DURBAN, South Africa, April 17. AFTER a day in which four swimmers cleared FINA A cuts to earn Olympic spots, two more were able to lock down Olympic bids during day two of the South African Long Course Nationals in Durban.<\/p>\n
Unlike most countries, South Africa is reportedly allowing swimmers to make the Olympic roster with times from prelims, semifinals or finals. This was the case today in two semifinal swims. <\/p>\n
FINALS<\/B>
\nCameron van der Burgh secured an Olympic berth in the men's 100 breast with a sterling time of 59.90. That swim jumped him to third in the world behind Kosuke Kitajima (58.90) and Ryo Tateishi (59.60) and is just the fourth sub-1:00 time in the world with Christian Sprenger clocking a 59.91 in Australia last month. The performance guaranteed van der Burgh's second Olympic appearance after competing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. <\/p>\n
Neil Versfeld placed second in 1:00.99 for 22nd in the world rankings, but just outside an Olympic bid after missing the FINA A cut of 1:00.79. Giulio Zorzi earned third in 1:02.61. Notably, Terence Parkin finished fifth in 1:03.71. The 32-year-old deaf swimmer earned the silver medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics for South Africa in the men's 200 breast, and could have a shot of making the Olympic team in that distance on Friday.<\/p>\n
Vanessa Mohr trumped Mandy Loots for the women's 100 fly win, 59.72 to 59.81. Loots had been faster during semis with a 59.44. Both swimmers missed the FINA A cut of 58.70. Both swimmers cleared the FINA B cut of 1:00.75. It is up to South Africa which swimmer it would desire to nominate for a provisional Olympic berth as the top swimmer with a B cut. Marne Erasmus wound up third in 1:00.84. <\/p>\n
Wendy Trott claimed the women's 400 free title in 4:12.86, but missed the automatic qualifying time of 4:09.35. She did, however, better the FINA provisional qualifying mark of 4:18.07 to potentially earn a spot on the Olympic roster. Michelle Weber (4:15.91) and Jessica Pengelly (4:16.35) completed the podium. <\/p>\n
MULTI-CLASS FINALS<\/B>
\nKevin Paul was listed first in the men's 100 breast with a 1:05.94, while Brazil's Daniel Dias clocked a 1:39.36 in the event. Natalie Du Toit, meanwhile, was listed first in the women's 100 breast with a 1:29.84, while Renette Bloem placed second in 1:39.06 at the age of 48. <\/p>\n
SEMIFINALS<\/B>
\nKarin Prinsloo led the way in the women's 100 back with a 1:01.15, while Jessica Ashley-Cooper qualified second in 1:03.22. Lehesta Kemp qualified third in 1:03.44. <\/p>\n
Chad Le Clos, who qualified for the Olympics in the men's 400 IM yesterday, is well on his way towards a second individual swim with a 1:47.20 to lead the way in the men's 200 free. That swim cleared the FINA A cut, and gave him another individual event in London. The time also moved him to 11th in the world rankings. Darian Townsend (1:48.26), Sebastien Rousseau (1:48.58) and Jean Basson (1:49.02) qualified second through fourth in the event. With Le Clos already qualified in the event, only one FINA A standard swim will qualify in the final — unless two others swim faster than Le Clos' semifinal time.<\/p>\n
Suzaan van Biljon nearly cleared the FINA A cut in the women's 100 breast with a 1:08.60. That swim is just off the 1:08.48 Olympic qualifying standard. Taryn Mackenzie (1:11.14) and Ronwyn Roper (1:11.30) qualified second and third. <\/p>\n
Charl Crous made the Olympic squad with his 54.19 from semis of the men's 100 back. That swim bettered the FINA A cut of 54.40, and moved Crous to 20th in the world rankings. Darren Murray (54.96) and Ricky Ellis (56.03) rounded out the top three qualifiers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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