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Kenya's Dunford sets two All Africa Games records

Tunisian fencer Ines Boubaker, center, is hoisted in the air by teammates after winning the gold medal with a victory over Egyptian fencer Shaimaa El Gammal in the final team event at the All Africa Games in Algiers on Tuesday. PHOTO: AFP

Kenya's Jason Dunford broke the All Africa Games record twice and won the men's 50m butterfly on Tuesday to claim his second title at the continental Olympics.

Dunford won his morning heat in 24.07 seconds, taking 0.72 off the previous record. He then swam 23.91 in the afternoon final, finishing ahead of Nigeria's Yellow Yeiyah and South Africa's Garth Tune.

"I'm not usually as strong in the 50 because I tend to rush my stroke a little," said Dunford, who also won the 100 butterfly last week.

"Today I stayed in my stroke, the one I use in the 100, and I felt the power straight off the blocks and managed to swim a good swim," he said.

South Africa had another good day in the pool, winning 11 medals, including four golds.

Suzaan Van Biljon won the women's 50 breaststroke in 32.62; Amanda Loots took the women's 200 butterfly in 2:14.28; Natalie du Toit claimed the women's 1,500 freestyle in 17:09.05; and the South African men's won the 400 medley relay in the final race of the day with a time of 3:44.92.

Despite South Africa's medal haul in the pool, host nation Algeria maintained its lead in the medals table with 42 gold and 112 overall. South Africa is second with 34 gold and 88 overall.

Each South African pool victory came with a championship record. It was the third gold for Loots, who also won 50 and 100 butterfly races but said the heavy racing schedule and heat had slowed her.

"It's just good to go in there and get a gold medal for the country, but I'm not very happy with the time," she said. "It's the win I'm happy with."

Du Toit, who lost the bottom of her left leg in a motorcycle accident in 2001, drew huge cheers from the crowd as she won her second gold of the games.

"For me it's a bit embarrassing having to stand up there and everyone applauds you, but I think they've been an absolutely fabulous crowd," she said.

"I was feeling good till about 900, 1,000 [meters], and then that last 500 you need someone to push you a bit," du Toit said. "I went out, tried my best. I think I might have been able to go a bit faster in the last bit, but it was a good time and I'm quite happy with it."

In other races, Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe claimed her fifth gold of the games in the women's 200 backstroke and Tunisian Ahmed Mathlouthi won the men's 200 medley.

The All Africa Games run until July 23. Athletes from 52 countries are competing in 27 sports.
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