Clad le Clos Opts for 100 Free, Finishes Second at SA National Championships

Photo Courtesy: Swimming South Africa

Clad le Clos Opts for 100 Free, Finishes Second at SA National Championships

Chad le Clos scratched the final of the men’s 200 butterfly Tuesday and fell short of qualifying for the Paris Olympics in the 100 free at the SA National Championships in Ggeberha.

Pieter Coetzee won the 100 free to start off his busy program. His time of 49.12 seconds was shy of the Olympic A cut of 48.34, though it’s not his main event. Second was le Clos, who went 49.34 in finals. He had been 49.04 at the 2024 World Championships in Doha. Guy Brooks was third in 49.42.

Le Clos had been second in prelims of the men’s 200 fly in 2:03.04. He scratched the final, easing the path to victory for Matt Sates. Sates obliged by going 1:56.99, five seconds quicker than in prelims but still 1.21 seconds shy of the Olympic A cut. Dylan Wright was second in 2:03.12.

The second day of the meet South African Trials at Newton Park Swimming Pool didn’t yield an Olympic A cut.

Amiee Canny won the women’s 100 freestyle in 54.65, which is short of the auto cut by more than a second. Erin Gallagher was second in 54.88, more than a second ahead of anyone else. Canny also joined with LSU swimmer Michela de Villiers to help Western Cape Aquatics win the mixed 400 free relay.

Dune Coetzee eased to victory in the women’s 200 fly. Her time was 2:13.97, ahead of runner-up Trinity Hearne by more than three seconds. Coetzee was well shy of the Olympic A of 2:08.43.

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