No clarity yet on South African relay team

Athens – The outcome of yesterday’s swim-off between South African swimmers for places in the men’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay squad was as fast as it is shrouded in secrecy, with speculation still rife as to who will be involved in Sunday’s event.

Given the tactics and strategies evolving at this prestige event, it’s not surprising that chief coach Graham Hill was reluctant to provide nothing more than a finishing order in the event that was held behind closed doors.

“Lyndon Ferns won the trial with Darian Townsend, Eugene Botes and Karl Thaning following in that order, and as far as times are concerned all I can say is that it was fast . . . our relay team is fast,” said Hill.

He conceded “there were some personal bests”, but refused to be drawn further.

There are numerous options for the South Africans to contemplate. They could stick to simply the four strongest swimmers which, after the trial, appear to be Ryk Neethling, Roland Schoeman, Lyndon Ferns and Darian Townsend.

Neethling and Townsend will compete in the 200m freestyle heats about 90 minutes before the relay heats so there could be a rationale to save Neethling for the final. It is unlikely that they would opt to rest both Neethling and Townsend in the prelims.

Interestingly, despite being named in the line-up, Gerhard Zandberg did not swim, but this might be one more tactic being used to run “interference” as the competing countries maintain the mystery over their selections.

Although Zandberg will take on the backstroke heats in the morning, he could have between 40 and 55 minutes recovery before the first relay heat and is arguably faster than those who were involved in the swim-off.

The options may become clearer when the start list for Sunday’s heats are posted. This would clarify the recovery times and the countries in the South African heat, although there are few easy permutations.

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