Chad Le Clos pockets Men’s 400m IM title: Day one - South African Long Course Nationals
World champion, Chad Guy Bertrand Le Clos pocketed gold medal of the Men’s 400m Individual Medley (IM) on initial day of the South African Long Course Nationals at the KZN Aquatic-Kings Park Centre in Durban on Monday, April 16.
The 20-year-old Le Clos, who won gold medal of the 200m butterfly at 2010 Dubai Short Course World Championships, continued his devastating form in the national event and snared gold medal of the discipline.
Le Clos dominated the qualification rounds of the discipline and entered the final round as top contender for gold medal. With his alluring efforts, he gave no chance to his competitors and stifled their hopes by occupying gold medal of the discipline with
the timing of 4 minutes and 13.86 seconds.
His title-claiming effort remained considerably ahead of Riaan H Schoeman, who stayed nearly two seconds behind and tapped the finishing end for silver medal by touching the wall with the timing of 4 minutes and 15.60 seconds.
The second position holder was trailed by Michael J Meyer, who stayed 0.82 seconds slower from overpowering his former finisher and hit the wall with the timing of 4 minutes and 16.42 seconds for third position.
The fourth spot of the race was secured by Ayrton S Sweeney, who stayed nearly twelve seconds behind his foregoing competitor and emerged on the finishing end with the timing of 4 minutes and 28.81 seconds.
The 18-year-old Sweeney was trailed by Martin V Vogel, who proved his mettle for fifth best position of the discipline as he tapped the wall with an effort of 4 minutes and 30.22 seconds.
Vogel was followed by Paul Van Achterbergh, who remained nearly three seconds slower from his preceding swimmer and hit the wall with an effort of 4 minutes and 33.30 seconds for sixth position.
Similarly, Bertie J Nel occupied seventh position of the discipline as he posted 4 minutes and 37.69 seconds while Juandre Wiggill occupied eighth position by clocking 4 minutes and 42.19 seconds.
Furthermore, the session ended after the conclusion of all planned events while the championship will end on April 22 after the completion of all races.
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