Muteti bags gold in Level Two Swimming Championships

By Ernest Ndunda

Sensational swimmer Emily Muteti bagged Kenya’s first gold medal at the South Africa Invitational Level Two Swimming Championships.

Emily, who last month broke her own national record during the Coast Age-Group and Relay Swimming Championships at Aga Khan Academy, was in a class of her own as she splashed her way to grabbing the gold medal on Friday in Port Elizabeth.

Muteti, 12, and a member of Mombasa Aquatics Swim Club, clocked five minutes 16.80 seconds in the girls’ 400m freestyle for the crown.

The Mombasa-based swimmer had last month erased her national record of 21.25.01 she set last October with a new record of 21.20.35 in the girls’ 12 and 13 year-olds’ 1,500m freestyle.

Muteti is among six swimmers from Mombasa who are taking part in the championship, which ends tomorrow. Other swimmers who were due to start their medal chase yesterday are Chloe Danji, Ambaar Michaelo, Swabri Butt, Kishan Patel and Oliver Holding Faye.

Meanwhile, the Mombasa team to the South African Level One Championships leaves the country on Tuesday morning.

The team coached by Farid Mohammed will head to Port Elizabeth for the gala, which starts next Friday to April 3.

The team was boosted on Friday when Coast Bottlers donated Sh320,000 to the Coast Amateur Swimming Association (Casa). Kenya Airways also came on board to support the team.

Kenya Airways Coast Region Sales Supervisor Nehemiah Chemelil said the company has donated goods and offered subsidised air tickets to the travelling team. Casa Vice Chairman Mehboob Harunani thanked the two companies for their support.

Those in Level One girls’ team are Jasmin Alibhai, Wairimu Maina Crystal, White Katie, Tadge Holding Faye, Michelle Leichum and Allison Mocellin.

The boys’ team has brothers Alain and Flavio Fontana, Karan Khagram, Njau Njuguna, Vora Shaan, Nelson Jan and Nobby Obuya.