Morocco's Sara El Bekri sets new African swimming championships record

On the fourth day of the 10th African swimming championships, Morocco's Sara El Bekri continued her brilliant performance as she set a new championships'' record for the women''s 100m breaststroke

Casablanca, Sept 17 (MAP)- On the fourth day of the 10th African swimming championships, Morocco''s Sara El Bekri continued her brilliant performance as she set a new championships'' record for the women''s 100m breaststroke

    After grabbing gold in the 50m breaststroke the previous evening, El Bekri swam a new Championship best time of 1:10.82 adding another golden medal to her repertoire.

    Sara Lajnef from Tunisia won silver (1:12.05) and South Africa''''s Khatryne Meaklim bronze (1:12.11).

   The remaining golden medals were all reaped by South African swimmers, who showed no signs of slowing down.

   In the women''s 100m butterfly, Vanessa Mohr grabbed gold with a championship record time of 59.72. Her countrywoman Amanda Loots finished second in 59.76, while Egypt''''s Farida Osman came in third in 1:02.05.

    Another championships'''' record was broken in the men''''s 400m freestyle by South Africa''''s Jay Cee Thomson who finished in 3:53.12. Tunisia''''s Ahmed Mathlouthi came second (3:56.15) ahead of South Africa''''s Devon Brown (3:57.64).

    In the men''''s 200m breaststroke, William Diering set a new championships'''' record, clocking 2:15.65, ahead of Algeria''''s Sofiane Daid (2:16.53) and Egypt''''s Sherif Madkour (2:19.25).

    South Africa''''s Kathryn Meaklim won the women''''s 800m freestyle in 8:55.12. The second place went to her countrywoman Rene Warnes, while Algeria''''s Malya Mghezzi Bakhouche finished third (9:06.94).

    South Africa''''s domination continued in the 400m freestyle relay final, with Jay Cee Thomson swimming the last leg to help his team clear the previous record clocking 3:23.99. The Algerians won silver (3:24.04), and the Egyptians bronze (3:27.40).

    At the end of day four, South Africa tops the medal count with 41 medals (17G, 13S, 11B), followed by Tunisia with 13 medals (3G, 8S, 2B) and Algeria with 9 medals (3G, 3S, 3B).

   The seven-day event is held under the high patronage of HM King Mohammed VI in Casablanca from 13 to 19 September, with the participation of 220 swimmers from 20 African countries.

MAP