Durban — After a gold performance at the recent Commonwealth Games South African teen swimmer Lara van Niekerk stormed to yet another SA and African record at the SA Short Course Championships in KwaZulu-Natal.
The 19-year-old double Commonwealth Games gold medallist on Saturday claimed victory in the 50m breaststroke in 29.62 seconds, to better the record she set in the morning heats (29.67) and at the same event a year ago (29.85) in the Pietermaritzburg pool.
The swimmer’s weekend victory saw her secure another A qualification mark for the World Short Course Championships in Melbourne, Australia this December.
After the race, Van Niekerk said she thought results could have been slightly better if she had all that energy she had at the Commonwealths, adding that she also believed that the future will have better times.
“I definitely think I can go faster – especially coming back from such a big competition [like the Commonwealth Games; you are very tired,” she said after the race. “When I go back from the heats sessions, I literally just go and sleep … I’m dead because such a big competition takes so much out of you.”
Another teen swimmer, Pieter Coetzé dipped below the A qualifying mark on his way to victory in the 100m backstroke, in 51.08 seconds.
Coetzé, who also claimed the 50m freestyle title in 22.28, after edging ahead of Commonwealth Games teammate Clayton Jimmie (second in 22.32) said that following his performance he was excited to rest a little bit ahead of his next major competition, which will take place in Lima, Peru from August 30 to September 4.
“I just wanted to get at least one qualifying time here, so I was very happy to get that done and I’m excited to rest a little bit now ahead of the World Junior Championships It will be nice to get back to basics, train a little bit and get some school work done – and then I’m excited for Peru. It will be a long flight and everything, but I’m excited to see what I can do there,” he said.
Meanwhile, several other swimmers in Pietermaritzburg achieved B qualifying times, which will still put them in contention for selection for the World Short Course Championships later in the year.
These swimmers include Caitlin de Lange, Rebecca Meder, and PMB’s Matt Sates.
Daily News