Cameron van der Burgh Leads Smoking 50 Breast Prelims at Durban Grand Prix

Photo Courtesy: FINA Doha 2014

DURBAN – Cameron van der Burgh led a ridiculously fast preliminary men’s 50-meter breaststroke at the South African Grand Prix qualifying in Durban tonight.

Van der Burgh churned his way to a 27.97 in the men’s 50-meter breast qualifying, moving up to fourth in the world along with Fabio Scozzoli’s 27.97 from the Speedo Flanders Cup.

Giulio Zorzi took second in 28.14 for seventh in the world, while Jarred Crous posted a third-place 28.59. 15-year-old pro Michael Andrew qualified fourth in 28.64.

Le Clos started his day with a 50.08 in the men’s 100-meter free, just half-a-second off his ninth-ranked season best of 49.48 from the Stellenbosch stop of the South African Grand Prix.

Leith Shankland took second in the 100-meter free prelims with a 50.99, while Andrew wound up a distant 12th with a 53.04.

Andrew returned in the 100-meter back with the top time in qualifying with a 56.44 with Neil De Villiers taking second in 57.04.

Le Clos picked up his second top seed with a swift 1:58.76 in the men’s 200-meter fly. That swim shot him to seventh in the world rankings. Meanwhile, Serbia’s Velimir Stjepanovic touched second during prelims with a 2:00.86.

Stjepanovic went back-to-back with the men’s 400-meter free, leading the way with a 3:57.80. Brent Szurdoki took second in 4:00.58.

Ayrton Sweeney paced the men’s 400-meter IM with a 4:24.28, then topped the men’s 200-meter breast in 2:16.10.

Andrew closed the meet with his second top seed of the day. After leading the 100-meter back, Andrew clocked a 24.32 in the 50-meter fly to move to 15th in the world. Zorzi took second in 24.74.

In the women’s events, Tatjana Schoenmaker turned in the top time in the women’s 100-meter breast with a time of 1:11.22.

Rene Warnes led the way in the women’s 200-meter free with a 2:04.28. Warnes also had the top time in the 100 fly with a 1:03.95, then led the way in the 200-meter IM with a 2:19.84.

Mariella Venter topped the women’s 50-meter back swims with a 29.61, while Erin Gallagher claimed the women’s 50-meter free top seed with a 26.86.

Venter claimed her second top seed with a 2:17.07 in the women’s 200-meter back.

2015 South African Grand Prix Durban, Day One – Results

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Cindi Dayton

9 years ago

Bravo Cameron!!