CASABLANCA, Morocco, September 17. THE fourth day of the African Long Course Championships is in the bag with South Africa continuing to dominate the bulk of the medal stands.
South Africa went 1-2 to start the day in the women's 100 fly with 15-year-old Vanessa Mohr touching out Amanda Loots, 59.72 to 59.76, for the win. Both swimmers cleared the previous meet record of 1:00.58 set by Loots in 2008. Egypt's Farida Osman wound up third in 1:02.05.
South Africa's Jay Cee Thomson topped the men's 400 free in 3:53.12, while Tunisia's Ahmed Mathlouthi took second in 3:56.15 with both men under the former meet record of 3:57.30 set by Troyden Prinsloo in 2004. South Africa's Devon Brown claimed third in 3:57.64.
Morocco's Sara El Bekri continued to have a solid meet at home with a championship-record time of 1:10.82 in the women's 100 breast. That swim cleared the 1:11.84 set by Tamaryn Laubscher in 2006. Tunisia's Sarra Lajnef took second in 1:12.05, while South Africa's Kathryn Meaklim placed third in 1:12.11.
South Africa's William Diering put up a 2:15.65 in the men's 200 breast, lowering his 2008 meet record of 2:16.00. Algeria's Sofiane Daid touched second in 2:16.53, while Egypt's Sherif Madkour grabbed third in 2:19.25.
Meaklim earned her second podium of the night with a winning 8:55.12 to win the women's 800 free. Teammate Rene Warnes finished second in 8:57.42, while Algeria's Malya Mghezzi Bakhouche placed third in 9:06.94.
In relay action, South Africa's Jay Cee Thomson, Neil Watson, Werner Bosman and Wesley Gilchrist won the men's 400 free relay in a meet-record 3:23.99.