Over 2,000 swimmers to compete in national gala in Mombasa

Ambaar Michaelo of Dolphin Swim Club in past action. [Gideon Maundu, Standard]

Two Tanzanian teams are expected today for the annual Kenya Swimming Federation Short Course championships that start tomorrow.

Oshwal Academy Mombasa will host the three-day gala that ends on Sunday with more than 2,000 swimmers in action.

Kenya Swimming Federation (KSF) Competition Secretary Carol Nzioki said Braeburn International School of Arusha and Tirana School from Morogoro had confirmed their participation.

“We have already received over 2,000 entries from Tanzania, Mombasa, Kilifi, Central, Eldoret and Nairobi,” said Nzioki.

Central Region will be represented by Pioneer Swim Club and Loreto Limuru, while Eldoret will be represented by Topido Swim Club. Nairobi will have nine teams at the championships.

Mombasa County has the lion's share of teams, which include Dolphins, Nyali Primary School, Bandari, Mombasa Academy, Oshwal Academy and Tudor Club.

Others are Octopus, Coast Academy, Blue Ocean Swim Club, Mombasa Aquatics and Kilifi’s Creek Swim Club.

Competition is expected to be stiff as most of the swimmers are fresh from the Casa Invitational Level Three championships that ended on October 21 in Dar es salaam, Tanzania.

Kenya finished second with 1,904 points behind winners Tanzania who had 3,072 points. Other teams in the Tanzanian gala were Zambia (1,846), Uganda (1,494), South Africa (1,127) and Sudan, who had 747 points.

Federation secretary Winnie Kamau said the Mombasa event would be used to scout for swimmers in readiness for next year’s Commonwealth Games set for April 6-16 in Australia.