Boit tops Barclays swimming event

By Oscar Pilipili

Kiptolo Boit is arguably the best local-based male swimmer in Kenya at the moment.

The Otters Club’s swimmer exhibited top form, harvesting 61 points to emerge the overall winner in the Barclays Bank Age-group Championships.

Boit beat his closest rival David Mawende of St Mary’s, who finished second with 30 points.

Ezekiel Njoroge also of St Mary’s Nairobi came third with 28 points during the Nairobi Swimming Association (Nasa) season-ender at Aga Khan High School.

UK-based Achieng Ajulu-Bushell in action at Barclays Bank gala at Aga Khan High on Saturday. She emerged the overall winner in the 15-16 category. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Jeandre Grissel of Peponi was declared the fasted swimmer in the girls’ category after she scooped 24 points.

Jahanara Rahemtulla of Aga Khan Nairobi was contended with the second overall position with 14 points, followed by Lynn Mungai of Loreto Convent Valley Road (LCVR).

Celebrated international swimmer Achieng’ Ajulu-Bushell, competing under the umbrella of Stingrays, was the top girl in the 15-16 years category.

The UK-based Ajulu-Bushel, who was competing in the championships as a star guest, collected 49 points to her name, with Annabel Oile of Bubbles and Samantha Weya tying in the second position on 36 points.

Nasa co-ordinator Winnie Kamau said: "We invited Achieng’ to spice up action, this being our season ender."

"We want her to help in motivating the upcoming swimmers since she is a celebrity in the world of swimming," said Kamau.

Spirited show

And one swimmer who admitted that Ajulu-Bushel is her role model is four-year-old Victoria Okumu of Loreto, who put up a spirited show to finish seventh overall on four points.

Ramona Murugu of Aga Khan (29) won the category followed by Braeburn’s Wamuyu Kiruri (27) and Dhruvee Malde of Oshwal Academy (15).

Martha Opiyo of Bubbles (62) won the girls’ 11-12 category while Braeburn’s Gouri Kotecha (48) and Akinyi Ogot of Otter (26) came second and third.

Sehar Saleh starred in the girls’ 13-14 year-olds where she claimed the overall trophy on 51 points, relegating Sharmee Shah of Oshwal to the runner-up position with 11 points adrift. Mariam Foum of Brookhouse was placed third on 37 points.

Edward Ilako of Strathmore (45), Charles van Eijk of International School of Kenya (42) and Aga Khan’s Suhayl Meghji (32) were placed first, second and third in the boys’ 13-14 years category.

Aasav Patel of Kenton clinched the boys’ 7-8 title on 29 points, with Atuhaire Ambala of Strathmore coming second on 26 points. The girls’ honours went to Virginia Okumu of Loreto who had 20 points.

Thomas Hawk of Kenton beat Dirk Staal of ISK by 1.50 points to emerge winner of the boys’ 9-10 category on 21.50 points.

Gaurav Kotecha of Braeburn and Jackson Walker of ISK tied in third position on 17 points.

Other winners were: Alexandra Ngini (girls’ 9-10), Graham Walker (boys’ 11-12), Keena Shah (boys’ under-16) and Joshua Oruya (boys’ 15-16).