Schoenmaker completes breaststroke double as Le Clos reclaims 100m freestyle crown

Tatjana Schoenmaker secured the national 200m breaststroke title in the second fastest time in the world this year at the SA National Aquatic Championships in Gqeberha on Friday.

The world record holder and Olympic champion cruised to victory in a time of 2:22.44 with her training partner, Kaylene Corbett, second in 2:25.40 - both A qualifying times for July's Swimming World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

Schoenmaker admitted afterwards that the vocal crowd at the Newton Park Swimming Pool had her thinking she might be closer to her world record of 2:18.95, but she was nonetheless thrilled with the result.

"I was obviously hoping for a much faster time," she said.

"I think with the crowd going so crazy you assume you're on a really good time, not that I'm not incredibly grateful for a 2:22 though. I think the excitement just made me think it was a lot faster but we'll get there.

"It's step-by-step. I think in 2021 before the Olympics I also swam a 2:22 in the heats so we'll get there."

Corbett’s morning time of 2:24.93 in the heats was quicker than her final, but both times were under the A qualifying mark.

"Obviously it's really nice to get the time done in the morning. It just takes the pressure off for whatever is to come after that," she said.

RESULTS: SA Swimming Championships - Day 3  

Meanwhile, Chad le Clos fended off his teenage challengers in the 100m freestyle.

Le Clos, who won Olympic silver in the 200m freestyle in Rio in 2016, has decided to focus his efforts on the shorter event, along with the butterfly.

His win on Friday in 48.97 seconds was a big step up from a fifth place at last year's championships in a sluggish 50.86, but the 31-year-old knows there's still a long way to go - including achieving the A