After Chad le Clos became the first official qualifier for the South African World Championship team in Friday morning’s timed finals, nobody hit a qualifying standard in an applicable event on Friday evening.
Roland Schoeman, however, took a front-half split from his 100 free to make a FINA A standard in the 50 free. The American-trained Schoeman was a 22.19 en route to a 59.47 total time (second to last); though South African rules originally didn’t specifically allow for a qualification in this manner, given the numerous delays of the meet and reformatting because of the green pool, the best bet would be that the swim will be good enough to send Schoeman to the World Championships unless two are faster in the individual 50 on Saturday morning.
As for the winners of the full prescribed events, Chad le Clos won the 100 in 48.95 ahead of Leith Shankland in 49.44. It’s not clear what the South Africans are going to do about a potential 400 free relay, given that there was no Graeme Moore, no Gideon Luow, and Schoeman was going for his 50 time.
Aside from Schoeman’s split, there were very few times of any real significance in this session. Michael Meyer won the 200 IM in 2:01.69, which is a best time for him by half-a-second. The Arizona-trained swimmer is having a good meet, and will eye the 400 IM on Saturday for his best shot at qualification.
In the 50 backstroke, the big return of Gerhard Zandberg, South Africa’s giant-like answer to Matt Grevers, from a brief retirement. He won the race in 24.88, which despite the layoff is just half-a-second from his previous career best.
Jessica Ashley-Cooper won the women’s 50 backstroke in 29.00, which is within half-a-second of the National Record as well.
Where are Gideon Loew and Graeme Moore?
They are retired from the sport