Nairobi swimmers back from South Africa

By Oscar Pilipili and Ernest Ndunda

Nairobi Swimming Association (Nasa) team that finished eighth overall out of 32 teams at Telkom South Africa Level Two Swimming Championships is back home.

Nasa officials, led by vice chairman Patrick Muya, received three members of the team that scooped 26 medals (seven gold, 14 silver and five bronze) at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Other officials present were: Job Kania (secretary), Carol Nzioka (competitions secretary) and Allan Kimeu (coach). Swimmers who returned on Tuesday night included Martha Opiyo, who bagged one gold, silver and bronze medal, double silver medalist Charles Van Eijik and Akinyi Ogot.

Head coach, Pauline Raburu, said the rest of the swimmers remained in South Africa to attend a one-month training in Cape Town.

Major Doubt

They are Anita Field and Kotecha siblings Gouri and Gaurav. Eijik said: "Bagging two silver medals is a great achievement since I didn’t get any medal on my debut last year."

He said he would not be available for the next edition of the gala as his family is planning to relocate from Kenya. Opiyo, who appeared exhausted and in a hurry to go home, said the Championships were competitive.

Raburu said: "The team did well, considering that we entered only 10 swimmers in the gala."

Other gold medallists were Sehar Saleh, who bagged three medals, Gouri (two) and Siddanth Mulakutla (one). Those who bagged silver were Eijik and Gouri (two) and Field, Alexander Ngini, Opiyo, Gaurav and Mulakutla, who got one silver each.

Another team of Kenyan swimmers departs for Telkom South Africa Level One Championships tomorrow at 5am.

Meanwhile, Five national records fell yesterday, courtesy of Coast swimmers as the South African Level Two Swimming Championships ended yesterday afternoon at Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Backstroke Record

Deeyn Shah broke the 12-13 years’ 50m backstroke Kenya record. The old record was 33.37, held by Deeyn himself he set on January 8th, this year. The new record stands at 32.98. Shivraj Vaghela broke the 12-13 year-olds’ 50m butterfly record, which stood at 30.32 and was held by David Jones since February 24, 2002. The new record now stands at 29.95.

The boys’ relay team broke the 12-13 year-olds’ 4x100m freestyle relay Kenyan record, which stood at 5.06.87 and held by Coast Academy School since May 24, 1998. The new record stands at 4.27.87. The team comprised of Deeyn Shah, Jamie Nicholas, Samuel Williams and Shivraj Vaghela. The boys’ relay team broke the 12-13 year-olds’ 4x50m freestyle relay national record of 2.01.93 in a new record of 1.57.17.

The team of record breakers comprised of Deeyn Shah, Jamie Nicholas, Martyn Matiba and Shivraj Vaghela. The boys relay team of Deeyn Shah, Jamie Nicholas, Saahil Harunani and Shivrajs Vaghela set a new 12-13 year-olds’ 4x50m medley relay record of 2.18.55. The Coast team of 28 swimmers to the Level One event in South Africa was set to leave yesterday (Wednesday).