Brickwoods shine at Aberdare swimming gala

Members of the Brickwoods schools aka Aquastorm display some of the 42 medals they won during the Aberdare swimming gala at the Brickwoods schools in Nanyuki, Laikipia county, January 28, 2016. PHOTO: MOSE SAMMY/STANDARD

Brickwoods schools Nanyuki splashed their way to sweet victory by amassing 42 medals during the Aberdare swimming age-group gala over the weekend.

The invitational event brought together eight teams.

The meet was open to swimmers aged seven and below and sixteen years and over, competing in individual medley events; freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly and in medley relay.

The participating teams were; hosts Brickwoods schools Nanyuki, Braeburn Nanyuki International schools, Hamptons Academy, Mount Kenya Academy Nyeri, Madaraka Primary school - Thika, Nyeri Good shepherd Academy, Saint Christopher Academy - Nanyuki, Nanyuki High school and Kabarak University.

Samir Bachelani of Brickwoods Schools won five gold, a silver and a bronze medal with his sister Shaina Bachelani winning two gold, one silver and a bronze medal.

Samirs’ meet highlight came when he stopped the clock at 1:33.32 to edge out his school’s coach Samora Machel who cloaked 1:34:97 in the men’s 100m open.

Shamir said: “I’m really happy with that time because it’s my first time under 2:00. I couldn’t ask for more. I just tried to stay relaxed and attack the second half, which I think worked out well. I just focused on my own race and stuck to my race plan.”
Kipyator Douglas won the (50m) men breaststroke final gold on a time of 00:44.33.

The Kabarak University swimmer was quick off the blocks, swimming a new personal best time to finish first.
Kabarak University’s Gray Nderi won in the 50m freestyle open with 1:15.53. Michael White took silver with 1:25.25 and Fredrick Omido followed up for the bronze in 1:34.25.
Kabarak University swimmer, Cheruiyot Koskei, had a lot to smile about after his 50m Freestyle final.
He was the fastest qualifier in the heats and he continued with his form to claim gold in a new Personal Best time of 46:56.
Koskei clocked 34.03 to add another gold in the 100m freestyle.
 

Cheruiyot said: “I felt really good in the warm up, so I was hoping to do a good time. I’m really happy with a PB. I was hoping to win the 50m, but to get the 100m as well, it’s a big bonus.”
In the girl’s (4x25) medley relay, Braeburn Nanyuki International School claimed their first relay gold.
They swam 1:56.40 to reach the wall just ahead of their Brickwoods rivals, who came home in 1:58:87. Nanyuki High School followed up for bronze in 3:43.35.
 

The men’s 4x50m Freestyle relay was hotly contested, but Kabarak University team B managed to put over thirty seconds between them and their Kabarak team A rivals.
The Kabarak team B quartet swam 2:28.06 to take the gold medal.
Kabarak team A powered through to take the silver medal in a time of 2:28.37.