Fernandez plunge

By Oscar Pilipili

A new national record was set on the first day of the Nairobi Swimming Association (Nasa) invitational gala at Aga Khan High School Nairobi.

Micah Fernandez of Braeburn improved his own time when he swam boys’ 12-13 years 100m breaststroke in a record shattering time of one-minute 14.45 seconds. Fernandez’s previous time, which he set two months ago was 1:15.18.

It was a 1-2-3 finish for Braeburn as Roy Kiruri finished second in 1:23.81 followed by Gaurav Kotecha who clocked 1:24.49. The race, which is sponsored by Coca Cola, was very competitive in that the top nine swimmers finished inside the triple ‘A’ time of 1:40.00.

Fernandez broke the record shortly after winning boys’ 12-13 years 200m in 2:36.65 in a race where Kiruri came second after 2:46.43 while Batian Thorpe of Banda School was third in 2:50.03.

On a day that Braeburn swimmers displayed sterling performance, Anita Field claimed gold medal after winning girls’ 12-13 years 200m individual medley in 2:39.59. Silver medal went to Ger Ogot of West Nairobi School, who clocked 2:49.98 followed by Martha Opiyo of Bubbles in 2:51.22.

Emmanuel Ndonga of Makini showed the rest the way when he completed boys’ 10-11 years 200m individual medley in a time of 2:59.93. Shaan Vora of Aga Khan Mombasa was contented with second position after he touched the buzzer in 3:15.06 followed by Francis Agola of Makini in 3:19.88.

Double victory

Field bagged her second gold medal of the day after she sprinted to victory in 12-13 years 50m backstroke in winning time of 32.69. Otter’s Wambui Wambugu claimed silver in 35.37 whilst bronze went to Ogot (Ger) who returned 35.37 in yet another hotly contested show where the top 10 finished were within triple ‘A’ record time of 43.00. Field was in the picture again winning the 12-13 years 100m freestyle category in 1:02.66 while Opiyo (1:08.46) and Ogot (1:08.91) bagged silver and bronze.

It was another superb performance from Braeburn following Gouri Kotecha’s victory in girls’ 14-15 age group 100m freestyle event that she won in 1:03.68. Otter’s Alesa Ilako (1:09.24) bagged silver while Akinyi Ogot of West Nairobi School (1:09.37) carried home the bronze.