Coetze, Canny secure Commonwealth Games spots at National Championships

In the latter Canny saw off strong challenges from Simone Moll, Kaylene Corbett, and defending champion Rebecca Meder to win in a qualifying time of 1 minute 06.57 seconds. She explained how changing her training regime for the specific event propelled her to victory in Gqeberha.

"This year I have kind of always trained breaststroke, but this year I've kind of changed training groups and done a lot more distance and like 200m breastroke, especially coming up against double A's," said Canny

READ: Pieter Coetze wary of peaking early at Commonwealth Games qualifiers

"I knew 200 breastroke was a focus and I kind of think that 100 breaststroke long course and 200 breaststroke short course yard kind of translate. So I was really excited for this coming in."

Earlier in the day she sped to victory in the 200m freestyle with a time of 1 minute 56.64 seconds to break her own national and continental record set in the same pool back in 2024. While Canny thought she could get close to her previous time at the competition, she did not expect to better the record.

Canny still has a few more events to compete in today and tomorrow before heading off to the USA, where she’s studying economics.

Meanwhile, world champion Pieter Coetze also secured his place with a time of 53.13 in the 100m backstroke heats. He was even quicker in the final as Ruard van Renen came second to also qualify to the Commonwealth Games.

"I just wanted to see what I could do – to get on the team first, and then ja, just see what happens. I think this is by far the fastest I've been at Nationals, or at this time of the year, so it's a good sign," said Coetze

"I wasn't sure what kind of form he was in, so I didn't know what was going to happen.

Then, after the turn, I saw him pop up next to me and I was like, 'Okay, he's looking good – I'm going to have to push. But yeah, I am super glad he got it; so it's been a long time coming for him."