many close races and those former swimmers that swam during that era will remember how they raced, side by side, pushing each other to the limits.

Golden girl of the meet so far, Michelle Weber, has had a record on every day of the competition so far. Yesterday she swam to 58.59 to shave four hundredths of a second off Lauren Roets's 2002 record. It was a close race with Kyna Pereira losing out in the touch by three hundredths of a second.
Pereira was also under the old record.

In the 15-year old category Vanessa Mohr's outstanding form was awarded with a record in the 50m Butterfly. She powered ahead of the field in 50m Butterfly race, the most closely contested, to record 26.76 for the new record.

The four records on the third day bring the total number of age group records for the meet to nine so far with two days to go. If anything, things are hotting up in the pool as swimmers enjoy swimming at South Africa's top venue.

Four individual races were swum yesterday, and the 100m Freestyles got proceedings underway. Chad le Clos obtained the win number four by winning the blue ribbon event in 50.68 from Brett Walsh (KLOOF) 51.70 and a fast finishing Byron Doyle (WSTV) 52.09. The boys are getting fast!

Reynard Wessels won the 16-year olds in an outstanding time of 51.62. Mathys Goosen, 14, and Christopher Reid, 15, kept showing how good they were. Reid recorded 53.41 and Goosen 54.51.

The closest race in the series of 100m freestyles was the one that resulted in Weber setting that record, but Vanessa Mohr, 16, was the fastest girl in 57.36.

The 400m Individual Medleys were next. Chad le Clos was again swimming one of his favourite races and people waited in anticipation. Le Clos's international class was too much for the field and he won by a long way in 4m23.79. Perhaps not the best time for him, but he can be forgiven for taking it easy in the race Michael Phelps once described as follows, "Man, every time I do it, it rips my soul out"

The women's 400m Individual Medley title went to young Jesica Liss, 15. Liss showed she means business from the outset. She attacked the race and once she was on her favourite stroke, the breaststroke, pulling away from Lindsay McLeod, 16, the result was without a doubt. Liss won in 4m54.68 ahead of McLeod in 5m03.22. Michelle Weber won the 14 & under race in 4m57.30 adding to her collection of gold medals at the tournament.

Swimmers sprinted mostly in parallel to their competitors towards the 50m Butterfly finish. The races were evenly matched and a few new faces appeared amongst the medals of the sprint butterfly event.

Le Clos won the open age group event shaving down the SA record of Neil Watson to 24.71. Reynard Wessels won the 16-year old event in 25.51 Ryan Coetzee the 15-year olds in 25.98, Mathys Goosen, 14, in 26.26, Divan du Piesanie, 13, in 28.25 and Danie van der Merwe, 12, the young age group in 29.23.

The first black swimmer to win a title at the 2011 edition of these championships came in the very last individual race of the evening. Oneida Cooper, 18, of Bishop Bavin Seals won the women 50m Butterfly in 28.69. Terrianne Brown was close behind in 28.82 followed by Suanne de Wet in 29.49.

A very close race is developing in the club competition with two clubs tied at the top of the standings. Tuks and Waterborn were tied on 655 points after the men 15 – 18 relay yesterday. Following them closely was Players Academies on 591 with KZN Clubs Seagulls (440), Seals (376.5) and Action
(329) taking up 4th, 5th and 6th places. Eastern Cape Club Aquabear is eighth on 296, slightly ahead of the top Cape Club Vineyard in 10th on 181 points.

TELKOM SA Level 3 Championships, Kings Park Pool, Durban

Results Finals Day 3

100m Freestyle

12 & Under

Boys: 1. Kevin Bargate (ACSA) 59.32, 2. Daniel van der Merwe (HARL) 59.51, Trent Panzera (LINR) 1m00.71

Girls: 1. Erin Gallagher (Sgul) 1m01.40, 2. Nikita Bauristhene (WSTV) 1m02.44, 3. Caitlin Bosma (PFSC) 1m02.59

13 Years

Boys: 1. Kyle van Niekerk (Watr) 56.23, 2. Gareth Wood (MUST) 56.89, 3.
Divan du Piesanie (Tuks) 56.95

Girls: 1. Jamie Reynolds (SEAL) 1m01.28, Mikal Botha (PASC) 1m01.81, Katherine Lotter (PASC) 1m02.04

14 Years

Boys: 1. Mathys Goosen (Watr) 54.51, Bryan Gray (KDOR) 54.79, Nicholas Kotze
(PASC) 57.20

Girls: 1. Michelle Weber (ACSA) 58.59 (SA AG Record), 2. Kyna Pereira (NDSA) 58.63, 3. Sabrina Kaszechki (WATR) 59.51

15 Years

Boys: 1. Christopher Reid (Aqub) 53.41, 2. Nicholas Burnett (ZIM) 53.83, 3.
Miickey Oliver (SEAL) 53.94

Girls: 1. Marne Erasmus (HARL) 58.94, Nikki Kirkby (SEAL) 59.65, Michaela Barnes (Aqub) 1m00.62

16 Years

Boys: 1 Reynard Wessels (Blot) 51.62, Jonathan van der Merwe (PASC) 52.33, Zaahir Gamiet (Vine) 52.77

Girls: 1. Vanessa Mohr (Tuks) 57.36, 2. Kayla Ferreira (PASC) 58.95, 3.
Kristy Muller (Sgul) 59.38

17 – 18 Years

Boys: 1. Chad le Clos (Sgul) 50.69, Brett Walsh (KLOOF) 51.70, Byron Doyle
(WSTV) 52.09

Girls: 1. Jo-Mari van Zyl (MDOL) 58.93, 2. Natasha de Vos (Tuks)Jo-Mari van Zyl (MDOL) 58.95, 3. Terrianne Brown (Aqub) 59.55

100m Breaststroke

12 years

Boys: 1. Bailey Musgrave (NDSA) 1m16.29, Thys Basson (Barr) 1m19.71, 3.
Jarryd Baxter (Watr) 1m20.94

Girls: 1. Erin Anderson(MUST) 1m16.74, 2. Kristina Rogge (SEAL) 1m21.83, 3.
Carmen Botha (PASC) 1m22.80

13 years

Boys: 1. Darryn Britz (Watr) 1m12.88, 2. Nicholas Quenet (Mati) 1m15.58, 3.
Mohamed Connelly (KASA) 1m15.62

Girls: 1. Marlies Ross (Tuks) 1m15.17, 2. Jamie Reynolds (SEAL) 1m15.71, 3.
Christi Swanepoel (Cens) 1m16.26

14 Years

Boys: 1. Brenden Crawford (Bish) 1m07.41 (SA AG Record), 2. Mark Hunter
(SEAL) 1m08.43, 3. Joshua Steyn (BLOT) 1m09.62

Girls: 1. Lizani Bester (Tuks) 1m15.36, 2. Jett Smerdon (ACSA) 1m17.59, 3.
Jolandi Els (BLSS) 1m18.04

15 Years

Boys: 1. Craig Emslie (Vine) 1m07.91, 2. Christopher Ryan (MDOL) 1m07.98, 3.
Johan Erasmus (Wels) 1m09.82

Girls: 1. Tara Nicholas (SEAL) 1m11.65, 2. Justine McFarlane (Watr) 1m14.00, Jessica Liss (Aqub) 1m14.35

16 Years

Boys: 1. James Lawson (PIRZ) 1m05.11, 2. Evan Pearce (WSTV) 1m07.81, 3. Adam Stevenson (KASA) 1m07.92

Girls: 1. Danielle Small (PFSC) 1m14.52, 2. Genna Greevelink (Aqub) 1m15.58, Alison Hoernle (SASE) 1m18.90

17-18 Years

Boys: 1. Christopher Cowley (PASC) 1m05.11, Fabian Ruszcynski (SASE) 1m05.75, 3. Daniel Marsden (Sgul) 1m06.28

Girls: 1. Franko Jonker (Tuks) 1m12.73, Taryn Mackenzie (Watr) 1m12.75, Kelly Gunnell (MDOL) 1m12.98

400m Individual Medley

12 – 14 Years

Boys: 1. Bryan Gray (KDOR) 4m44.87, 2. Mark Hunter (SEAL) 4m45.98, 3.
Brandon Beck (Vine) 4m50.79

Girls: 1. Michelle Weber (ACSA) 4m57.30, 2. Kyna Pereira (NDSA) 5m04.68, 3.
Jolandi Els (Blss) 5m11.97

15 – 18 Years

Boys: 1. Chad le Clos (Sgul) 4m23.79, 2. Michael Meyer (MDOL) 4m28.53, 3.
Martin Vogel (PASC) 4m31.03

Girls: 1. Jessica Liss (Aqub) 4m54.68, 2. Lindsay McLeod (ACSA) 5m03.22, 3.
Justine MacFarlane (Watr) 5m07.41

50m Butterfly

12 & Under

Boys: 1. Danie van der Merwe (Tuks) 29.23, 2. Ude Fuchs (PSA) 29.30, Trent Panzera (LINR) 30.06

Girls: 1. Nikita Bauristhene (WSTV) 31.42, Ane Kleynhans (TUKS) 31.61, Erin Gallagher (Sgul) 31.77

13 Years

Boys: 1. Divan du Piesanie (Tuks) 28.25, 2. Kyle van Niekerk (Watr) 28.44, 3. James Brooks (Sgul) 28.53

Girls: 1. Katherine Lotter (PASC) 29.60, 2. Rita Naude (Tuks) 29.61, 3.
Jaamie Reyno0lds (SEAL) 29.80

14 Years

Boys: 1. Mathys Goosen (Watr) 26.26, 2. Armand Maritz (HILL) 27.35, 3.
Wilmar du Plessis (Blss) 28.13

Girls: 1. Sabrina Kaszechki (Watr) 29.36, 2. Emma Chellius (BEAV) 29.61, Marizen Marais (Blot) 29.76

15 Years

Boys: 1. Ryan Coetzee (DDA) 25.98, 2. Christopher Reid (Aqub) 26.25, Todd Skinner (MDOL) 26.47

Girls: 1. Marne Erasmus (HARL) 27.40, 2. Tammy Price (Aqub) 29.39, 3.
Ashleigh Brown (Watr) 29.65

16 Years

Boys: 1. Reynard Wessels (Blot) 25.51, 2. Jonathan van der Merwe (PASC) 25.95, 3. Adam Stevenson (KASA) 26.35

Girls: 1. Vanessa Mohr (Tuks) 26.76 (SA AG Record), 2. Kayla Ferreira (PASC) 29.07, Megan Hesse (LION) 29.42

17 – 18 Years

Boys: 1. Chad le Clos (Sgul) 24.71 (SA AG Record), 2. Brett Walsh (KLOOF) 24.87, 3. Heinrich Alberts (PSA) 25.01

Girls: 1. Oneida Cooper (Bish) 28.69, 2. Terrianne Brown (HARL) 28.82, Saunne de Wet (Tuks) 29.49

4 x 100 Medley Relays

12 – 14 Years

Boys: 1. Waterborn 4m12.05, 2. Players Academies 4m18.62, 3. Seals 4m21.81

Girls: 1. Tuks 4m37.52, 2. Players Accademies 4m38.41, 3. Vineyard 4m40.48

15 – 18 Years

Boys: 1. Seagulls 3m51.76, 2. Waterborn 3m53.06, 3. Players Academies 3m53.
37

Girls: 1. Tuks 4m16.28, 2. Waterborn 4m26.59, 3. Player Academies 4m27.90

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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