South African 17-Year-Old Matthew Sates Locks Up Tokyo Bid in 100 Fly; Tatjana Schoenmaker Looks Solid

South African 17-Year-Old Matthew Sates Locks Up Tokyo Bid in 100 Fly; Tatjana Schoenmaker Looks Solid

The first day of the Swimming South Africa Grand Prix in Durban featured several quick times, including Matthew Sates producing a pair of Olympic-qualifying marks. Sates confirmed his ticket to the Olympic Games in Tokyo in the 100 butterfly, although his effort in the 200 IM the highlight of his efforts as he had already qualified for Tokyo last month.

During prelims at the Kings Park Aquatic Centre, Sates registered a time of 1:57.60 in the 200 medley. He went on to win the event in finals in 2:02.74, his work obviously already done for the day. Meanwhile, the 17-year-old upstart participated in a time trial in the 100 butterfly, with his time of 51.83 under the Tokyo qualifying standard of 51.96.

Tatjana Schoenmaker, who figures to contend for the podium at the Olympics in breaststroke competition, won the 100 breast in 1:06.88, with Lara van Niekerk following in 1:07.73. Schoenmaker is strongest in the 200 breaststroke, an event in which she will contend for gold in Tokyo. Dune Coetzee bested the field in the women’s 100 butterfly in 59.67.

Other notable times came from Ethan du Preez in the 200 butterfly (1:57.85) and Pieter Coetzee in the 100 backstroke (54.31).

Swimming South Africa’s Olympic Qualifying Times:

Pieter Coetze – 100m backstroke – 53.62 (relay)
Ethan du Preez – 200m butterfly – 1:56.44
Chad le Clos – 200m butterfly – 1:55.88
Matthew Sates – 200m IM – 1:57.60 (heats); 100m butterfly – 51.83
Emma Chelius – 50m freestyle – 24.72 (heats)
Kaylene Corbett – 200m breaststroke – 2:25.18
Tatjana Schoenmaker – 200m breaststroke – 2:20.17; 100m breaststroke – 1:05.74

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