JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, December 3. OLYMPIC swimmer George du Rand led the charge for gold and championship records as the continent's stars continued to shine brightly on third evening of finals at the 9th African Swimming Championships held at the Ellis Park Aquatics Centre.<\/p>\n
While Du Rand collected the main honors in the 200 meter backstroke in a championship best time of 2: 01.02, to erase the previous record of 2:01.47 held by Egyptian Ahmen Hussen, Kenyan Achieng Ajulu-Bushell (32.64 in the 50 breaststroke) and Tunisian Oussama Mellouli (49.81 in the 100 freestyle), also had their names entered into the African Swimming Championship record books. Kenya's Jason Dunford (50.05) who ended second to Mellouli, previous held the championship record of 50.32.<\/p>\n
Dunford went one better in the 50 butterfly to win gold in a championship record time of 23.50, eclipsing his previous mark of 23.89.<\/p>\n
Three-time Olympian Mandy Loots also made it to the top of the medal podium in taking the women's 100 meters backstroke title in 1:05.21, while the SA men's line up of George du Rand, Darren Murray, Garth Tune and Thabang Moeketsane, claimed victory in the 400 medley relay in 3:48.36.<\/p>\n
The experience of Loots, accompanied by the youth brigade of Megan Scott, Dominique Dryding and Robyn Ferguson, finished second in the women's 400 freestyle relay in 4:06.54, with the title going to Tunisia in 3:58.45.<\/p>\n
The hosting of the African showpiece event in Johannesburg has been made possible through the support of Telkom, the City of Jo'burg, the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, Sport and Recreation SA, Gauteng Sport and Recreation, Arena and Bestmed.<\/p>\n
Swimmers from countries including Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Guinea, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zimbabwe and the hosts, South Africa have been a part of the challenge for medals.<\/p>\n
Special thanks to Swimming South Africa for contributing this report.<\/i><\/p>\n
Results<\/b>
\nMen:<\/b>
\n100 meters freestyle: 1 O Mellouli (Tun) 49.81, 2 J Dunford (Ken) 50.05, 3 F Ben Jeddi (Tun) 53.23
\n200 meters backstroke: 1 G du Rand (SA) 2:01.02, 2 D Murray (SA) 2:06.08, 3 T Mrabet (Tun) 2:10.82
\n50 meters butterfly: 1 J Dunford (Ken) 23.50, 2 G Tune (SA) 24.42, 3 Y Yeiyah (Nig) 25.27
\n4 x 100 meters medley relay: 1 SA 3:48.46, 2 Tunisia 3:57.85, 3 Angola 4:11.98<\/p>\n
Women:<\/b>
\n100 meters backstroke: 1 M Loots (SA) 1:05.21, 2 J Briedenhann (Nam) 1:08.04, 3 K Lapham (Zim) 1:10.12
\n50 meters breaststroke: 1 A Ajulu-Bushell (Ken) 32.64, 2 S Lajnef (Tun) 34.07, 3 R Ferguson (SA) 35.03
\n4 x 100 meters freestyle relay: 1 Tunisia 3:58.45, 2 SA 4:06.54, 3 Kenya 4:16.33<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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