Erin Gallagher Clinches Victory in 50 Free Event
After a thrilling competition at the SA National Championships, Erin Gallagher secured a well-deserved win in the 50 free event. With an impressive time of 24.95, Gallagher managed to outtouch Caitlin De Lange by a mere .01 seconds. De Lange, who set the pace in prelims with a time of 24.98, pushed herself even further in the finals but fell short of Gallagher’s performance. Jessica Thompson trailed behind in third place with a time of 25.41, unable to catch up to the leading swimmers.
The final day of the championships held at Newton Park Swimming Pool in Ggeberha saw Pieter Coetzee taking the top spot in the men’s 50 free event. Coetzee, who defended his top seed from prelims, clocked in at 22.45 in the finals. Clayton Jimmie put up a strong performance with times of 22.58 in the morning and 22.83 at night, securing the second position. Despite the intense competition, no new Olympic A cuts were achieved by the South African contingent on the last day of the meet.
Aimee Canny Takes on the 200 IM Challenge
With her recent Olympic qualification in the 200 free, Aimee Canny showed great promise in the 200 individual medley event. Coming in close at 2:12.23, Canny fell just a tenth short of the B cut requirement. The A cut for the event stands at 2:11.47, pushing swimmers to push their limits and strive for excellence. Tatjana Smith, formerly known as Tatjana Schoenmaker, claimed the second spot with a time of 2:13.88, demonstrating her prowess in the pool. Dakota Tucker put up a solid performance to secure the third position in the event.
In the men’s 200 IM, Matt Sates emerged victorious with a time of 1:59.98. Holding a comfortable lead over Henju Duvenhage, Sates showcased his skills in the pool but fell short of the Olympic A cut of 1:57.94. Stephanie Houtman dominated the women’s 1,500 free event with a time of 16:41.20, setting a fast pace and leaving her competitors in her wake. In the men’s 800 free, Kris Mihaylov led the pack with a time of 8:09.51, displaying determination and stamina in the pool.
