Schoenmaker, Van Niekerk set for epic showdown as SA swimmers shine in Birmingham

South African stars Lara van Niekerk and Tatjana Schoenmaker are on course for a blockbuster showdown in the women’s 100m breaststroke at the Commonwealth Games.

Van Niekerk, the 18-year-old gold medal winner in the 50m distance last week, set the fastest time in the 100m, too, when she won her heat in 1:06.40 before Schoenmaker clocked 1:07.10 to win in the very next heat.

Those were the two fastest times heading into Monday night’s semi-finals, and they suggest that Van Niekerk and Schoenmaker could be set for an epic battle for gold on Tuesday.

Kaylen Corbett also qualified for the semi-finals and was eight fastest.

There was less encouraging news for Chad le Clos, who needs just one more medal to stand alone as the most decorated athlete in the history of the Commonwealth Games.

Le Clos qualified for the semi-finals in the 100m butterfly, but his time of 52.65 was only the ninth fastest overall and it looks like he will have to improve significantly if he is going to medal.

Matthew Sates was also safely through in that event.

The other highlight from the morning session for South Africa came in the form of 22-year-old Michael Houlie, who finished in a dead heat with English legend Adam peaty in the 50m breaststroke in a time of 27.10 for the win.

That was the quickest time heading into Monday’s semi-final, and Houlie has now emerged as a genuine medal contender.

The same can be said of Rebecca Meder, who finished second in her heat and is second fastest ahead of Monday’s 200m IM final.

Amy Canny, Emma Chelius and Erin Gallagher, meanwhile, are through to the semi-finals in the 100m freestyle.