South African swimmers had set six Africa records heading into Saturday’s fifth day at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships (25m short-course) in Budapest. Rebecca Meder had set four new Africa marks, while Stephanie Houtman and the mixed medley relay team each chalked up one.
Caitlin de Lange made it a seventh Africa record for the team when she finished second in her 50m freestyle heat in 24.14 and qualify for the semi-finals in 12th overall. There was also an Africa record for the mixed 4x100m medley, while in the evening Chris Smith broke the men’s world junior 50m breaststroke record.
SATURDAY’S ROUNDUP
Men’s 400m medley (heats): Kian Keylock finished 10th in his heat in 4:23.22, which placed him 36th overall and missing a place in the final
Women’s 50m freestyle (heats) AFRICA RECORD! Caitlin de Lange finished second in her heat in an Africa record 24.14, who saw her reach the semi-finals with the 12th fastest time
Men’s 50m breaststroke (heats): Michael Houlie (pictured) won his heat in 25.77 and qualified for the semi-finals as fourth fastest
Men’s 50m breaststroke (heats): Chris Smith finished fourth in his heat in 26.02 and qualified for the semi-finals as 10th fastest
Women’s 50m breaststroke (heats): Lara van Niekerk placed eighth in her heat in 30.36 which put her 23rd overall and missing out on the semi-finals
Men’s 800m freestyle (timed final): Kris Mihaylov produced a time of 7:03.56 which placed him 20th overall
Mixed 4x100m medley relay (heats) AFRICA RECORD: Team SA (Ruard van Renen, Rebecca Meder, Chad le Clos and Caitlin de Lange) finished sixth in their heat in 3:37.31 which was a new Africa record. It was 10th fastest overall and didn’t qualify them for the final
Women’s 50m freestyle (semi-finals): Caitlin de Lange finished eighth in her semi-final in 24.21, which was 15th fastest and she missed out on a place in the final
Men’s 50m breaststroke (semi-finals) WORLD JUNIOR RECORD! Chris Smith broke the world junior record when winning his semi-final in 25.66 which sees him go into the final as third fastest qualifier. Michael Houlie was third in the same semi-final in 25.69 and is sixth fastest qualifier for Sunday’s final
WORLD JUNIOR RECORDS
Chris Smith (men’s 50m breaststroke) 25.66
AFRICA RECORDS
Rebecca Meder (women’s 100m medley, heats) 58.55
Rebecca Meder (women’s 100m medley, semi-finals) 57.69
Rebecca Meder (women’s 200m medley, semi-finals) 58.55
Rebecca Meder (women’s 200m medley, final) 2:05.61
Caitlin de Lange (women’s 50m freestyle) 24.14
Stephanie Houtman (women’s 1500m freestyle, heats) 16:09.12
Mixed 4x50m medley: Team SA (Jessica Thompson, Michael Houlie, Caitlin de Lange and Kris Mihaylov) 1:41.32
Mixed 4x100m medley: Team SA (Ruard van Renen, Rebecca Meder, Chad le Clos and Caitlin de Lange)
SOUTH AFRICAN RECORDS
Rebecca Meder (women’s 200m medley, heats) 2:06.15
Rebecca Meder (women’s 200m medley, final) 2:05.61
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