As we roll into the 2nd day of the 2012 South African Olympic Swimming Trials in Durban, those old politicals have reared their heads again. Though the rules seem to indicate that athletes who hit FINA A-times in two different meets will be selected, the sports governing body has been very careful not to declare anybody as a member of the Olympic Team.
They've used very carefully-crafted phrases like “stamped their names in on the Olympic team short list last night” and “penciled their names in on the Olympic Team short list” to describe the four swimmers who hit FINA Automatic Qualifying times on Monday. For now, it appears as though this proverbial “short list” is where SSA will temporarily house those swimmers who have met qualifying criteria while they work out who should actually go, and in which events.
Men's 100 Breast
Cameron van der Burgh snuck under the minute mark in this 100 breaststroke final with a 59.90 that ranks him 3rd in the world this year (behind only a pair of Japanese). He didn't take this race out all that fast, but he closed a full second better than anyone else in the field for a comfortable win.
In 2nd was former Georgia Bulldog Neil Versfeld in 1:00.99 – missing the FINA A time by two-tenths. That will leave him off of the Olympic Team (for now). That's not a bad swim for Versfeld, though he was faster at last year's Open Nationals. He's still within contention for a spot in the 200, which is his better event.
Women's 100 Fly
As expected, Vanessa Mohr was pacing herself and early rounds and dropped big in the final to take the win. But also as we alluded to, the drop she needed to make the Olympic A-qualifying time was too far, and she ended with only a 59.72. For the 17-year old, that's not faster than Mandy Loots‘ semi-finals time, though it did better her 59.81 frp, finals.
Mohr was expected to easily clear the OQT (she's done so before), and so for now won't be on the Olympic Team. That could be mitigated by the clause in the South African qualifying rules relating to prospects headed towards 2016; since this is a FINA consideration time, she may end up in London afterall.
Women's 400 Free
Wendy Trott had an oustanding short course season racing NCAA for the University of Georgia, but in this, her first race, her Olympic Trials haven't been able to match. She swam only a 4:12.86 in this race; that wins the National Title, but is well off of the Olympic Qualifying Time. It would have been a push for her to make that standard in this event anyway (and it's not really where she's putting her big hopes), but to be a second slower than she was last year will make the 800 nervewacking on the confidence.
Still, based on her 8:28 done in december at US Winter Nationals, she's got enough of a cushion that she should be ok.
In 2nd was 15-year old Michelle Weber in 4:15.91. She's much like Trott in that she really improves as the races get longer; she's got an outside shot at being a second qualifier in the 800 free later in the meet (though it would take a significant drop). Jessica Pengelly was 3rd in 4:16.35.
Semi-Finals
Karin Prinsloo, who's already put herself on the short list for London, took top honors in the 100 back in 1:01.15. That's a lifetime-best for her and just .01 away from a National Record in the race. She won't get much in the way of a push in the finals, though Jessica Ashley-Cooper did swim pretty well in the semi's in 1:03.22. Ashley-Cooper was on the Arizona roster for the 2010-2011 season, though there's no record of her actually competing for the Wildcats.
Chad le Clos remained atop the heap in the 200 free semi-finals with a 1:47.20. That's a FINA Automatic Qualifying Time, though with a loaded event schedule he won't necessarily choose to swim that race individually. Darian Townsend, Sebastien Rousseau, and Jean Basson (all American trained) were all 1:49.0 or better, and continued to improve at this meet. They'll all hope for another little surge in finals, however. Especially Basson.
Michigan commit Dylan Bosch made his second final in as many days with a 1:50.80 for the 5th seed.
Suzaan van Biljon, who though still quite young is returning off of a brief 2010 retirement, took the top seed in the 100 breast in 1:08.60. She's got just another tenth for the FINA Automatic qualifying time in the race; here's to hoping that the 2008 finalist can make the squad. 18-year old Taryn MacKenzie was 2nd in 1:11.14, and the future, 13-year old Erin Anderson also made the final in an impressive 1:12.78.
Charl Crous will maintain the South African Olympic presence in this 100 back with a 54.19 in the semifinals that already clear the A-cut. As we reported earlier, it appears that longtime backstroke king Gerhard Zandberg may have called it a career, as he's not entered in this meet. As it is, that time is his best by about 7-tenths, so the South Africans should emerge in a positive position. Darren Murray swam a best time as well with a 54.96.
Nothing too significant happened in the men's 400 free relay. Roland Schoeman led off in a 50.77 for Northern Tigers Swimming, followed by a 49.5 for Gideon Louw. USA Junior College champion Bradley Tandy led off his KwalaZulu-Natal Aquatics squad with a 50.80.
Full, Live results available here.