SA swimmers breeze through Africa Games qualifying heats

Team South Africa turned in a strong performance on Thursday at the African Games in Rabat, with all the swimming competitors advancing in their respective heats.

Team SA swimmers do Mzansi proud

In women’s 200m freestyle, Jessica Whelan (2:07.07) won her heat and qualified for the final second fastest. Christin Mundell(2:08.26) finished third in her heat and qualified fifth fastest for the final.

Martin Binedell won his heat in 1:53.05 and Brent Szurdoki finished third in 1:54.15 in the men’s 200m freestyle. Both qualified for the evening finals in third and seventh places overall, respectively.

Christin Mundell won her heat by over four seconds in 1:11.23, while Kaylene Corbett won hers in 1:12.11 to set up a potential 1-2 in the evening finals of the women’s 100m breaststroke.

Alaric Basson was fastest in qualifying with 1:01.56, while Michael Houlie clocked 1:02.74 for fourth fastest heading into the men’s 100m breaststroke finals.

Erin Gallagher won her heat in 27.26, with Emma Chelius second in 27.84 in the women’s 50m butterfly heats. They qualified for the finals third and fifth fastest, respectively.

Doug Erasmus finished second in his heat in 24.26 and Ryan Coetzee finished second in his heat in 24.54, to qualify fourth and fifth fastest heading into the men’s 50m butterfly finals.

In the mixed 4x100m medley relay, SA won their heat in 4:03.86 to qualify fastest for the evening final.

The swimming finals will take place on Thursday evening.

In the men’s table tennis, South Africa (Byrone Abrahams, Cheetan Nathoo and Kurt Lingeveldt) beat their Djibouti opponents 3-0 (3-0, 3-0, 3-1).

Team SA have gathered a total of 14 medals at the 2019 African Games so far with the swimming programme expected to bolster that number. South Africa are third on the medals table behind.

Team SA at 12th African Games

This is where Team SA got their medals at the 12th African Games in Rabat and Casablanca, Morocco.

GOLD (7)
Tiffany Keep (cycling), women’s mountain biking cross-country
Erin Gallagher (swimming), women’s 100m freestyle
Kaylene Corbett (swimming), women’s 50m breaststroke
Michael Houlie (swimming), men’s 50m breaststroke
Martin Binedell (swimming), men’s 200m backstroke
Women’s 4x100m freestyle relay (Erin Gallagher, Jessica Whelan, Kerrin Herbst and Emma Chelius)
Men’s 4x100m freestyle relay (Brad Tandy, Ryan Coetzee, Martin Binedell and Doug Erasmus)

SILVER (5)
Michaela Whitebooi (judo), women’s 48kg
Unelle Snyman (judo), women’s 78kg
Christin Mundell (swimming), women’s 50m breaststroke
Samantha Randle (swimming), women’s 200m backstroke
Samantha Randle (swimming), women’s 1500m freestyle

BRONZE (2)
Emma Chelius (swimming), women’s 100m freestyle
Carla Antonopoulos (swimming), women’s 1500m freestyle

MEDALS BY CODES

Swimming (11)
6 gold: Erin Gallagher, Kaylene Corbett, Michael Houlie, Martin Binedell, (women’s 4x100m freestyle)
3 silver: Christin Mundell, Samantha Randle x2
2 bronze: Emma Chelius, Carla Antonopoulos

Judo (2)
2 silver: Michaela Whitebooi (48kg), Unette Snyman (78kg)

Cycling (1)
1 gold: Tiffany Keep (mountain biking cross-country)