Pieter Coetzé became the first swimmer to claim a World Aquatics Championships qualifying time at the SA National Swimming Championships, which got underway in Gqeberha on Wednesday.
The 20-year-old dipped under the 100m backstroke qualifying mark in the morning heat in 53.03 seconds and then went even quicker in the final, taking the win ahead of Ruard van Renen in a time of 52.71 seconds.
Coetzé, who reached both the Olympic 100m and 200m backstroke finals in Paris last year, wasn’t too sure what to expect after not racing since October.
“I was a bit scared of being a bit rusty, and I’m very happy with that for now,” he said after the final.
“This morning felt very smooth, so I knew I was probably going to dip under 53 [seconds]. It was just a question of how far I could go under 53. It would have been nicer to go even faster, but compared to what I was thinking might happen after so many months of not racing, this is amazing and I’ll take it.”
Coetzé added that Wednesday’s performance had boosted his confidence ahead of turning his attention to the 50 and 200m backstroke as well as the 50 and 100m freestyle.
The women’s 100m backstroke title was won by 17-year-old Jessica Thompson, who staved off a tough challenge from Milla Drakopoulos to win in a time of 1:01.68. Drakopoulos was second in 1:01.92.
Usually known for the individual medley, Rebecca Meder continued to build her credentials as a breaststroker. The New Zealand-based star made the most of the absence of the retired Tatjana Smith and the injured Lara van Niekerk to claim her first national 100m breaststroke title in the long course pool, winning in a time of 1:07.50.
Meder swam just one token event at last year’s SA National Championships after suffering a ruptured appendix a few weeks before the competition, so she’s also looking to reclaim several of the national titles she relinquished in other events.
“It was a little bit nerve-wracking because I haven’t raced here in a while and you don’t know what other people are capable of doing,” she said. “I always joke and say my appendix left my body and I became a breaststroker, so I’m really enjoying getting into the breaststroke events. It gives me something else to focus on apart from the medley.”
The men’s 100m breaststroke final was billed as a showdown between fellow World Short Course Championship finalists Michael Houlie and Chris Smith. It was the 19-year-old Smith who prevailed, taking the title in 1:01.57 with Houlie second in 1:01.79 and Matthew Randle a close third in 1:01.82.
Meanwhile, Matthew Sates got his busy week off to a winning start. The 21-year-old has returned from a training stint in Switzerland to take on 10 events at these championships and kicked things off by successfully defending his national 200m freestyle title. States claimed the win in a time of 1:47.49.
The women’s 200m freestyle final witnessed a massive battle between defending champion Aimee Canny, Duné Coetzee and Meder over the closing metres. It was ultimately Coetzee who took the title in a time of 1:59.09 with Meder second in 1:59.38 and Canny third in 1:59.48.
“I always love, love racing with all of them,” said Coetzee afterwards. “I’ve been racing with Aimee and Becky since I was super little, so it's always nice having them there with me.
“I tried to just take it out a little bit more calm in the first half of the race and then let go in the last little bit. It was great, such a fun race, and I'm so close to a best time, so I'm really happy with that.”
Several Para-swimmers delivered standout performances, breaking senior national records in the morning heats and then surpassing those times again in the evening finals. Kat Swanepoel impressed with a new SB4 50m breaststroke record of 1:07.54, followed by another national mark of 1:53.91 in the S5 100m backstroke final. Alani Ferreira also starred, setting a new SB12 50m breaststroke record with a time of 38.76 seconds.
Swimming action continues at the Newton Park Swimming Pool on Thursday morning and concludes on Sunday.
Photo credit: Roger Sedres