adminMashonaland Country District accumulated 374 points to settle for third place and Midlands were bottom with 131 points.
Mashonaland continued with their dominance in the individual rankings as most of their swimmers got most of the points in the various age-groups.
Bruce Chiang won the title in the 11-year-old boys while Hollie Stander took the girls’ title.
Nomvula Mjimba won the 10-year-olds title while Bryan Chiang won the 9-year-olds’ title. Benoni Nhekairo and Donata Katai got the boys 8 and under and girls title respectively.
The 10-year-old boys title went to Joash Mckonie of Matabeleland while Paige Van Der Westhuizen of Mashonaland Country District claimed the 9-year-olds girls’ title.
Mashonaland board vice chairperson, Celso Chiang, hailed the team’s performance.
“Mashonaland dominated in almost everything except the 10-year-old boys where Matabeleland were dominant, our boys didn’t have a chance.
“This was the last event and now our swimmers are preparing for the Level Three, after two weeks we have Level Two and the CANA on April 22,” said Chiang.
Meanwhile, 11 swimmers are expected to leave for South Africa today where they will participate in a Level Three gala running from Friday to Tuesday next week.
Zimbabwe will be pinning their hopes on seasoned swimmers such as Nicholas Burnett, James Lawson and Sloane Marshall.
Team manager, Julie Price, said preparations have been going on well and most of the swimmers took part in the National Seniors championships in Harare last month as part of their preparations.
“We have got 11 swimmers going. We have Nicholas Burnett, one of our top swimmers, Liam Davis a very promising 12-year-old.
“He has broken quite a few national records and he is only 12. There is Lorna Doorman, James Lawson, another top swimmer, and Takunda Mafundikwa who is now based in America.
“We have Takudzwa Nyamutsamba from Bulawayo, Sloane Marshall, Ratidzo Mutangadura, another promising swimmer, and the Onorati brothers, Chase and Aiden. They have been training very hard for this. We had the nationals and they have been training since then,” said Price.
Price said the competition would be but was confident the team will do well.
“I think the seniors will do well, the competition is very tough out there because we might think that we are good here but then it’s different.
“I would say that our 17-and-over should do well.
“Our veteran swimmers now have the experience and know what to expect in the competition, four of them have been there before,” said Price.
Team
Boys: Nicholas Burnett, James Lawson, Sloane Marshall, Brendon Chiang, Liam Davis, Chase Onorati, Takudzwa Nyamutsamba, Aiden Onorati, Takunda Mafundikwa.
Girls: Lorna Doorman, Ratidzo Mutangadura.
Online Reporter