By Oscar Pilipili
Australia-based Kenyan star Silvia Brunlehner won impressive five individual gold and one silver medal in Confederation of Africa (CANA) Zone Three and Four Swimming gala held in Mozambique.
Kenya claimed a total of 31 medals that comprised of 10 gold, 13 silver and eight bronze.
Anita Field of Braeburn School Nairobi won five individual medals and three in relays to lead the under-14 age category.
Fieldâs package was made up of three silver and two bronze and she combined efforts with teammates to bag a gold, silver and bronze in relays. Emily Muteti of Mombasa Aquatics won three medals including gold in the 13-14 50m butterfly with a winning time of 31.53 just touching out her teammate Field who clocked 31.57 to claim silver.
Kira Evans of Banda School won three medals including gold in 100m backstroke where he registered 1:16.37.
Ger Ogot got silver in 200m butterfly, while Coral Hayes managed bronze.
In what could be dubbed the ârace of the competitionâ the under-14 girlsâ 4 x 50 freestyle relay team of Muteti, Ogot, Ambaar Michaelo and Field captured the gold medal by touching out their fierce rivals from South Africa.
The stadium was left in roar after the two teams raced to the end with Kenyans quartet touching out the South Africans in 1:58.97.
"I was so nervous, but all I wanted to do was touch the wall first," said Field who swam the final leg of the relay with an impressive split of 28.70.
strong performance
The boysâ Under-14 put up a strong performance as Canada-based Kimani Maina (13-14) and Batian Thorpe (under-12) made their team proud by capturing five individual medals each.
