The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
MATABELELAND swimmers continued to excel when three records tumbled at the Matabeleland Senior Championships that ended last Sunday at the Bulawayo City Pool.
Promising star, Denilson Cyprianos added to the four records he has already broken when he reduced the record by 1 minute 21.01 seconds of the 10 minutes 07.82 14 and under 800m freestyle record set by Ashby Tink on 18 February 2010 at the Senior National Championships.
The performance by the Penguins swimmer saw him dominate his age group coming first overall with 116 points.
In the 11 years and Under 50m backstroke ctaegory, a record was also set by Crusaders’ Timea Schultz who managed to finish the race on 37.90 seconds to eclipse a 22-year-old record of 38.34 seconds set by Claudine Pullen on 11 January 1994.
Another Penguins swimmer, Quinton Tayali bettered the 50m butterfly record in the 15 years age category by three seconds as he clocked 28.53 seconds to beat the 28.56 seconds set by Liam O’Hara at a Matabeleland Gala held in October.
Several swimmers have been at their best this year with O’Hara, Cory Werret, Cyprianos and Maryke Koen all breaking records at various meets.
Penguins’ Cyprianos, Barracudas’ Cory Werret and Falcons’ Liam O’Hara were outstanding at the Mutare Sprint Gala in October, setting records.
O’Hara (15), of Falcons, also became the first local book a place in next year’s International Swimming Federation (FINA) Youth Games when he completed the 100m breaststroke in a time of one minute 07.86 seconds in the boys’ 15-16 years age-group at Gala Number 6.
O’Hara and Cyprianos broke a combined five record at the Matabeleland Short Course Gala that was held at Hillside Teachers’ College in October.
Crusaders emerged victorious in the swimming clubs rankings as they amassed a total of 1 174 points, nine points ahead of Penguins who came second while Barracudas was third with 1 125,50 points.
Falcons were third with 400 points followed by Zambesi Tigers who earned 214 points, BG Dolphins (167), School of Swimming (65) while Otters Harare were eighth with 28 points and Petra finished last with a paltry 16 points.
The Mat’land Championships ran from 1 to 5 December.
Individual Top Three in each age category
12 & Under Women
1 Cummings, Caitlin (12) Affiliated Penguins Swimmers-MT 113 points
2 Androuliakos, Arianna (12) Affiliated Crusaders Swimmers-MT 87 points
3 Bruce, Danika (12) Affiliated Crusaders Swimmers-MT 67 points
12 & Under Boys
1 Werrett, Cory (12) Barracudas Swimming Club-MT 148 points
2 Lee, Dylan (12) Affiliated Penguins Swimmers-MT 76 points
3 De Swardt, Jayden (10) Barracudas Swimming Club-MT 72 points
13-14 Girls
1 Rollo, Riana (13) Affiliated Crusaders Swimmers-MT 123 .50 points
2 Bravo, Sancia (14) Barracudas Swimming Club-MT 88 points
3 Mahomed, Aisha (13) Affiliated B G Dolphins-MT 86 points
13-14 Boys 1 Cyprianos, Denilson (14) Affiliated Penguins Swimmers-MT 116 points
2 May, Farhaan (13) Barracudas Swimming Club-MT 66 points
3 Sheasby, Ben (14) The Falcons Swimming Club-MT 56 points
15-16 Girls
1 McAllister, Jessica (16) Barracudas Swimming Club-MT 140 points
2 Koen, Maryke (15) Affiliated Crusaders Swimmers-MT 118 points
3 Mswabuki, Siduduziwe (15) Affiliated Penguins Swimmers-MT 63 points
15-16 Boys
1 Bruce, Dale (16) Affiliated Crusaders Swimmers-MT 166 points
2 Isemonger, Roan (15) Affiliated Crusaders Swimmers-MT 102 points
3 Tayali, Quinton T (15) Affiliated Penguins Swimmers-MT 79 points
15-16 Boys
5 Simon, Trei (16) The Falcons Swimming Club-MT 37 points
6 O’Hara, Liam (15) The Falcons Swimming Club-MT 36 points
7 Moyo, Phiwo (16) The Falcons Swimming Club-MT 33 points
17 & Over Women
1 McAllister, Courtney (17) Affiliated Crusaders Swimmers-MT 108 points
2 Simon, Kristy (18) Barracudas Swimming Club-MT 60 points
3 Tagwireyi, Norah T (17) Affiliated Penguins Swimmers-MT 57 points
17 & Over Men
1 Vanbiljon, Keanu J (17) Affiliated Crusaders Swimmers-MT 90 points
2 Cyprianos, Brendon (18)Affiliated Penguins Swimmers-MT 78 points
3 Netsha, Mmelwa (18)Affiliated Penguins Swimmers-MT 73 points
Twitter:@rasmthembo
