Rebecca Meder, Kaylene Corbett Nab Worlds Spots in 200 Breast
The 200 breaststroke has long been a strong suit for the South African women’s program. Even without the retired Tatjana Smith, it seems to remain so.
Rebecca Meder continued a strong meet at the South African Senior Championships by winning the event Friday in 2:23.61. That’s an A Cut for the World Championships, as is the runner-up time of Olympian Kaylene Corbett, who went 2:24.70.
Corbett was seven seconds clear of the third-place finisher at the Newton Park Swimming Pool in Gqeberha. It’s Meder’s third individual championship of the meet.
Erin Gallagher and Pieter Coetzee dropped fast times in the 100 freestyle in Friday’s evening session.
Gallagher went 54.94 to win the women’s race. She was a half-second clear of Olivia Nel’s 55.46, with two other times under 56 seconds. The World Championships A cut is 54.25, which Gallagher was just shy of. Gallagher’s national record time is 54.23.
On the men’s side, Coetzee added another victory in 48.63, within three tenths of the A cut. Ruard van Renan was second in 49.34, with Guy Brooks in 59.39 and another strong swim from Kris Mihaylov to go 49.85.
Matt Sates dominated the men’s 400 individual medley with a time of 4:19.24 that was nearly 10 seconds clear of the field. Sates’ time is within two seconds of the World A Cut. It’s his fourth championship of a meet in which he’s entered in 10 events. Cameron Casali was second.
The men’s 200 breast went to Matthew Randle in a slower but closer race. His 2:15.27 was a half-second up on Shaun Thomas, with four swimmers sub 2:17. Caitlin Evans, all of 14 years old, won the women’s 400 IM in 5:00.16.
