The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
DESPITE playing second fiddle to Mashonaland at last week’s Senior National Championships, three Matabeleland swimmers set new records for the province with Liam O’Hara (16) shattering a 30-year -old 400m individual medley (16-17 years).
Another rising star, Brendon Cyprianos (19) eclipsed a record set by Brandon McDonald 21 years ago in the 100m backstroke senior males while Onye Onovo now holds the record for the 50m butterfly in the 10-year-old girls’ category.
Cyprianos clocked 1 minute 02,28 seconds to take gold in the 100m backstroke and beat McDonald’s 1 minute 03,08 seconds set in January 1996.
Brendon Beaumont’s 30-year record of 5 minutes 03,50 seconds in the 16-17 years old was shattered by O’Hara who swam the event in 5 minutes 02,77 seconds.
O’Hara also set a new record in the 200m breaststroke putting up a time of 2 minutes 28,56 seconds bettering the time (2 minutes 29,77 seconds) set by Jamie Isemonger four years ago.
Onovo completed the 50m butterfly race in the 10 and under section in 36,85 seconds to overcome the 37,82 seconds set by an S Mckop in December 2004.
The national swimming championships were held in Harare from 4 to 8 January and saw Mashonaland Province emerge victorious with a total of 3 012 points, Matabeleland came second with 1 663 while Mashonaland Country Districts amassed 141 points and Manicaland finished on 49 points.
Other swimmers from the province who were outstanding at the meet include Maryke Koen (16) who topped six races (100m, 200m, 400m, 50m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 200m individual medley), in her age group while she came second to Nomvula Mjimba (15) in the 50m backstroke, 50m butterfly and 50m breaststroke. She was also part of the relay team that won the 200m mixed medley relay and her teammates included Liam O’Hara, Denilson Cyprianos and Savannah Preez (15).
Mmelwa Netsha (19) won the 100m breaststroke and came second in the 50m breastroke which was won by Dale Bruce (17).
O’Hara also scooped the 400m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke 100m butterfly, 200m individual medley and 50m backstroke gold medals and came second in the 100m freestyle, 100m, 50m freestyle and 200m backstroke while Denilson Cyprianos took gold in 200m freestyle, 100m and 200m backstroke while coming second in the 400m freestyle, 200m individual medley and 50m backstroke.
