Earlier in the day, Schoenmaker finished second in her heat in a time of 1:05.56 to qualify third fastest for the semifinals. But Van Niekerk’s time of 1:07.03 in the same heat, well off the 1:05.47 she swam on her way to Commonwealth Games gold last year, was not quick enough to see her through as she finished 18th overall.
The 20-year-old will be back in action in the 50m breaststroke, the event in which she claimed South Africa’s only medal of the 2022 World Championships in Budapest.
Van Niekerk’s coach Eugene de Ponte said he was “not surprised at how fast the heats were for the 100 this morning [Monday]”.
“This is arguably the strongest field of breaststroke women ever at a world champs. The depth is amazing and with swimmers such as Lara and Anna Elendt from Germany — last year’s silver medallist in the 100 — both narrowly missing out on semis, that shows how strong the field is.
“Lara was disappointed, but we know where we went wrong and what we need to correct with a year now before [the Olympics in] Paris.
“Nothing will change for our approach to the 50 — we always knew that was our main target here and we will go into the event on the weekend, give our best and see what happens.”
Other South Africans in action were Milla Drakopoulos, who finished sixth in her 100m backstroke heat in 1:02.77 to place 35th overall. Righardt Muller was 44th overall in the men’s 200m freestyle after finishing seventh in his heat in 1:52.25.
Swimming action continues on Tuesday with South Africa's Michael Houlie competing in the men’s 50m breaststroke heats, Aimee Canny in the women’s 200m freestyle and Muller back in the pool in the men’s 800m freestyle, while Schoenmaker will contest the 100m breaststroke final in the evening session.
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Tatjana Schoenmaker secures spot in world champs 100m breaststroke final
Image: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
Tatjana Schoenmaker secured her place in the 100m breaststroke final on the second day of the swimming events at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, while young teammate Lara van Niekerk missed out in the heats.
Taking on an impressively strong field, Schoenmaker finished second in her semifinal in 1:05.53 to qualify third fastest for Tuesday’s final.
Lithuanian 2012 Olympic champion Ruta Meilutytė qualified fastest in 1:05.09, having swum a blisteringly quick 1:04.67 in the morning heats.
“I think because I had such a good swim in the morning I was surprised — I felt good, I was obviously hoping I had a good one, but I think it also took the pressure off [in the semifinal],” Schoenmaker said of her semifinal swim.
“It was my fastest time since the Olympics, so I was very happy with that; that meant I could enjoy the racing in the semi and the final because I got the time already in the heats — my best time so far in the season.”
On Tuesday’s final, Schoenmaker said: “I could work on a few things I can change in the final in the small technical things, so there’s definitely space for improvement, and then it’s having a good rest and resting well for tomorrow night [Tuesday].”
Meder lowers SA record as Australia dominate world champ golds
Earlier in the day, Schoenmaker finished second in her heat in a time of 1:05.56 to qualify third fastest for the semifinals. But Van Niekerk’s time of 1:07.03 in the same heat, well off the 1:05.47 she swam on her way to Commonwealth Games gold last year, was not quick enough to see her through as she finished 18th overall.
The 20-year-old will be back in action in the 50m breaststroke, the event in which she claimed South Africa’s only medal of the 2022 World Championships in Budapest.
Van Niekerk’s coach Eugene de Ponte said he was “not surprised at how fast the heats were for the 100 this morning [Monday]”.
“This is arguably the strongest field of breaststroke women ever at a world champs. The depth is amazing and with swimmers such as Lara and Anna Elendt from Germany — last year’s silver medallist in the 100 — both narrowly missing out on semis, that shows how strong the field is.
“Lara was disappointed, but we know where we went wrong and what we need to correct with a year now before [the Olympics in] Paris.
“Nothing will change for our approach to the 50 — we always knew that was our main target here and we will go into the event on the weekend, give our best and see what happens.”
Other South Africans in action were Milla Drakopoulos, who finished sixth in her 100m backstroke heat in 1:02.77 to place 35th overall. Righardt Muller was 44th overall in the men’s 200m freestyle after finishing seventh in his heat in 1:52.25.
Swimming action continues on Tuesday with South Africa's Michael Houlie competing in the men’s 50m breaststroke heats, Aimee Canny in the women’s 200m freestyle and Muller back in the pool in the men’s 800m freestyle, while Schoenmaker will contest the 100m breaststroke final in the evening session.
Support independent journalism by subscribing to TimesLIVE Premium. Just R20 for the first month.
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