Du Rand off to a flying start

George du Rand has had very little time to stand still recently.

And with eight more events yet to be packed into the next three days, it's likely to only get worse.

Competing on day one of the Telkom SA Short Course Championships on Thursday, the Bloemfontein swimmer claimed his first title of the meet in the 200m freestyle. It's not an event in which one would normally spot the 22 year old's name, but as he explained: "I have been working on my freestyle to be able to open up my options.

"I also wanted to challenge myself a bit more. Especially when swimming in South Africa, you need to challenge yourself by competing against other guys in different events."

Du Rand went out hard from the start of the race and touched the wall in a personal best time of 1:48,68.

Defending champion in the event, Jasper Venter, was second in 1:51,38 with Eugene Hulley third in 1:51,41.

"I don't often get to swim other events so this must be a best time," said Du Rand.

So, should national and continental record holder in the 200m freestyle Ryk Neethling be getting worried? "Maybe," quipped the amicable Du Rand with a smile. "Maybe a bit later."

Meanwhile, the first final of the evening saw Charné Gehring collecting her first national title. The 19-year-old Pretoria student took to the front of the pack early in the 200m butterfly and looked at risk of burning herself out.

But she managed to hold on until the finish and in so doing got the better of two-time Olympian and SA and African record holder in the event, Mandy Loots, who was eventually third.

"I really didn't expect to win but obviously I was hoping to," said Gehring. "I was really surprised with my time because I bettered my personal best by three seconds," she added of her winning mark of 2:13,49.

Christy Lategan was second in 2:14,91 and Loots's time was 2:15,54 (well off her record of 2:08,50).

In the other finals of the evening, Kathryn Meaklim pulled off a convincing win in the 400m individual medley, finishing nine seconds ahead of her closest rival. The Kloof swimmer took the gold in 4:45,93, while Jessica Pengelly was second in 4:54,84 and Melissa Alberts third in 4:55,37.

British international Robin Francis also took the men's title in convincing fashion, finishing in 4:13,97, with Sydney silver medallist Terence Parkin second in 4:22,51 and Byron Fergusson third in 4:24,67.

In the only other individual final of the night, it was 15-year-old Cape Town swimmer Wendy Trott who stole the show, winning the 1 500m freestyle in 16:31,90.

Shrone Austin was second in 17:07,81 and Karlien van Heerden third in 17:23,79.