Bianchi chases more records as Kenyan head to Rwanda for East Africa games

From Left- Silver Breaststroke Duini Germana Caffini, Freestyle Gold champion Maria Bianchi and Marion Alala during the CANA Zone 4 swimming Championships. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Multiple national swimming record holder Maria Bianchi aims to break more records during this month's East Africa secondary schools games in Kigali,Rwanda.

"I have been positioning myself to break more records in Rwanda. I hope to extend my stellar form in Kigali and retain the overall best girl swimmer award," said the Shree Swaminarayan Academy's student. The Kigali games are slated for August 23-27.

In last year's regional games in Arusha, Tanzania, Bianchi bagged three gold medals and 60 points to be adjudged as the best girl swimmer and lead the Kenyan team to win the overall title with 1098 points.

Uganda and Tanzania had 1076 and 732 points for the second and third positions respectively.

Bianchi who was the most outstanding girl athlete at the 2019 Safaricom Sports Personality of the year award (SOYA) specialises in 200m individual medley (IM) where she won gold in Arusha with a time of 2.37.00.

In 50m butterfly, the Mombasa-based swimmer clocked 31.20 and 1.21.02 in the 100m breaststroke race for two more gold medals.

"My last year's performance motivated me and my mission in Kigali is to set new records," said the Blue Ocean swimming club swimmer. 

The swimmer who has represented Kenya in several international meets will lead the Kenyan girls to defend the overall title. 

Mombasa has the bulk of the girls swimmers in the 14 squad selected during the term one games in Rift Valley region.

Meanwhile, arrangements for the national secondary schools term two games are in top gear in Kakamega.

The Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association Western Region’s general secretary, Quinto Omusugu, said that the last stages of national preparation were underway ahead of the start of the games scheduled to run from August 8 to 11.

Teams and officials from the regions are expected to start arriving in Kakamega on Saturday.

The Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega High, St. Ignatius Mukumu Boys, St. Peter’s Seminary-Mukumu, Kakamega Approved School and Masinde Muliro University will be the designated venues for the football, volleyball, rugby, netball and racquet games.

Girls swimming team to Rwanda

Maria Bianchi (Mombasa)

Raya Ba (Mombasa)

Natalie Lutalo (Mombasa)

Mwige Tugi (Mombasa)

Emma Wambui (Mombasa)

Natasha Thuranira (Mombasa)

Melissa van Niekerk (Mombasa)

Amelia Mudane (Mombasa)

Audrey Chebet (Nairobi)

Ashley Kagwima (Nairobi)

Kagure Maina (Nairobi)

Maria Mwasha (Nairobi)

Joy Alala (Eastern)

Michelle Atieno (Rift Valley)