Mombasa steal the show in Coast gala

Maria Bianchi.[File]

Mombasa swimmers stole the limelight during the Coast secondary schools swimming competition held over the weekend, at the Aga Khan Academy.

International swimmer and multiple time national record holder Maria Bianchi won a treble to lead the Mombasa county girls team to victory.

For the overall results, Mombasa amassed 1,615 points, while Kwale County was second with 302 points. Lamu finished third with 205 points. Kilifi had a paltry 41 points for the fourth slot. Taita Taveta and Tana River counties were not represented.

In the boys' category, Mombasa emerged victorious with 747 points, while Kwale were second with 203 points. Lamu and Kilifi had 178 and 28 points for the third and fourth positions respectively.

In girls category, the 2019 SOYA most outstanding girl Bianchi did not disappoint after leading Mombasa to victory with 788 points. Kwale came second with 99 points as Lamu settled for the third spot with 27 points. Kilifi had 13 points.

In girls' 200m Individual Medley (IM), Bianchi clocked 2.37.85 to win the race with 20 points. Amelia Mudanye and Pendo Anampiu, both from Mombasa, touched the finish line after timing 2.59.89 and 3.02.84 respectively.

Bianchi, who also emerged as the best girl swimmer in last year's East Africa school games in Arusha, Tanzania, added another trophy in girls 50m butterfly after she clocked 31.83.

She completed her treble after winning the girls 100m breastroke with a time of 1.21.33.

Inell Raya and Natasha Thuranira, both representing Mombasa, clocked 1.36.72 and 1.38.04 for the second and third positions respectively.

Hashim Mohammed from Lamu pulled off a major surprise after he won the boys 100m backstroke with a time of 1.37.88.

Mombasa's boys dominated the 50m breastroke with Hakim Salim leading with a time of 34.57.

Jordan Settumba of Mombasa and Kwale's Juma Suleiman clocked 34.60 and 48.81 respectively.

The selected swimmers will represent the region at the national secondary schools Term One games slated for April 23-29 at Hill School and Moi Girls in Eldoret.