Sports Reporter
JOHANNEBSURG– GAUTENG youths have shown tremendous skill and talent in the Level 2 Regional Age Group Swimming Championships, with recent performances in Johannesburg suggesting the country is in good stead to maintain its global dominance.

Johannesburg’s Ellis Park Swimming Pool saw the fastest win across three cities night when 18-year-old Christiaan Jacobsz from Pretoria sped to the gold in a phenomenal 4:25.38, ahead of Janco Rademeyer (16) in 4:32.62 and Christian Kriel (16) in 4:33.36.

Dipping under the five minute mark were Gauteng’s 13-year-old Alessandro Trevisan and 14 year old Keegan Haumann, finishing in 4:57.36 and 4:45.69 respectively, while the silver and bronze in those events went to Carl Krause (13) in 4:57.90 and Justin Kim (13) in 5:01.05, as well as Luc van Rooyen (14) in 4:50.71 and Devan Nell (14) in 4:58.57.

The U11 race title went to Namibia’s Mikah Burger in 5:12.90 ahead of Daniel Baker in 5:22.49 and Bernhard van der Walt in 5:26.44, while the 12 year old category gold was claimed by Tuks’ James Smith in 5:14.62 followed by Ruben Glover (5:19.95) and Janno Bouwer (5:20.95).

The Gauteng ladies also showed their talent with Hannah Robertson (11), Hayley Zeller (12), Jenna van Niekerk (13), Ashleigh Munks (14) and Carmen de Clerck (15) all winning their age group races in 5:04.18, 5:03.14, 5:07.89, 4:57.67 and 4:50.22 respectively.

The silver and bronze in the U11 event went to Catherine van Rensburg (5:17.08) and Veronique Rossouw (5:26.70), while Reese Harradine came third in the 12 year old race in 5:18.18.

Tatum Lomax (5:11.60) and Alia Goedvolk (5:12.71) finished second and third in their category, while Chenay Dateline (5:00.20) and Tyla Panzera (5:00.31) won the silver and bronze in the 14 year age group with the final second and third medals of the evening going to Jordan Giraudeaux (4:53.87) and Melissa Carney (4:58.90) in the 15-18 age group event.

The swimming championships have also been held in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.

– Guardian Sport