Teenager Van Niekerk lands SA's first punch in Birmingham with record swim: 'I just felt so good'

South African eyes may have been on Chad le Clos and Tatjana Schoenmaker on day one of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Friday, but it was Lara van Niekerk who stole the show. 

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The 19-year-old was superb in the 50m breaststroke heat, setting a new Commonwealth Games record in a time of 29.82 that put her ahead of Olympic golden girl Schoenmaker in second. 

Kaylene Corbett was also second in her heat, making it three South Africans in Friday night's semi-finals. 

The early session, however, belonged to Van Niekerk. 

"I was quite stressed before the race," she said afterwards.

"I had a heat flush and walking out, the crowd went crazy. The adrenaline started pumping.

"I just felt so good in the race. I was gliding through the water and then, after I touched the wall, I could see everyone going crazy that I had got the Games record.

"It was so amazing and I'm feeling so happy and happy to be here."

Chad le Clos, looking for two medals in Birmingham to become the most decorated athlete in the history of the Games, qualified for the semi-finals of the 50m butterfly, while Matthew Sates will swim in the final of the men's 400m freestyle after qualifying sixth fastest.