Cape Town - Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Ryan Coetzee, Rio Olympics finalist Brad Tandy and youngster Rebecca Meder all dipped below the world championship qualifying marks in their respective events at the SA short-course championships in Durban on Friday.
According to the Team SA website, the 16-year-old Meder of Cape Town qualified for her first senior world championships when she posted a qualifying mark in the 200m individual medley in the morning heats.
She posted a time of 2 minutes 12.35 seconds in winning the event during the evening finals to beat breaststroke specialist Tatjana Schoenmaker to the wall.
Schoenmaker finished second with 2:13.11 with Marlies Ross bagging bronze in 2:13.27.
Coetzee won the 50m butterfly with a time of 22.99sec as Tandy touched second in 23.12. Doug Erasmus finished third in 23.60.
Olympic gold medallist Chad le Clos, who already qualified for the world championships in the 100m freestyle, also dipped below the qualifying mark in the 50m butterfly during the morning heats.
Zane Waddell, who already qualified in the men's 100m freestyle won the 100m backstroke final with a time of 51.63 seconds. He was followed by Jacques van Wyk (52.70) in second place and Leith Shankland (54.36).
Erin Gallagher, who already booked her place for the championships in the 100m freestyle, added the 50m butterfly to her repertoire.
She won the sprint event in 26.07 with Tayla Lovemore finishing behind her in 26.32. Emma Chelius bagged bronze by clocking 27.69.
Ayrton Sweeney won the men's 200m individual medley in 1:57.96 with Ruan Ras finishing second with 1:59.96 and Damian Mullen taking bronze in 2:00.08.
FINA World Champs qualifying times following day 2:
Men
Chad le Clos – 100m freestyle (46.45), 50m butterfly (22.57)
Zane Waddell – 100m freestyle (47.54)
Ryan Coetzee – 50m butterfly – (22.99)
Brad Tandy – 50m butterfly – (23.12)
Women
Tatjana Schoenmaker – 200m breaststroke – 2:18.93
Emily Visagie – 200m breaststroke – 2:23.03
Erin Gallagher – 100m freestyle (53.34), 50m butterfly (26.07)
Rebecca Meder – 200m IM (2:12.35)
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