Local swimmers excel at Midmar

Several members of the Carletonville Swimming Club excelled at the recent aQuellé Midmar Mile.

The largest open-water swim in the world happened at Midmar Dam in KwaZulu-Natal.

Two local swimmers, Annalisa Freese and Caitlin Doran, participated in the eight-mile (12.8 km) event as part of the Charity Challenges on 8 February. Over 200 swimmers took part in the event.

Freese, who raised R15,450 for Cansa, did it in 4:48:13 and came 6th out of 21 swimmers in her category. Doran raised R10,500 for Happy Bundles and finished in 4:56:55, ending 13th out of 30 in her category.

Freese says it was an incredible experience to be part of the fundraising, even though “it’s more of a mind game. We all know we’re strong enough, so it’s just your mind. You have to be focused; you’re doing it for charity at the end of the day.

That’s also what drives you because it is amazing to be part of this good cause. We were swimming for our dear coach Gerrie Grové, who passed away from cancer and also for loved ones who are cancer survivors.
Thank you for everyone’s support and donations; we appreciate you all,” says Freese.

Meanwhile, the local swimmers participated in more categories in tricky water conditions on 10 February.

Freese competed in the Comrades Biathlon 1.6 km event 1 in 35:20 min and came second out of 21 swimmers in her category, 16th out of 156 in her gender and 40th out of 344 overall.

She followed into event 2, the 1.6 km family event, with her brother Markus Homan and completed it in 35:24 min. Annalisa came seventh out of 167 swimmers in her category, 60th out of 837 in her gender and 138th out of 1,593 swimmers overall. Markus came 13th out of 94 swimmers in his category, 78th out of 756 in his gender and 137th out of 1,593 overall.
“That was the roughest Midmar we’ve ever done. The waves were literally like the ocean.

On the first 400 m, it was pretty rough. I think after the first two 400 m points, the current just got heavier and heavier, but we were swimming together and thoroughly enjoyed it,” said Homan.

Event 3 (1.6 km) was the Company Event and Carla Louw did it in a time of 37:47 min. Louw came 42nd out of 150 swimmers in his category, 165th out of 578 in his gender and 241st out of 1,005 swimmers overall.
Dustin Pienaar completed his swim in 38:47 min and came 84th out of 198 swimmers in his category, 188th out of 578 in his gender and 279th out of 1,005 overall.

Pieter Steinmann also completed his swim in 33:12 min and came 165th out of 198 swimmers in his category, 457th out of 578 in his gender and 783rd out of 1,005 swimmers overall.

Louw also completed Event 4, the 1.6 km Non-Company Event and finished in 41:26 min, ending 59th out of 123 swimmers in his category, 301st out of 658 and 582nd out of 1,392 swimmers overall.

“The waves were coming from the right so we swallowed a bit of water along the way, but we all managed,” said Louw.

Although the swimmers also experienced rough conditions on 11 February, they were not as bad as the previous day.

The day kicked off with Event 5 (1.6 km), which Annalisa Freese completed, having done 10 miles (16 km) before her main event.

“I was quite surprised because my body was tired but I could still push for my record, 31:10 min. I was so chuffed. Before my event, I told myself I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” Freese told the Herald.

She came 18th out of 213 swimmers in her category, 138th out of 1054 in her gender and 141st out of 1116 swimmers overall.

Markus Homan completed Event 6 (1.6 km) in 33:27 min. He came 29th out of 215 swimmers in his category, 172nd out of 1,079 in his gender and 178th out of 1,130 swimmers overall.

Carsten Holfelder completed the same event in 37:10 and came 38th out of 158 swimmers in his category, 311st out of 1,079 in his gender and 321st out of 1,130 swimmers overall. Carla Louw finished in 39:53 min, came 81st out of 215 swimmers in his category, 426th out of 1,079 in his gender and 437th out of 1,130 swimmers overall. Caitlin Doran, struggling with a foot injury after her 8-mile event, completed Event 6.

Despite her setback, she finished the swim in 35:35 min and came 295th out of the 912 in her category, 300th out of 949 swimmers in her gender and 302nd out of 962 overall.

Meanwhile, Bianca Janeke finished in 36:08 and came 317th out of 912 swimmers in her category, 323rd out of 949 in her gender and 325th out of 962 swimmers overall.

Minke Rheeder, also recovering from a foot injury, finished in 36:59 min and came 356th out of 912 swimmers in her category, 363rd out of 949 in her gender and 366th out of 962 swimmers overall.

Dustin Pienaar completed the last 1.6 km event in very harsh conditions in 42:32 min (personal record) and came 463rd out of 702 swimmers in his category, 489th out of 754 in his gender and 490th out of 763 swimmers overall.

Pieter Steinmann finished in 57:32 min and came 654th out of 702 swimmers in his category, 700th out of 754 swimmers in his gender and 709th out of 763 swimmers overall.

Tristan Steyn finished in 45:35 min (personal record) and came 135th out of 198 swimmers in his category, 347th out of 578 swimmers in his gender and 572nd out of 1,005 swimmers overall.

Annalisa Freese, Bianca Janeke, Caitlin Doran and Markus Freese received special green numbers for completing their 10th Midmars, while Carsten Holfelder did his 25th. Contenders must complete consecutive swims annually for the award.

“It’s definitely one of the toughest Midmars we’ve done over the past few years and I am so proud of us all.

Thank you to our supporters and loved ones; you mean the world to us,” Freese concluded.