The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
AFTER putting in a good performance at this year’s edition of the African Swimming Confederation (Cana) Zone 4 Championships in Mauritius last week, Zimbabwe has been given a chance to shine at home, thanks to the decision of the organisers of the Games to bring them to Bulawayo early next year.
The regional swimming meet will be held in the first week of January 2017. Zimbabwe emerged the third best team of the last Cana Zone 4 Games that took place from 20 to 23 April at Beau Bassin, Mauritius after amassing 1 722 points behind hosts Mauritius and Zambia who had 2 744 points and 1 961 points respectively.
Zimbabwe Aquatic Union president Mary Kloppers, who travelled with the team to the island country, said this year’s performance would certainly boost their confidence ahead of the next games to be hosted by Zimbabwe. By hosting the annual event Kloppers says the country will have the added advantage of having more swimmers.
“We had the disadvantage of travelling to Mauritius with a small contingent due to financial constraints faced by the organisation and I think when we are the hosts next year that won’t affect us as we are likely to have a very strong team. However, last week’s results are a morale booster as we prepare to host the regional competition as we did well,” said Kloppers, who was full of praise for the swimmers adding they performed beyond expectations despite the hot weather conditions.
She said the conditions affected several youngsters who, however, soldiered on and still came up with solid performances.
Zimbabwe bagged nine gold, 18 silver and 11 bronze medals at the competition with four swimmers, breaking eight records at the meet.
St John’s College pupil Liam Davis was the toast of the Zimbabwe team as he broke three breaststroke records, managing to complete 50m in 31 seconds and 33 microseconds, the 100m in 01.08.23 and the 200m in 02.27.49.
The 15-year-old was competing in the 15 to16 years age group.
Chisipite’s Paige Van der Westhuizen underlined her dominance in freestyle when she broke the three records in the 12 and under age group. She topped the 50m race with 28 seconds and 85 microseconds while completing the 100m in 01.03.80 before winning the 200m event in 02.18.99.
Hannah Mitchell, who is also at Chisipite, now holds the 12 and under age record for the 100m breaststroke when she won the race in one minute, 21 seconds and 50 microseconds while University of Pretoria-based James Lawson also broke the record for the same event in the 17 and over men’s age group completing the event in 01.05.07.
Kloppers said the level of competition at the Canas had increased unlike before when it was considered a developmental gala adding it had become very competitive and having record breakers in the team was a sign the country was on track among the best.
“The gala has become a top level event and having our swimmers shows we are on the right direction. Another plus for us is that we had young swimmers like Hannah, Liam and Paige performing delightfully which means the future is bright ahead.
“There were many records that tumbled at the gala showing how competitive it was,” she said.
A total of 70 records were eclipsed at the tourney with Zambia’s Mia Phiri breaking five records in the 50m; 100m and 200m backstroke and 50m and 100m butterfly.
Other swimmers who performed well include South Africa-based Nomvula Mjimba who took second place in the 50m breaststroke, 50m butterfly and 100m freestyle and third in the 100m butterfly in the 13-14 women’s age group, Christian Cullen took two silver in 50m backstroke and 100m butterfly and two bronze in 100m freestyle and 50m butterfly while Courtney Brown took gold in the 50m freestyle (13-14 years).
Several swimmers took fourth place in their respective events to add to the tally of points and among them were Lorna Doorman (200m medley and 200m backstroke), Shamiso Gambe (100m breaststroke), Brendon Cyprianos (200m backstroke and 100m butterfly), Denilson Cyprianos (200m backstroke).
Lawson failed in his quest to reach the Olympic qualifying times at the event but is set to attend the Mare Nostrum, a series of three swimming meets held in the Mediterranean, in June as he continues with his quest to qualify for Rio 2016.
The series will take place on 4 to 5 June in Monaco, 8 to 9 June in Canet en Roussillon and in Barcelona on 11 to 12 June.
The CANA competition involved countries from the Southern African region that have been grouped into Zone 4 and comprise Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Comoros, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, Malawi, Seychelles, Swaziland Zambia, Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
Full Cana 4 Zimbabwe Team
Girls 11-12 Paige Van der Westhuisen, Hannah Mitchell
Boys 11-12 Callum Davis, Christian Cullen
Girls 13-14 Nomvula Mjimba, Courtney Brown, Claire Melrose, Chiedza Mtetwa, Maryke Koen, Anotida Makonese
Boys 13-14 Denilson Cyprianos, Tyrel Cooke, Marcelle Masvikeni, Jake Oostindien
Girls 15-16 Shamiso Gambe, Nyasha Mukonoweshuro, Yemurai Shangwa, Hollie Stander
Boys 15-16 Dale Bruce, Liam Davis, Ayman Khatoun
17-Over Girls Ashleigh Miller, Lorna Doorman (Capt)
17-Over Boys James Lawson, Brendon Cyprianos (Capt)
