Excitement and controversy highlighted the fifth day of the Telkom South African National swimming championships that are currently underway at the Kings Park Pool in Durban on Tuesday.

The excitement stemmed from the many exciting swims that were witnessed by the near capacity crowd that turned out to witness some of South Africa's premier swimmers in action. Controversy when a swimmer took a "running start" during the relay event, resulting in a number of protests and counter protests. The question on everyone's lips, why did the judge and referee not see it.

The issue has been referred to swimming's highest authority, FINA, who will pass judgement on this matter.

Women's 100m Freestyle semi final
Helene Muller (CGA) enters tomorrow nights final as the firm favourite to claim yet another title at these championships after winning the second semi final in convincing fashion in 57.22. The promising Nicola Stanley (KZN) shadowed Muller to post a 58.66 and will line up next to her.

The 14-year-old Lauren Roets (NTS) who was victorious in the first semi final has the next best time with a 59.15. Melanie Greyling (KZN) who pushed Roets all the way recorded a 59.16 with Leanne Caldeira (CGA) next best on 59.37.

While Muller seems a certainty to claim the title the battle for the minor placing is sure to be a fierce one which will ensure some exciting racing.

Men's 100m Freestyle
What a class act. Olympian and multiple NCAA champion Ryk Neethling once again delivered a clinical display in claiming yet another National title when he won this event with ease in a 50.66.

Going into the wall slightly ahead of the chasing pack, Neethling extended his stoke and claimed the title in convincing fashion.

Hendrick Odendaal (WP) did well to claim the silver in 51.38 from the promising Lyndon Ferns (NP) who recorded a 51.51 ahead of Stephan Ackermann (KZN) who with his 51.87 did enough to hold off Nick Folker (KZN) (51.96).

Women's 50m Breastroke semi-final
Ingrid Haiden (WP) who claimed the first semi-final in 33.47 was overshadowed by her more illustrious training partners, Sarah Poewe (32.64) and Ziada Jardine (33.47) who claimed the top two places for tomorrow nights final in the second semi.

Claire Williams, also from Western Province, posted a 33.75, while Tamaryn Laubscher swimming from lane two in the first semi was next in 34.39, a shade ahead of the 13-year-old Suzaan van Biljon who did a 34.40 from lane two in the second heat.

The most encouraging performance of the semis was the 34.50 of Liz Haupt (CGA) who at the age of 30 years old had made a welcome return to the pool. Formally Liz Peacock this lady was one of the most promising breastrokers during South Africa's isolation period and should serve as an inspiration to the youngsters that she trains.

Men's 50m Breaststroke semi-final
The presence of Brett Peterson (KZN) in the second semi-final ensured that the bulk of the finalists came from this heat. Peterson out in a flash posted a credible 28.48 just off the Commonwealth games QT of 28.33 and his national mark of 28.05 established at a time trial during the All Africa games at Ellis park in 1999.

Former Continental and National record holder Chris Stewart (CGA) who went a 29.27 a shade ahead of the up and coming 18 year old from Western province, Ian Clutten who recorded a 29.35, followed him.

Another star of the future, the 18-year-old Kurt Muller from Free State will line up ahead of the current titleholder Louis Lotter (NTS) after posting a 29.46 to 29.85.

The winner of the first semi-final, Brad Toerien (KZN) just made the final in 29.86 against coloured swimmer, Grant Galant (WP) who went a 29.90. Indications are that gallant will be making the trip to Manchester in July as one of the "development swimmers" in the South African squad.

Women's 50m Backstroke semi-final
Another cracker-jack affair is on the offering in tomorrow nights final as Charlene Wittstock (KZN) comes head to head with the inform and rested Renate du Plessis (WP) as these two ladies emerged as the top seed after the semis.

Wittstock won the first semi comfortably in 1:04.05 while du Plessis had similar fortune in the second semi recording a 1:04.38.

The will be joined by a host of promising youngsters which include Romy Altmann (WP) who went a 1:06.14, well ahead of the dynamic Melissa Corfe (KZN) who recorded a 1:06.99.

Only Monique Malan (KZN) seems a likely challenger for the minor placing after posting a 1:07.14. What a challenge it promises to be.

Men's 50m Backstroke semi-final
With six swimmers grouped on the 59-second mark, this event should be one of the most closely contested affairs to the final days competition.

Heading the pack is the Swiss national Alain Tardin (KZN) who looked relaxed in posting a 59.15 ahead of archrival Jeff Norton (KZN) who went a 59.20.

The explosive Gerhard Zandberg (NTS) will be these correspondents favourite after an effortless 59.25, while his training partner Carl Marais is sure to be a serious medal contender after going a 59.39.

Others in the picture include Ryan Heydenrych (WP) who went a 59.47 while Gareth McGee can never be under estimated after his 59.72.

Women's 200m Individual Medley
Its such a pity that the diminutive Gauteng flyer, Mandy Loots has not seen fit to enter this event due to other commitments. The versatile Loots would have without a doubt claimed the title in a less congested program and taken many of the competitors to greater heights.

Be that as it may, she wasn't and it was left to Candice Little to finally realise her dream. The Central Gauteng swimmer trailed a tad after the first half of the race behind Marizanne Grundlingh (WP) 1:07.03/1:07.31, but after an awesome breaststroke leg the writing was on the wall and Little claimed victory in a 2:20.88 well off Loots' national mark of 2:18.06.

The game Grundlingh held on to claim silver in a time of 2:22.73 ahead of a fast finishing Erna Wademeyer (NTS) (2:23.44) who posted the fastest back 100m with a scorching 1:13.20.

This 16 year old lass who hails from Pretoria certainly has a bright future ahead of her and is destined to become a star of the future if handled correctly.

Men's 200m Individual Medley
Still aiming for that elusive Commonwealth Games QT the showdown between the stalwart, Theo Verster (KZN) and the indomitable Terence Parkin in this event was much anticipated.

Verster's prowess in the butterfly leg gave him a slight advantage, which he hung onto during the backstroke leg and at the halfway mark he held a slight advantage over Parkin (58.45/58.50).

Parkin hunted him down over the breaststroke leg and turned for the home straight with a slight advantage. The writing was on the wall, or was it?

With 20m to go Verster had drawn level with Parkin and edged on by an extremely vocal crowd the stalwart who has enjoyed a purple patch of late charged into the wall to gain a significant victory over his arch rival. His time of 2:03.63 was despite missing the elusive Commonwealth Games QT a credible one.

Parkins effort of 2:04.48 was a good one under the circumstances as he was involved in a motorcar accident during the afternoon and perhaps this effected him. The promising Darian Townsend, always in the picture, claimed his first senior nationals medal when he secured the bronze in a credible 2:08.07.

Women's 50m Butterfly semi-final
Lauren Sparg (KZN) established a new South African age group record for 17-year-old girls when she posted a 28.42 in the first semi-final of this event. Her time was ,30 faster than the 1998 mark established by Candice Nethercott.

She will also enter tomorrow nights final as the number two seed after finishing ahead of Mandy Loots who seemed comfortable with her 28.54.

The powerful Renate du Plessis (WP) powered her way to a time of 28.07 in claiming top spot for the final. Candice Crafford (KZN) (28.89) and the up and coming Lisa-Marie Retief (CGA) (29.10) are next best, while the promising Lauren Roets (NTS) (29.40) can never be underestimated.

The final should be a crackerjack affair.

Men's 50m Butterfly semi-final
Theo Verster failed to qualify for this final after posting a pedestrian 26.33 in the first heat to finish in 12th place.

Western Province's Hendrick Odendaal (25.10) was the man of the moment when he recorded the fastest time of the semis. He should however not rest on his laurels as danger lurks in the form of the "young guns", Stephan Ackermann(KZN) (24.43) and Lynden Ferns (NP) (25.44).

These three however should be in the medals while Mathew Palmer (Bor) and Kurt Muller (FS) who both posted a 25.66 are the dark horses.

A youngster who has impressed at this championships is Corney Swanepoel, the 16-year-old Western Province prot