All Africa Games: Jason Dunford Flies to Victory, Kirsty Coventry Wins As Well
MAPUTO, Mozambique, September 7. SEVERAL more meet records fell during the third day of long course meter action at the All Africa Games. A few of the meet records also measured up against the world rankings.
Kenya's Jason Dunford, who stands sixth in the world rankings with a season-best 23.34 in the men's 50 fly at Worlds, clocked a meet record of 23.57 for the win tonight. That swim beat his previous standard of 23.91 from 2007. South Africa's Neil Watson (24.31) and Garth Tune (24.70) finished second and third.
Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry clipped her meet record in the women's 100 back with a winning time of 1:00.86. That effort lowered the 1:01.28 she set back in 2007. South Africa's Karin Prinsloo finished second in 1:01.46, while Algeria's Amel Melih took third in 1:07.27.
South Africa went 1-2 in the men's 200 back with both times clearing the previous meet mark of 2:02.46 set by Ahmed Hussein in 2007. Darren Murray (2:01.74) and Charl Crous (2:01.88) earned gold and silver for South Africa. Tunisia's Taki Mrabet earned third in 2:05.19.
South Africa's Roxanne Tammadge won the women's 400 free in 4:19.73. Tunisia's Sarra Lajnef picked up second in 4:20.75, while South Africa's Rene Warnes placed third in 4:21.58.
South Africa's Suzaan van Biljon missed her meet record (32.62) in the women's 50 breast with a triumphant 32.88 in the finale. Mozambique's Mariam Corsini took second for the hometown crowd in 33.74, while Nigeria's Racheal Tonjor wound up third in 33.81.
In relay action, South Africa's Karin Prinsloo, Natasha De Vos, Roxanne Tammadge and Suzaan van Biljon won the women's 400 free relay in 3:53.93, while compatriots Jasper Venter, Riaan Schoeman, Leith Shankland and Darian Townsend posted a meet record time of 7:33.63 to win the men's 800 free relay. That swim beat the 7:35.70 set by Algeria back in 2002.
Results from the men's 100 free were unreported.