South African Long Course Nationals: Roland Schoeman Clears FINA A Cut; Chad Le Clos Picks Up Fourth Olympic Event

DURBAN, South Africa, April 21. WITH one more day to go in the South African Long Course Nationals, Roland Schoeman managed to clear the FINA A cut in the men's 50 free while Chad Le Clos snatched his fourth Olympic qualifying standard.

FINALS
Already having qualified for the Olympics with a 15th-ranked 2:25.89 during semis, Suzaan van Biljon coasted to the women's 200 breast victory in 2:26.74. Ronwyn Roper (2:30.25) and Kelly Gunnell (2:32.97) placed second and third in the finale.

Charl Crous, who made the Olympic roster in the men's 100 back, missed adding the 200 back to his docket with a 1:59.94 to win the distance dorsal. The swim fell short of the FINA A cut of 1:58.48. Darren Murray (2:00.67) and Michael Meyer (2:02.04) completed the podium.

Chad Le Clos added yet another swim to his Olympic schedule, his fourth, with a winning time of 1:58.97 in the men's 200 IM. That swim finished just off his ninth-ranked semifinal swim of 1:58.87. KZN teammate Darian Townsend earned second with a FINA A cut time of 1:59.34, bettering his 1:59.98 from semis to secure the second Olympic spot on the team and move to 14th in the world rankings. Sebastien Rousseau just missed the FINA A cut with a third-place 2:00.37.

Shortly after clearing the FINA A cut in the women's 200 back semis as recapped below, Karin Prinsloo won the women's 100 free in 55.77. Lehesta Kemp took second in 56.70, while Vanessa Mohr (57.02) and Leone Vorster (57.15) finished third and fourth.

MULTI-CLASS FINALS
Special thanks to Swimming South Africa for the contribution
Adri Visser (S5) added her name to the Paralympic A Qualification list in the 50m butterfly event this evening, coming in with a time of 57.59.

In the multi-disability S14 50m breaststroke, Challis Wright bagged the gold in 34.98 ahead of Sipho Mjoka in 35.28 and Valentino Vergotine in 37.57. Kevin Paul (SB9), Hendrik van der Merwe (SB5) and Tadhg Slattery (SB5) collected the gold, silver and bronze medals in 30.32, 44.34 and 45.15 respectively.

Wright claimed his second gold of the evening in the 50m butterfly in 28.27 while Mjoka took bronze in 29.60. The silver medal went to Craig Groenewald in 28.96. Brazil's Daniel Dias (S5) won in a golden 36.34 ahead of Mpho Mainganye (S7) and Johann van Heerden (S10).

It was gold, silver and bronze for Yvonne Smith (41.98), Cornelia Fowler (48.98) and Christelle Kriel (48.82) in the S14 100m breaststroke while Renette Bloem (SB11), Tenza Abrahams (SB9) and Dimakatso Makgakga (SB9) were victorious in the 100m breaststroke.

Fowler went one better in the 50m butterfly, winning the race in 30.55 while Smith took silver in 34.34 and Dot Smit the bronze in 37.62.

SEMIFINALS
After several close calls, including a 22.17 last month, Roland Schoeman finally cleared the FINA A cut with a 22.08 during men's 50 free semis. That swim bettered the A cut of 22.11, and moved him to 17th in the world rankings. The swim made him eligible to be nominated for his fourth Olympic appearance after previous appearances in 2000, 2004 and 2008. The question remains whether South Africa will stick to is qualifying standard, which required two FINA A cuts during different meets. Brad Tandy, who was the star of the NJCAA Championships in the U.S. (http://tv.swimmingworldmagazine.com/shows/all-studio-videos/tagged/15042), took second in semis with a 22.51, while Gideon Louw qualified third in 22.59.

Karin Prinsloo clipped the women's 200 backstroke FINA A cut (2:10.84) with a top-seeded time of 2:10.74. She has less than a second left to knock off the South African record of 2:10.03 set by Melissa Corfe in 2008. Nathania Van Niekerk, 13, checked in with a second-seeded 2:16.87, while Jessica Ashley-Cooper took third in 2:18.53.

Chad Le Clos closed in on earning his fifth individual swim in London with a 53.43 in the men's 100 fly semis. He has a second and change to make up for the FINA A cut of 52.36. Neil Watson (53.99) and Dylan Bosch (54.35) wound up second and third in the semifinal heats.

PRELIMS
Wendy Trott posted a FINA A cut in the women's 800 free prelims with an 8:28.79, to become the 10th swimmer to do so heading into this evening. The swim moved her to 11th in the world rankings.

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