Aimee Canny Off to Fast Start at South African Championships
Aimee Canny tallied three qualification times for the Commonwealth Games over the first two days of the South African Championships this week.
The Bombela Concession Company South Africa National Aquatic Championships at Newton Park Swimming Pool started Tuesday with Canny tackling a double in the 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroker. She won the 200 individual medley on Wednesday.
Canny started the meet in Gqeberha with a winning time of 1:56.64 in the 200 free. She was more then three seconds clear of runner-up Hannah Robertson.
Canny came back and won a loaded 100 breast in 1:06.57, a second clear of Simone Moll’s tie. Kaylene Corbett was third in 1:07.65, with Rebecca Meder fourth in 1:07.71 and Lara van Niekerk fifth.
“I think I’m happy that (200 free) was first because breaststroke was kind of more of a wildcard, you could say, just because I do a lot of freestyle training,” Canny said. “But I’m super happy with that. I’ve kind of always been training breaststroke, but this year I’ve changed training groups and done a lot more distance and a lot more 200 breast. … So I was really excited for this coming in.”
Two men qualified for the Commonwealth Games on Tuesday both in the 100 backstroke. Pieter Coetze hit the Commonwealth standard in prelims at 53.13, then sped up to go 52.40 in finals. Ruard van Renen was second to get there in 53.61.
“I just wanted to see what I can do, get on the team firstly, and then just see what happens,” Coetze said. “I think that’s by far the fastest I’ve been at Nationals or at this time of the year, so it’s a very good sign. I wasn’t sure what kind of form he was in, so I didn’t know what was going to happen and then after the turn, I just saw him pop up next to me, and I was like, ‘Okay, he’s looking good. I’m going to have to push.’ I’m super glad he got it, it’s been a long time coming for him.”
Kris Mihaylov, the 18-year-old who just wrapped his freshman year at Georgia, won the men’s 200 free in 1:48.24. Guy Brooks was second in 1:49.81, .05 up on Matthew Caldwell. Chris Smith won the 100 breast in 1:00.36, with veteran Michael Houlie second in 1:01.10.
Olivia Nel won the 100 back in 1:00.83, missing the time standard for Commonwealths by .037 seconds. Milla Drakopoulos was second in 1:01.24, .09 up on Michaela De Villers.
Canny was one of six swimmers getting to Commonwealth Games on Wednesday. Meder hit the standard in prelims at 2:12.82. It would take more in finals, with Canny getting the better of her in 2:10.90. Meder went 2:11.29 to finish second, the leading duo nearly eight seconds clear of the field.
“That was a really exciting race. I knew coming into it, it was going to be really fun tonight,” Canny said. “I knew Rebecca was going to be there the whole way of that race and it was really fun to kind of swim with her, and I knew we were in it together.”
Coetze and Van Renen once again drove each other to Commonwealths in the 50 back. Coetze went 24.54 in both prelims and finals to win. Van Renen was second in 24.93, .01 seconds slower than in prelims.
The strength is on the women’s side, where Jessica Thompson solidified her place at Commonwealths in the 50 back. She went 27.94 in prelims, then sped up to win finals in 27.79, with Nel second in 28.36 and De Villiers third in 28.53.
Erin Gallagher booked a spot in the 100 fly with a time of 57.36 that was more than three seconds up on the field.
Karyl Albertyn won the men’s 200 IM in 2:02.40. Chad le Clos captured the 100 fly in 52.18, edging van Renen by .09 seconds, with Jarden Eaton and Tai Pearson also in the 52s. Le Clos was short of the time standard as he bids to qualify for his fifth Commonwealth Games.