Somerset West-based swimming golden girl Jessica Pengelly doubled up on her national record-breaking spree, in shaving a fraction of a second off of Suzaan van Biljon’s previous mark, on the final day of the Samsung Swimming Grand Prix series held at the University of the Western Cape on Sunday.
Pengelly, 16, clocked 2 min 16,41 secs in the 200 metres individual medley, to eclipse van Biljon’s previous SA best of 2:16,42. This effort followed her 400 metres individual medley record set the previous day, when she better her own country best to 4:41,94.
"My breaststroke swimming is a major factor in my success, but I am still stunned by the times as I am busy with hard training, and wasn’t expecting to get near the national marks in February," said Pengelly.
After ranking as the top female swimming on the points rankings over the two leg Samsung Swimming Grand Prix series, Pengelly collected the sponsor’s R10 000 leading women’s prize.
Port Elizabeth’s 12-year-old swimming star Jessica Liss had the crowd cheering her on to a brisk 200 metres breaststroke time of 2:30,17, and will fancy her chances of posting an Olympic A qualifying time at the national championships in Durban in April.
Swimming SA President Jace Naidoo expressed his excitement at the manner in which the Samsung Swimming Grand Prix series has captured the imagination of SA’s swimming community in Olympic year.
"The Samsung Swimming Grand Prix series has certainly made its mark on the domestic sports calendar, by giving swimming fans the chance to watch their favourite swim stars in action while also giving the young rising talent the chance to swim against the experienced elite squad swimmers," said Naidoo.
"I look forward to many a rising star letting the swimming world know that they arrived in big time swimming during the inaugural Samsung Swimming Grand Prix series."
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