The South African swimming team tops the medal podium on Day 01 of the CANA Zone IV Championships
Lise Coetzee (14) and Kelly-Ann Brown (14) had a record breaking start to the competition, finishing with the gold and silver in the 800m freestyle, both under the previous 2017 Championship Record of 9:37.40 in 9:32.31 and 9:37.00, while Mauritius’ Ines Gebert (14) claimed the bronze in 10:36.11.
Coetzee topped the medal podium once again in the 100m backstroke with a new Championship Record time of 1:09.08, ahead of SA’s Emma Kuhn (14) in 1:11.23 and Gebert in 1:13.01. Kuhn also finished second in the 50m breaststroke in 35.21.
16 year old Kelsea Munro won the 100m backstroke title with a new Championship Record time of 1:07.87, beating the 2009 mark which stood at 1:09.90 held by SA’s Hayley Plumpstead.
In the men’s U14 800m freestyle, Leshen Pillay (14) raced to another Championship Record, winning the gold in a fast 9:28.58, followed by team-mate Kian Keylock (13) in 10:04.58 and Botswana’s Benco van Rooyen (14) in 10:18.64.
Keylock also won the bronze in the 100m backstroke with a time of 1:07.00.
Cameron Casali (16) won a gold and two silvers during the opening day, finishing first in the 100m backstroke in 1:03.17, second in the 800m freestyle in 9:12.41, while in the 50m breaststroke; Casali touched the wall in 32.03 behind team-mate Jakobus Terblanche (16) in 31.98 and ahead of Angola’s Salvador Gordo (16) in 32.26.
Megan Shepherd (15) secured the silver in the 50m breaststroke, clocking 35.61 ahead of SA’s Ashton Volkwyn (16) in 36.02 and followed that performance with a bronze in the 800m freestyle, with a time of 10:10.34.
The ladies’ U14 4 x 200m medley relay team concluded the evening on a high note with a gold medal, clocking 2:09.74, while the men’s U14 relay team finished with the silver in 2:02.54. In the Over 15 200m medley relay, the ladies’ took the top spot with a new Championship Record time of 2:03.95 ahead of Mauritius in 2:08.85 and Namibia in 2:10.78.
The competition continues tomorrow with the Open Water races, which will take place at the Oanob Dam from 08h30.
Medal rankings (after day 1):
|
Country |
Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
|
South Africa |
8 |
8 |
3 |
19 |
|
Namibia |
4 |
6 |
5 |
15 |
|
Zimbabwe |
3 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
|
Botswana |
2 |
3 |
3 |
8 |
|
Mauritius |
2 |
3 |
3 |
8 |
|
Seychelles |
2 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
|
Angola |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
Zambia |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
Kenya |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Mozambique |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
Uganda |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
|
Malawi |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Swimming South Africa
011 404 2480
Swimming South Africa is the governing body of aquatics in South Africa.
Its objective is to encourage the practice of aquatic disciplines for all in South Africa with the purpose of promoting swimming as a life skill through Learn To Swim programmes; providing healthy exercise to South Africans of all ages and races; recruiting recreational swimmers to compete in the various competitions; and promoting competition and athlete development to the highest level. Swimming South Africa is kindly supported by SASCOC, National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, Arena, Sport & Recreation SA and Rand Water.