Junior swimmer clinches nine gold medals

By Oscar Pilipili

Anita Field, in one of her best career performances, took Kasarani Aquatic Stadium by storm when she won nine gold medals at a juniors’ swimming gala.

Field practically won every race she entered in to emerge the overall winner in the girls’ 10-11 years category yesterday. The student at Braeburn School won the first race of the gala – the 100m freestyle – and maintained form to win all subsequent events she took part in.

She said: "I felt cheated after I failed to win any medal during the African Junior Championships held here two months ago. I was pushed by my desire to correct the poor show and I’m a happy girl today because I have achieved it in great style," said the shy Field, proudly displaying her medals around her neck.

Anita Field swims her way to victory, Sunday. [PHOTO: TABITHA OTWORI /STANDARD]

Other events that were won by Field were the 200m individual medley, 100m backstroke, 50m breaststroke, 50m backstroke, 200m backstroke, 50m butterfly, 100m breaststroke and 50m freestyle.

Field has been named in the Nairobi Swimming Association team that has entered for South Africa Level Two Championships next month.

"I plan to continue training hard for me to win medals in South Africa," she said of her immediate plans.

Another exemplary performance came from Field’s schoolmate, Gouri Kotecha, who recorded four wins in the triple ‘A’.

Junior Championships

Kotecha, who represented Tanzania at the African Junior Championships, reaped gold in 200m individual medley race that she won in a time of 3:01.13 ahead of Marina Rozanski of Kenton (3:02.58) and Martha Opiyo (Braeside (3:03.09).

Kotecha got her second gold in 100m backstroke race after she returned 1:24.53 to relegate Rozanski (1:25.44) and Cheyenne Uribe of International School of Kenya (1:32.12) to silver and bronze positions.

The event proved a disappointing outing for Africa Junior Championships stars Rebecca Kamau and Gaurav Kotecha as they performed below expectations.

Kamau and Kotecha were clearly out of form that saw them earn six gold and five gold medals at the Africa Junior Championships.

Kamau trailed Field in all the events where both took part, while Kotecha managed one gold medal after he won Boys’ 10-11 years 100m breaststroke in 1:37.73.