Tuesday the fourth day of the Telkom SA National Age Group Swimming Champs, currently underway at the Stadium Pool in Bloemfontien once again a record-breaking affair. Two new national marks were set while thirteen meet records took a tumble.

The meet has an exciting start to it when Jean-Marie Neethling (10) (Otters - FS) broke the 200m breaststroke SA Age Group record, touching in a time of 3:07.11, which eclipsed Claire Williams' 1997 mark 3:07,32. Second was Yolandi van der Merwe (Strand - WP) who also finished under the previous record. Yolande finished in a time of 3:07.24.

Neethling, the younger sister of multiple national and continental freestyle record holder Ryk, set a meet record earlier in the gala also in the breastroke and looks set to cause a few waves in the years to come.

In the very next item, the boys 10 & U 200m Breaststroke, two youngsters from the Northern Province had the crowd on its feet. Daan Jansen (Pietersburg Aquatic - NP) broke the national age group mark by ,33 seconds when he touched in a time of 3:04.66. Second was Stefan Bester (Pietersburg Otters - NP) in a time of 3:05.16 who dipped under the meet record of 3:09.57 in what was a pulsating race.

While these were the only national age group marks to fall a number of meet records were to follow.

Linette Myburgh (11)(Tuks - NT) set a new meet record of 2:56.99 in the 200m breaststrokes, 2.78 seconds faster than the previous record.

In the 13-year-old 200m breaststroke, Ronwyn Roper (Queensburgh Beavers - KZN) set the second meet record of the evening, finishing in a time of 2:46.31. Nicolene Prinsloo (Tuks - NT) came second, also dipping under the meet record of 2:53.58 held by Mr. Price Seagulls' Lara Parkin. Nicolene touched in a time of 2:51.63.

Enzo Iannone (Bloemfontien Seals - FS)(12) won the 200m breaststroke in a time of 2:45.35 establishing a new meet record. Ashley Oliver (Strand - WP) came second also dipping under the meet record in a time of 2:47.94.

In the 16 year old age group, Michiel du Toit (Bloemfontien Otters - FS) won the 200m breastroke comfortably in a time of 2:24.46 while Jan-Hendrik Badenhorst (Vineyards - WP) took the minor placing with a time of 2:26.14, both swimmers finishing under the old meet record of 2:27,95 established by Ian Clutten at the millennium meet last year .

Bianca Meyer(Westville - KZN) (11) set-up the fifth meet record of the evening in the 100m butterfly, finishing in a time of 1:12:17, while in the 14 year old event Lize-Mari Retief (Dolphins - CGA) demolished the opposition finishing in a time of 1:03.57 thereby slashing a massive 2,54 seconds off the meet record of 1:06.11. Second was Nicola Stanley (Westville - KZN)(1:05,39) and third Donna-Leah Horsfall (Kings Park - KZN)(1:05,91) also dipping under the meet record. What makes the diminutive Retief's effort even more commendable, is the fact that this was by far the quickest 100 fly by any of the winners of the ladies events.

In the boys 100m butterfly Vaughan de Jager(12) (Crawford Swimming - NT) set a new meet record in a time of 1:07.85, when he clipped .50 seconds off Brendon Smiths' 1998 mark of 1:08,35 while in the 17 -18 year olds age group, Lyndon Ferns (Pietersburg Aquatic - NT) once again served notice that he is a young man in a hurry when he broke the meet record in a time of 57.38. Stephan Ackermann (Ridge Seals - NT) finished second in a time of 57.97 just a tad inside Rudolf Wagenaar's 2000 winning time of 57,98.

Karin Prinsloo (Tuks - NT) broke the meet record in the girls 11-year-old 200m backstroke in a time of 2:34.35, second was Robyn Williams (Dolphin Aquatics - WP) who also finished within the meet record in a time of 2:39.86.

In the 200m backstroke Melissa Corfe(15)( Mr. Price Seagulls - KZN) set a new meet record in a time of 2:22.39 while Candice Little (Mustangs - CGA) broke the meet record in the 17-18 year old age group, finishing in a time of 2:25.26. Taryn Cokayne (RAU - CGA) finished second, also dipping under the meet record in a time of 2:25.63.

Another two meet records were broken in the men's 200m backstroke. In the 12-year-old age group Peter Todd (Aqualions - EP) swam a time of 2:30.17 while in 13-year-old age group Wade Merchant (Kings Park - KZN) set a new mark of 2:23.20.

With the meet drawing to a close a number of exciting performances have been on show. The establishment of new national marks, especially in the younger age groups is encouraging, while the promise of the past becomes the reality of the present. Encouraging times in South African swimming.