Commonwealth Games champion Chad le Clos secured the first spot on the South African Olympic team with his win in the distance medley on night one of the South African Nationals. Le Clos, a five-time medalist at the inaugural Youth Olympics in 2010 earned his first trip the actual Olympics with a 10th ranked time of 4:13.86. That time comes up just short of his personal best of 4:13.25. Finishing second in the race was Riaan Schoeman who touched in 4:15.60. That time earns him a trip to London as well as it clears the FINA A standard of 4:16.46.
In the women’s 400 IM it was Kathryn Meaklim who took the win in 4:37.70 to move up to 11th on the year. That time earns her a trip to her second Olympic Games; she finished 10th in this event four years ago. The time also came up just short of her South African record of 4:37.11 from Beijing. She will be the lone representative in the event as second place finisher Jessica Pengelly was well short of the 4:41.75 needed as she finished in 4:46.47.
It was Heerden Herman who used a strong last 100 meters to secure the win in the 400 free and sneak under the FINA A standard with a time of 3:48.57. That just cleared the 3:48.92 needed to earn a trip to London however according to South Africa Swimming the athletes must achieve the FINA A standard twice in a 10 month period (one must be in the finals at Nationals) to earn an Olympic spot, because this was the first time Herman had cleared the standard it is unclear whether he will earn be added to the Olympic roster in this event. That time does however moves him up to 15th this year and with his specialty the 1500 meter in the week he still has a chance to solidify his spot at this meet. Taking second was Myles Brown who led through the first 300 meters before falling off at the end to touch in 3:51.70. Notably Jean Basson who qualified second into the final decided to scratch to focus his attention on his other events this week.
In semfinal action it was world record holder and 50 breaststroke world champion Cameron van der Burgh who led qualifiers in the 100 breast. Van der Burgh touched in 1:00.36, well under the FINA A standard and good enough for seventh in the world this year. He will need to repeat that performance tomorrow to earn an Olympic spot. In second in Neil Versfeld in 1:01.79, exactly a second off the A mark. Sitting third is Rory Buck in 1:02.36.
So far the only swimmer to post the Olympic Qualifying Standard in Vanessa Mohr who swam under the mark at last year’s world championships. She touched second in semis with a time of 1:00.80 and will need to be under 58.70 tomorrow night in finals to get to London. Leading qualifiers was Mandy Loots in 59.44. The veteran is trying to earn a fourth trip to the Olympics after making her debut as a 17 year old way back in 1996.