World Short Course Championships Melbourne - Day 1 Summary
Day 1 of the World Short Course Championships in Melbourne, Australia, produced some awesome swimming from African participants. Herewith a short summary of events and results:
Day 1:
Relative to African participants, day 1 comprised of the 400m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke, 50m Butterfly, 200m Individual Medley and the 4x100m Freestyle Relay.
In the first event of the day, Womens 400m Freestyle, newcomer and debutant Stephanie Houtman won her heat in a time 4:13.16 but was unfortunately not enough to secure a place in the semis.
The Womens 100m backstroke had 6 African participants with Milla Drakopoulos (SA) swimming a time of 1:01.52, Donata Katai (ZIM) 1:01.85, Anishta Teeluck (MAR) 1:03.44, Idealy Tendrinavalona (MAD) 1:08.30, Naya Hughes (BOT) 1:09.68 and Raya Young (ESW) 1:18.68.
In the Mens 100m Backstroke, rising star Pieter Coetze (SA) clocked a time of 50.26 to earn a spot in the semi’s, with some impressive performances from Algeria’s Abdellah Ardjoune (ALG) 55.54 and Burundian Carel Irakoze (BUR) swimming a time of 1:02.86.
In the ladies 50m Butterfly, Uganda’s Tara Naluwoza (UGA) was the fastest African in a time of 27.71, Emily Visagie (SA) 28.39, Nubia Adjei (GHA) 29.11, Cassandre Zenon (CAM) 29.32, Jessica Makwenda (MAL) 35.18 and Marie Amenou (TOG) 43.54.
In the Mens 50m Butterfly, “veteran” sensation Chad le Clos (SA) set the pace with a 22.31, and fellow qualifier and Egyptian star Youssef Ramadan (EGY) 22.50. Other African swimmers results comprise of Abelrahman Sameh (EGY) 23.11, Clayton Jimmie (SA) 23.41, Jesse SSengonzi (UGA) 23.79, Abeiku Jackson (GHA) 23.87, Felipe Gomes (MAL) 25.90, Alassane Lancina (Niger) 26.63, Troy Pina (CV) 26.90, Simanga Dlamini (ESW) 28.70, Pap D Jonga (GAM) 29.20, Ezuldeen Qatat (LBA) 29.48 and rounding it up Magnim Daou (TOG) in a time of 34.76.
Rebecca Meder of South Africa was the only African participant in the Womens 200m IM, narrowly missing out on a top 8 spot, as she finished 10th in a time of 2:07.47. The Mens 200m IM had 2 African participants with rising SA sensation Matthew Sates qualifying for the semi’s in a time of 1:52.52 and Zimbabwe’s Liam O’Hara touching the wall in 2:04.90.
South Africa (Milla Drakopoulos, Caitlin de Lange, Emily Visage & Rebecca Meder) set a new African record in the Womens 4x100m Freestyle Relay in a time of 3:41.57.
In the Mens 50m Butterfly semi’s, le Clos (SA) swam another fast race to earn a spot in the finals with a time of 22.09 and Youssef Ramadan clocking 22.32 but was unable to stake a claim in the finals.
Mathew Sates grabbed the continents 1st gold medal in the 200IM, in a time of 1:50.15, setting another African Record in the process.
Rounding out day 1 was South Africa’s Pieter Coetze, who qualified for the semis in the 100m Backstroke in a new African Record time of 49.85.
Womens 400m Freestyle Heats
Stephanie Houtman (SA) 4:13.16
Womens 100m backstroke Heats
Milla Drakopoulos (SA) 1:01.52
Donata Katai (ZIM) 1:01.85
Anishta Teeluck (MAR) 1:03.44
Idealy Tendrinavalona (MAD) 1:08.30
Naya Hughes (BOT) 1:09.68
Raya Young (ESW) 1:18.68
Mens 100m Backstroke Heats
Pieter Coetze (SA) 50.26
Abdellah Ardjoune (ALG) 55.54
Carel Irakoze (BUR)1:02.86
Womens 50m Butterfly Heats
Tara Naluwoza (UGA)27.71
Emily Visagie (SA) 28.39
Nubia Adjei (GHA) 29.11
Cassandre Zenon (CAM) 29.32
Jessica Makwenda (MAL) 35.18
Marie Amenou (TOG) 43.54
Mens 50m Butterfly Heats
Chad le Clos (SA) 22.31
Youssef Ramadan (EGY) 22.50
Abelrahman Sameh (EGY) 23.11
Clayton Jimmie (SA) 23.41
Jesse SSengonzi (UGA) 23.79
Abeiku Jackson (GHA) 23.87
Felipe Gomes (MAL) 25.90
Alassane Lancina (NIG) 26.63
Troy Pina (CV) 26.90
Simanga Dlamini (ESW) 28.70
Pap D Jonga (GAM) 29.20
Ezuldeen Qatat (LBA) 29.48
Magnim Daou (TOG) 34.76
Womens 200m IM Heats
Rebecca Meder (SA) 2:07.47
Mens 200m IM Heats
Matthew Sates (SA) 1:52.52
Liam O’Hara (ZIM) 2:04.90
Womens 4x100m Freestyle Relay Heats
South Africa (Milla Drakopoulos, Caitlin de Lange, Emily Visage & Rebecca Meder) 3:41.57 AF
Mens 50m Butterfly Semis Heats
Chad le Clos (SA) 22.09
Youssef Ramadan (EGY) 22.32
Mens 200 IM Final
Mathew Sates (SA) 1:50.15 AF
Mens 100m Backstroke Semi
Pieter Coetze 49.85 AF
Photo credits: World Aquatics
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C.A.N.A. is the governing body of aquatics throughout Africa
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