2021 SOUTH AFRICAN SC CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, September 15th – Sunday, September 19th
- GC Jolliffe Pool, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
- SCM (25m)
- SwimSwam Preview
- Day 2 Recap/Day 3 Recap/Day 4 Recap
- Results (when available)/Meet Mobile
University of Georgia-bound Matt Sates continued his tear at these 2021 South African Short Course Championships, bringing his total number of titles to a remarkable 10. His counterpart on the women’s side was Rebecca Meder, with the Seagulls swimmer clinching her 6th title to close out the meet.
For Sates, the 18-year-old threw down a big-time 4:07.93 to top the men’s 400m IM podium, beating the field by well over 7 seconds.
At this same meet last year, Sates was 4:11.51 in this event so the teen blew that out of the water in his first sub-4:10 outing ever. With his result, he now checks in as the 6th fastest South African ever in the event.
Post-race, Sates said, “I wasn’t really expecting to go that fast especially because I didn’t push that hard in the other strokes – I was just holding on for the free.
“I think I can go quite a bit faster if I really have my mind focused on it.”
In addition to the men’s 100m breast in 59.11, Sates also took the 50m free title over domestic rival Pieter Coetze, with the pair separated by just .03. Sates hit the wall in 21.96 while 17-year-old Coetze was right there for silver in 21.99.
Of note, Tuks swimmer Coetze time-trialed a 200m back, scoring a super solid 1:51.40. Not only did that easily clear the 1:52.66 time needed to qualify for the Short Course World Championships but the performance also ranks the teen as #3 on the all-time South African list in the event. Only national record holder George Du Rand (1:47.08) and Chad Le Clos (1:51.02) have been faster.
As for Meder, she ripped a mark of 4:36.79 to reap gold in the women’s edition of the 400m IM. After the race, she commented, “I enjoyed it, but it burned a heck of a lot.
“My best before this was a 4:37 so this is a PB [personal best]. As a 200IM swimmer, I’m supposed to be doing the 400IM so I’m glad I’m back. I’m done and dusted now on a big bang so I’m happy.
Lara Van Niekerk made it a breaststroke double, adding the 100m breast to her 200m victory earlier in the meet. Tonight she posted 1:05.00 sit only behind Tatjana Schoenmaker in the South African rankings.