Africa-Press – Kenya. Over 200 Kenyan swimmers will make the plunge at the East African Chipukizi swimming championship slated for this weekend in Arusha, Tanzania.
The swimmers represent a diverse group of schools and clubs, including Pioneer School, St. Bakhita School, Mustard Seed International, Juja St. Peter’s, Woodcreek School, Juja Prep School, Orca Swim Club, Rusinga School, Aqua Wave Swim Club, Bungoma Sports Hub and Maria Polis School.
Others include Lukenya Academy, Moi Educational Centre, Gold Fish Swimming Club, Aqua SharksFin, Supermarlins, Snook, Umoja Sharks, and St. Christopher’s Nanyuki.
Uganda, on the other hand, will field clubs namely: Olympian Swim Club, Torpedo Swim Club, Sterling, Silverfin, Gliders, Aquatic Academy, Heritage, Green Hill, Hertz, Starfish, Shalot Dolphins, and Dolphins, and Aqua Skii.
The host nation, Tanzania, will be proudly represented by teams including Riptide, UWCEA, Lake Victoria, Mwanza Swim Club, Hope International School, Blue Fins, Talis, Milestone, Braeburn Schools Tanzania, North Coast Swimming Club and Elite Aqua Swim Club.
The Chipukizi is a multi-sport event and will also feature football, basketball, and volleyball. The annual event, normally a regular fixture for East African nations Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, will this year attract a record eight nations, with Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, and Zanzibar expected to field teams in the three-day competition.
The championship is organised under the leadership of the Private and International Preps Schools Sports Association, under whose mandate, age-group swimming is developing fast, and creating consistent competition opportunities for young swimmers in the region.
Elsewhere, Kenyan swimmers put up credible performances at the ongoing 4th African Youth Games in Luanda, with a series of eye-catching performances, narrowly missing podium finishes but leaving a strong mark on the continental stage.
The standout performance came from Neo Olengo, who delivered a thrilling race in the 50m breaststroke. Olengo touched the wall in a personal best 31.02 seconds, finishing fourth overall and earning 585 Fina points. Igbaal Bayusuf clocked 26.84 seconds to finish seventh overall.
In the girls’ races, Macrine Kalombo rose to the occasion in the 100m freestyle, where she posted a best time of 1:03.13.
The swim earned her eighth place overall and 549 Fina points, placing her among the continent’s top eight youth sprinters and confirming freestyle as her strongest event. Backstroke duties were led by Ruth Lindkvist, who produced her best performance in the 200m backstroke. Lindkvist finished in 2:38.62, placing eighth overall and scoring 467 FINA points.
