CAPE TOWN - Cape Town swimmers shone at the recent South Africa Short Course Championships, with Hannah Pearse and Rebecca Meder winning and breaking records in the 200m backstroke and 100m individual respectively.
The event took place at the 25m indoor Seals Swim Centre in Pietermaritzburg from Wednesday to Sunday.
Pearse thrilled with her performance, bringing home the gold when she won the 200m backstroke title with a B qualifying time of 2:10.27.
“I knew my front-end speed was going to be there, so I just knew I had to believe in myself in the last 100 and just hang on. I’m so surprised,” said Pearse.
“I think the biggest surprise this season so far was my speed, my 100 was a lot faster than it usually was. I’m just excited to build on this, my skill and fitness is still there, and see where it can go.”
Making her mark in the women’s 200m individual medley was 19-year-old Meder.
The local Olympic swimmer claimed another victory in 2:10.63 – her second A qualifying time of the championships.
“I’m happy with that. My PB [personal best] is a 2:09 from last year, but I can be stoked with a 2:10, especially after swimming the 100 free just under an hour ago. I’m pretty happy with that. It’s an A qualifying time so I can’t be disappointed.”
She also earlier claimed back the SA record from rival Aimee Canny in the 100m individual medley, winning in a time of 1:00.00.
Another record-breaker was, Minke Janse van Rensburg, from George, in the 50m freestyle.
Her time of 33.87 second in the evening final on Saturday was even quicker than the new junior world record for swimmers with Down’s syndrome that she swam in the morning heats.
Cape Times