Braeburn swimmers shine at Brookside gala

By Oscar Pilipili

Nairobi’s Braeburn School is fast emerging as a swimming powerhouse.

Swimmers from the Nairobi-based learning institution continue to prevail both at local and international meetings.

Gaurav Kotecha’s turn to fly high Braeburn’s flag came when he shattered a meet record to win boys’ 10-year-olds 50m breaststroke in 44.86sec. This was during the Brookside National Junior Championships at St Austin’s Academy yesterday. Tory Pragassa set the previous mark of 44.99 two years ago.

Kotecha’s record-breaking victory came after the class five student bagged two bronze medals, one each in the 50m backstroke and 100m individual medley (IM). The youngster won a 100m breaststroke bronze at the South African Level One Championships last March.

He said: "I was inspired by the bronze medal that I won in South Africa and I kept telling myself that if I did well at an international event, then I must perform even better here," he said.

Braeburn was also in focus after nine-year-old Rebecca Kamau shattered two meet records at the gala.

She won girls’ nine-year-olds 100m IM in a time of 1:34.30 to erase the old mark of 1:35.19 set by Martha Opiyo in 2007. The vibrant little girl was at it again when she won 25m butterfly in a meet record time of 17.47 that eclipsed Ishani Pandya’s old mark of 18.33.

Ambaar Michaelo bagged silver in 17.79, with Navya Shah managing bronze in 18.45. Anita Field contributed to Braeside’s honours after she won girls’ 11-year-olds 50m in 39.85. Bubbles’ Martha Opiyo claimed bronze in 40.43 while Alesa Ilako of Otters got bronze in 41.53.

"I wasn’t expecting to win gold because I’m not feeling well, but hope to perform better in future," Field said.

Wambui Wambugu of St Austin’s Academy utilised the home advantage to win girls’ 10-year-olds 50m butterfly in 41.00. Ambala Atuhaire of Strathmore broke a meet record when he returned 19.69 in the boys’ eight-year-olds 25m backstroke. The event was funded by Brookside Dairy who have taken over as official sponsors of Kenya Swimming Federation junior events.