South African Long Course Nationals: Roland Schoeman Posts Quick Time, Wendy Trott Rattles National Record

DURBAN, South Africa, April 16. THE South African Long Course Nationals kept moving right along with quick performances in several events this evening.

Roland Schoeman blitzed the men's 50 free semifinal round with a 22.16. That time put Schoeman into eighth in the world this year. Gideon Louw qualified second in 22.34 making him 11th in the world rankings. Graeme Moore (22.93) and Werner Bosman (23.19) qualified third and fourth.

Wendy Trott just missed her national record in the women's 400 free with a 4:08.57. That effort came up short of her national mark of 4:08.38, and moved her close to the top 10 in the world rankings this year. Leone Vorster touched second in 4:14.15, while Bianca Meyer grabbed third in 4:24.30.

Cameron van der Burgh won the men's 50 breast in an easy 27.93 to move into the top 10 in the world rankings this year. Van der Burgh, the world-record holder in the event with a 26.67 from last year, still has a way to go to return to his form from a year ago. Donaven van der Merwe picked up second in 28.67, while Giulio Zorzi touched third in 28.78.

Darian Townsend claimed the men's 100 fly title in 53.40, while Chad Le Clos finished second overall in 53.53. Neil Watson completed the sub-54s with a third-place effort of 53.73. Townsend doubled up with a 2:00.10 to capture the men's 200 IM. Sebastien Rousseau placed second in 2:01.01, while Le Clos earned third in 2:01.55.

Mandy Loots took home the women's 200 back title in 2:14.88. Jessica Ashley-Cooper finished a distant second in 2:16.30, while Natasha De Vos grabbed third in 2:17.28. Taryn Mackenzie touched out Ronwyn Roper, 1:12.20 to 1:12.42, in the women's 100 breast. Marguerite Van Zyl completed the podium in 1:12.51.

Charl Van Zyl cleared 56 seconds to win the men's 100 back in 55.73. Ricky Ellis placed second in 56.14, while Darren Murray claimed third in 56.56. Karin Prinsloo followed in the women's 50 free with a winning time of 26.29. Vanessa Mohr picked up second in 26.73, while Jo-Mari Van Zyl clinched third in 27.11. Chanelle Van Wyk won the women's 50 back in 29.28, while Prinsloo took second in 29.42. Ashley-Cooper wound up third in 29.62.

In multi-disability events, Kevin Paul and Craig Groenewald were listed first in the men's 50 free with times of 25.65 and 26.43. The same two swimmers were then listed first in the men's 50 breast with times of 30.99 and 33.96. Natalie Du Toit and Yvonne Smith were listed first in the women's 50 free with times of 30.07 and 31.87. Renette Bloem and Cornelia Fowler were listed first in the women's 50 breast with times of 46.99 and 47.18.

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