Arguably the two biggest names in South African swimming, Roland Schoeman and Cameron van der Burgh, finally punched their tickets to the 2011 World Championships today in Port Elizabeth. Each got their first crack at a final, and each posted a time that ranks in the top 5 in the world.
First came Schoeman’s 50 fly. He blasted the field with a winning mark of 23.47 that easily cleared the field. It wasn’t quite as fast as his semi-finals time from yesterday, but was still the 5th-fastest swim in the world this season (his 23.43 from day 2 in the semi’s makes him the 3rd best in the world in 2011). Cal’s Grame Moore, who is a sprinter-extraordinaire in short course, will be fighting Chad le Clos for a relay spot in the 100 fly, was 2nd in 24.23.
Van der Burgh followed that performance 2 races later with a huge win in the 100 breaststroke in a time of 1:00.29. That makes him the 4th fastest in the world this season. He crushed the field on the second 50 to take a nearly 3-second victory in the race. He’s never been any sort of a 200 breaststroker, but that closing speed shows that maybe (just maybe) he’s working to add a second Olympic event to his paddock (though it’s admittedly a long shot). At only 22-years old, he’s certainly not too old to develop this endurance.
In women’s action, Karin Prinsloo added her 2nd and 3rd National Championships in the 100 free and 100 back. Her mark in the 100 free was 56.27, and her 100 back stood at a 1:02.05. The second of these times was a quarter-of-a-second off of her semi-final mark, which is disappointing as she flirted with a FINA A-cut in that race. Despite her 3 titles, she has not yet assured herself a trip to Shanghai, but at only 21-years old, South Africa would do well, when deciding their B-final swimmers, to include her name among the invited.
Kathryn Meaklim also entered the ranks of multiple-champions with her win in the 200 breaststroke, with a time of 2:30.29.
In the men’s 200 backstroke, George du Rand just snuck under the two-minute barrier with a 1:59.99 for the title. This time moves him into the top-25 in the world this season, but is just off of earning an automatic bid to Shanghai. Based on his time from last year’s Pan Pac Championships of 1:58.69, however, I feel that the committee will look favorably upon the veteran who is the current African record holder.
In the men’s 100 free semi-final, which is an event that has the most anticipation in terms of “racing” this week in South Africa, Graeme Moore posted the fastest time in 48.80, followed by a 49.02 from Gideon Luow and a 49.29 from Darian Townsend. Luow and Moore both cleared the FINA A time. Moore, who excelled in both butterfly and freestyle events while at Cal, appears to have slightly better long course potential in the freestyle events. His mark here ranks him 10th in the world this year.
There was only one women’s semi-final on Wednesday, the 100 fly, but it featured one heck of a swim from 16-year old Vanessa Mohr. That time blows away her career-best swim, and ranks her in the top 20 in the world. It also gives her a solid FINA A-cut, and a sizable cushion to clear her way to Shanghai in the final tomorrow.
Also Jean Basson lead off the 800 Free Relay in 1:48.66 clearing the World Champs A cut. He had been just off two days ago in the 200 Free final.
He sure did. By the strict letter of the law of the federation, the A-cuts must be swim in the individual to ensure a roster spot, but I think there’s little doubt that they’ll make a spot for him in that 200.