Brunlehner excels in Durban as Makini School dominates Safaricom gala in Nairobi

By Ernest Ndunda and Oscar Pilipili

Maria Brunlehner claimed another medal to bring her tally to three in the South African Level Two Swimming Gala in Durban.

Maria who won gold and bronze on the second day of the event added silver in girls’ 50m breaststroke winning the event in 38.88.

Burhanuddin Chandabhai (40.39) and Flavio Fontana (44.92) were fifth and 10th.

In 200m individual medley, Chandabhai won silver in 2:54.84.

In 100m freestyle, Maria was fourth in 1:08.72 and Obuya eighth in 1:12.28.

The second batch of Coast swimmers depart for Level One Championships starting Friday in East London.

Abdulmalik Abdulkarim and Namisha Khagram are the team’s coach and manager.

Meanwhile, Makini School dominated the Safaricom Nasa Junior and Masters gala with its athletes claiming four individual overall positions at Aga Khan High.

makini swimmers

Makini swimmers clinched overall titles in boys’ and girls’ under-6 category, boys’ under-7, girls’ under-9 and boys’ under-11.

Six-year-old Christine Wairimu of Makini School scooped 28 points to emerge overall winner in girls’ under-6 category.

Wema Nyambura of Rusinga School garnered 12 points for runner-up position followed by Abigael Gichiri of Bubbles Swim Club on nine points.

Karanja Njoroge managed 24 points to win boys’ category and ensure Makini rule the under-6 age-group.

Njoroge’s team mate did not disappoint either as he managed 22 points to occupy runner-up position with Bubble’s Hakeem Salim finishing a distant third on eight points.

Victoria Okumo of Braeside starred in the girls’ seven years olds topping the category with 26 points followed by Ahura Ambala of Africa Swimming Academy on 21 points and Neema Kariuki of Makini on 13.

Makini were not left behind in the class as Manuel Karanja collected 25 points to win boys’ honours with Karl Murugu of Aga Khan Nairobi (20) and the winner’s (Karanja) team mate Michael Odunga finishing second and third.

German School claimed both boys’ and girls’ overall titles in the under-9 with Timon Tenanbergen and Lucia Ruchti winning.

boys title’

Timon topped his group on 33 points followed by Thulani Muya of Peponi School (19) and Ivan Njuguna of Rusinga (16).

Ruchta won her category with 33 points as Leila Abdulrazak (24) and Jasmin Kimani of Aqua Kenya (16) occupying the next two positions.

Joy Njoka was in her own class scoring 30 points to ensure Makini School claimed overall trophy in girls’ under-9. Aqua’s Ramona Ndonga (21) and Felicia Armfort (9) were second and third.

Boys’ title went to Edward Roest of Swim Right Club who collected 32 points while Zacharia Speakman of Peponi came third on 23 points and Errol King finished third on 19 points.

Hadassah Gichovi of Loreto Convent Valley Road starred in the girls under-10 claiming the title on 30 points. Gichovi’s teammate Chantalle Kariuki was second on 27 points and Nathalie Fengler of International School of Kenya came third on 18 points.