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FOUR Bulawayo swimmers Asby Tink and the Cyprianos brothers Denilson, Brendon and Andrescious will on Saturday leave the country for South Africa to compete in the KwaZulu Natal Swimming Championships in Durban. The KZN Swimming Championships, a big event on the South African calendar, will run from 10-14 December.The quartet participated in last weekend’s Matabeleland Swimming Board Championships where Denilson put up a spirited show as he smashed two national records and bettered three regional times.
The 11-year-old Denilson, who in October broke a 17-year-old national record in the 50m backstroke at the Mutare National Sprint Gala in a time of 37.64 seconds, bettered the time to 36.77 seconds.
Denilson was the highlight of the tournament as he broke a five-year 100m backstroke record of one minute 21.21 seconds set by Federico Bescotto after clocking one minute 20.87 seconds in his age-group (12 and under).
The two national records were automatically recorded as Matabeleland Swimming Board records too.
Denilson, who looks set to follow in his brothers Andrescious and Brendon’s footsteps, went on to improve on the Matabeleland Swimming Board’s 11-years category record finishing the 200m backstroke in two minutes 58.06 seconds.
The previous best mark was three minutes 0.27 seconds which the young athlete set in April.
Wandile Banda broke a five-year Matabeleland Swimming Board 1 500m girls’ freestyle record swimming the 11-years category in a new record of 25 minutes 39.24 seconds.
Avalon Bruce is the previous holder having done 25 minutes 43.91 seconds.
The Matabeleland Swimming Championships was the last event of the year with the board chairman Eddie Cyprianos praising swimmers for improved performances.
“The kids have continued to do well and better their times which makes it easier for them to be in the running for regional competitions. For one to qualify for regional competitions there are times that one has to attain and I am happy to announce that most of our swimmers are within that range and what they need to do is improve their times.
“Our next Gala will be held in January and we hope the kids will continue with their training sessions. Four of our swimmers will end the year by competing at the KZN Swimming Championships next week,” Eddie said.
Liam O’Hara was also on fire at the Matabeleland Swimming Board championships setting new times in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke events in the boys’ 12-year-olds with times of 37.46 seconds, one minute 25.63 seconds and three minutes 01.30 seconds. The previous holders were K Garnie (2004), Angus Findlay (1991) and James Isemonger (2009) respectively.
Brendon beat James in the 15-16 year olds 200m backstroke age group with a time of two minutes 34.96 seconds with the latter finishing 20 seconds behind.
Online Reporter