Golden Kenyan

By ERNEST NDUNDA

Olympian Jason Dunford bagged the first gold medal for Kenya in the African Senior swimming championships, which entered its third day on Wednesday in Casablanca, Morocco.

Dunford, who briefly held the 2008 Beijing Olympic record in the 100m butterfly when he swam 51.14 seconds was in a class of his own during the race in Casablanca.

The 24-year-old Kenyan splashed his way to victory when he clocked 52.65 seconds in the final race.

In the first heat, Jason had settled for the third slot with a time of 55.67 in the heat won by Egyptian Osman Marwar with a time of 55.18. Another Kenyan in the race Akshay Shah clocked one minute 06.15.

Jason is poised to win more gold medals in the event, which has attracted 252 swimmers from 19 African countries. The event ends on Sunday.

At the 2007 World championships, Jason captured three gold medals, two silver and three bronze medals to become the most successful male athlete of the games.

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Jason Dunford at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. INSET: Sylvia Brunlehner [PHOTO: HABIL EVANS/STANDARD]

In the 100m breaststroke, Kenyan Amar Shah clocked 1.07.86 with another Kenyan Zubeir Mohammed timing 1.23.78 in the race won by South Africa’s William Diering, who posted the fastest time in the morning heats, finished second (1:03.13) in a hard-fought race with Algeria’s Nabil Kebbab.

Former South African coach Karoly Torros, who is currently the head coach of Algeria, coaches Nabil.

In 50m back, Kenya’s David Dunford was placed fifth with a time of 27.56 secs, while Akshay Shah clocked 31.49.

Darren Murray of South Africa won the event with a time of 26.56. In 50m butterfly women, Kenya’s Sylvia Brunlehner timed 31.59 secs to finish beyond 10th, while another Kenyan Anhan Salyani timed 33.69.

In 50m back, Kenyans Amar Shah and Ahmed Abdulmajid timed 30.10 and 36.94, also missing the top 10 position in the race won by Diering Williams of South Africa with a time of 29.13.

Golden girl Kathryn Meaklim finished the 400m individual medley with a new Championships record time of 4:45.76, improving on her previous morning heat record of 4:53.72. Bianca Meyer claimed bronze in 4:52.69.

It was gold and silver for South Africa in the women’s 50m backstroke. Chanelle van Wyk set a new Championship Record clocking 29.31 while Jessica Ashley-Cooper claimed silver in 29.90.

In the men’s 50m backstroke, youngster Darren Murray topped the podium in 26.56, with Garth Tune second in 27.03.