Neville Smith

Ryk Neethling of Bloemfontein Seals, won the 28th Ola Telkom Midmar Mile at the picturesque Kwa Zulu Natal Midlands resort on Sunday in a time of 19 minutes 27 seconds after a dramatic last sprint with top swimmers taking numerous lines in to the finish line, to become the first three-time winner of the event. Neethling held off fellow Olympian, Silver Medallist Terence Parkin (Mr. Price Seagulls - KZN) in the dash for the finish. Parkin finished a mere 5 seconds behind Neethling.

From the gun it was obvious that tactics were to play a major role in the outcome of this race. The conditions had deteriorated to the extent that Neethling's 1995 record of 17:07,04 was never under threat. After the initial break the game was on.

Ryk felt that his main threat was always going to be from Parkin. 'I decided to stay with Terrence as I know that he's a big strong guy and would be the one to beat. I sat on his shoulder and waited until we came into the final section of the race and then gave it my all. I really didn't know where everyone else was other than Terrence.'

Anton Storm (Pietermaritzburg Seals) seized the moment and set the early pace with Neethling, Mr. Price Seagull's teammates, Terence Parkin and Kenneth Smith and Swiss visitor, Adrian Andermatt getting to grips with each other. Storm led into the first two (400m & 800m) hotspots with Smith edging ahead after the 800m mark, but Andermatt hit the third hotspot (1200m) first. With Parkin and Neethling seemingly inseparable, Storm and Andermatt surged ahead. Smith had taken what turned out to be a wrong line and had drifted off the pack.

With the crowd becoming very vocal and 200m to go, it was Neethling who edged ahead of Parkin and the race seemed cut and dried. Neethling made a move only to find a determined Parkin on his shoulder. With less than 100m to go Parkin again attacked, but Neethling turned on the gas and did enough to take his third Mile and become the first man to do so. His previous titles came in 1994 (19:36,00) and 1995 (17:17,04 record) but he opted out of competing in 1996 in favor of preparing for the Atlanta Olympic Games where he finished fifth in the final of the 1500m Freestyle.

While the attention was on the winners, a battle royale had developed for the minor placing. Early pacesetter Anton Storm still had enough to hold off Swiss visitor Adrian Andermatt, but both swimmers were credited with a time of 19,43 and Kenneth Smith was fortunate to finish fifth spot in 20,10. Carl Storm (Pietermaritzburg Seals - KZN) took sixth spot in 20,13 ahead of brother Brad (20,33) who edged ahead of two of South Africa's promising distance swimmers, fifteen year old Charlton Lawson (TYR Westville - KZN)(20,35) and upcountry rival Dustin Dale (15)(Dolphins - CGA) who finished a second behind in 20,36 to claim ninth spot. Tyrone Venter (RAU - CGA) completed the top 10 finishers in a time of 20,43.

A mere 75 seconds separated the top ten finishers in what was as an exciting finish as the 2000 race when Parkin out sprinted club mate Garreth Fowler to take the title by a mere 2 seconds. Parkin's 2000 winning time was 18:46,00 in far better conditions.

"I'll definitely be back again and hopefully next time there will be more top international swimmers here as well." Commented a satisfied Neethling after the race. Ryk will return to the States on Wednesday after spending a few days relaxing with his family in Bloemfontien.

In the ladies' event Hungarian fifteen-year-old visitor Diana Hegedus (20,06) became the first foreign swimmer to win at the Mile. She out sprinted early leader Melissa Corfe (Mr. Price Seagulls - KZN) (20,10) to claim the title. Corfe who set off at an electrifying pace swam an excellent race, with last year's junior winner, Nicola Stanley (TYR Westville KZN) taking the bronze in 20,32.

Corfe who has been enjoying a "purple patch" in the pool went out hard and took the race by the scruff of the neck. Stanley picked up her tail and shadowed her rival through the first two hotspots. Hedegus was lurking.

Coming into the last hotspot Hedegus made her move and struck passed an unsuspecting Corfe. Melissa rallied and pulled back, and with less than 100m to go they matched each other stroke for stroke. As fate was to have it Diana had the more direct line into the finish and became the first foreign swimmer to win the Midmar Mile in the 28-year-old history.

The Hungarian who is on the Hungarian National Olympic squad is a specialist Butterfly swimmer with a best time of 2:18,94 and is coached by Sauder Bau from the Hodtav Club in Hodmezovasarhely.

Cheryl Townsend (Pietermaritzburg Seals - KZN) took fourth spot in 20,43, while National Open squad member, Desiree Martin (Beavers - KZN) lead the chasing pack in with a 21,02.

The leaders of the chasing pack were Wendy Henstock (21,08), Robyn Bees (21,15), Kim van Decentre (21,23), Janine Payne (21,25) and Melanie Greyling (21,27) who filled the top ten places. The hordes followed.

Shaun Dias (Mr. Price Seagulls, KZN) and Kerry-Anne Payne (Ellis Park, CGA) won the junior titles (14 years and under).

Dias slaughtered the field in a race that saw him dominate from the outset. "It was a hard race. The water was choppy and I had to swim on my own," said a delighted Dias after the race. He went out hard and despite having to contend with the swell, showed a considerable amount of determination and forged into an unassailable lead.

Runner-up Bence Pertich (Klerksdorp - NW) who finished in 21,55, took the wrong line into the finish and had to actually swim back to the finish. Third spot went to the energetic Paul Bees (Pietermaritzburg Seals - KZN) in 22,14.

The men's 30 and over event was won by Gregg Price in a tight finish in 22,45. He was closely followed by Guy Mottram (22,53), with Graham du Toit (23) taking the bronze.

In the previous race it was Keri-Anne Payne (Ellis Park - CGA) who won the junior ladies (14 and under) event in convincing style. Her 21.05 was 25 seconds ahead of second placed Sasha Schwendenwein (RAU - CGA) in a time of 21,33. Payne and Schwendenwein built up a commanding lead over the massive field of approximately 2 000 swimmers. Coming past the final buoy, it was literally a "two-girl race", with Payne taking the shorter and victorious line into the finish. Third place went to Lauren McMillan in a time of 22,09. The massive entry of just over 14 000 was slightly down on last year's record of 14,970 swimmers.

Barbara Bowley won the ladies' 30 and over event in 22,52. Beverly McCarney (23,15) came in second with Chris MacKinnon (23,43) taking the bronze. The winners of the junior schools section was the team from Our Lady of Fatima - Talia Goddard (23,13), Christine Whittfield (30,20) , Cammryn Larson (31,00), Devyn Goddard (31,30) and Teegan Marais (32,00). Westville won the boys' event. Details of the team where unavailable at the time of going into the press.

The winners of the girls high schools section was the team from Crawford College in Sandton, CGA which consisted of Romina Armellini (21,38), Taryn Cokayne (22,02), Lauren van der Walt (22,28), Megan Page (23,12) and Kaelee Lushington (24,17).

The winners of the boys high schools section was not finalised The oldest lady finisher was Lorna Cochran, who is 77 years old. Dean Malone, also 77, did the men proud.

Once again the organizers, Pietermaritzburg Seals must be commended on the excellent organization of this event. Wayne Ridden, the race convener and Chairman of the Seals Swimming Club commented after the event that despite entries being slightly less that 2000, it was without a doubt the most successful Midmar Mile ever.