Fast times are on the cards as South Africa’s young talent prepares to race for A qualifying times at the Telkom SA Level Three Swimming Championships at the Joan Harrison Swimming Pool in East London from 12-16 March 2010, in an attempt to qualify for the Youth Olympic Games.

Girl power will be on display when rising swim stars such as Vanessa Mohr, Oneida Cooper and Peggy De Villiers lead the challenge for medals at the five-day event.

Mohr, 15, who hails from Tshwane, rose to fame in winning seven gold and one silver medal in the same event last year. She will line up in the 50-metre, 100 and 200 butterfly, 50 and 100 freestyle and the 50, 100 and 200 backstroke.

Peggy De Villiers from Cape Town, who has a hearing disability, will be in the 50 and 100 metres freestyle line up, while Gauteng-based Cooper will show her skills in the backstroke races as she swims the 50, 100 and 200m.

Among the boys, KZN’s Chad le Clos (50, 100 and 200 backstroke, 50, 100, 200 and 400 freestyle, 50, 100 and 200 butterfly, 200 and 400 metres individual medley and 200 breaststroke) has the potential to produce adrenalin-rush performances that will make the trip to East London more than worth the while.

Competition will be stiff with local favourite Luke Pendock from Border Aquatics in the 50 and 100 freestyle, with Eastern Province’s Giles Mayberry taking to the water in the 50 freestyle, 50 breaststroke and 50 butterfly.

Also participating are Tshwane’s Pierre Kuene (50 and 100 freestyle and 50 and 100 butterfly), Western Province’s Lyle Aloile (50 and 100 freestyle, 50 butterfly and 50 and 100m) and KZN’s Brett Walsh (50 and 100 metres freestyle, 50 and 100 metres butterfly, 50 breaststroke and 50 backstroke).

In wishing the athletes the best of luck for the competition, Swimming SA CEO Shaun Adriaanse said: “SA’s Level Three age group swimmers have a great opportunity to display their talent at these very important Youth Olympic Trials and I am sure we will witness history in the making as they strive for qualification and inclusion by SASCOC in the team which will represent South Africa in Singapore.”

The daily programme in East London will see heat sessions starting at 8.30am with the evening’s programme of finals commencing at 5pm.