Stephanie Houtman and Duné Coetzee added their names to the mix for selection for the World Short Course Championships, dipping under the B qualifying mark in the 1500m freestyle as the SA Short Course Championships wrapped up at the GC Jolliffe Swimming Pool in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday, 27 September 2026.
While a B qualifying time does not ensure automatic qualification, it means a swimmer can still be selected for the SA team to compete in Beijing, China from 1 to 6 December. Houtman claimed victory in the 1500m freestyle in 16:13.28 while Coetzee was second in 16:32.87.
“I would have liked to go a bit faster, but I’m happy with how I felt in the race and considering how my 800 went, I’m very happy with the race,” said Houtman afterwards.
“The 800 didn’t go the way I wanted, but I went back and looked at my mistakes and I tried to work on it in my 1500. I think I was a bit too much in my head, so I focused more on my turns and my stroke and where my head position was, and I felt much smoother in the 1500.”
Later in the afternoon, Coetzee capped off a successful four days by adding the 100m freestyle title to complete a haul of four gold medals, winning in 54.83 seconds. All results in the finals session featured handheld times because of a timing system glitch. Coetzee’s other three titles came in the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle, with an A qualifying time in the 400m event.
“I’m stoked. It was so fun, and I felt the best that I’ve felt in years of racing.”
Four-Time 2026 SA Short Course Champion, Duné Coetzee
“It was a lot of nerves the first two days for the 400 and the 800,” said Coetzee, “But after that, the job was done in the morning of the 400, so I just enjoyed the rest of it and the last two days have been the most fun I’ve had in a very long time.”
Georgia Nel also achieved a B qualifier on Sunday, swimming 1:01.65 in her morning heat of the 100m individual medley.
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“I was very, very happy with that swim [in the heats],” said Nel. “I was looking to go a little faster. I would have really liked to have gotten the A time, but I can’t be upset with a B time and a win and a PB.”
Original Copy: Karien Jonckheere for Swimming South Africa, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Duné Coetzee capped four days in her new home pool by winning the 100m freestyle to complete a haul of four national titles, adding to her victories in the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle, and the A qualifying time in the 400m that booked her place at the World Short Course Championships in Beijing, China, on the final day of the SA Short Course Championships at the GC Jolliffe Swimming Pool in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday, 27 September 2026. Photo: Captured by Col
Photo 2 Caption: Stephanie Houtman (right) claimed the 1500m freestyle title ahead of Duné Coetzee, both swimmers dipping under the B qualifying mark.
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