adminNgqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
FOUR Matabeleland junior swimmers broke regional records during the first Mutare Sprint Gala held last weekend in what was a fruitful meet for the province.
Penguins’ Denilson Cyprianos, Barracudas’ Onye Onovo and Cory Werret and Falcons’ Liam O’Hara were all outstanding and had their records confirmed at the third 2016 Matabeleland Gala held at the City Pool on Friday evening.
Cyprianos was the toast of the Mutare Sprint breaking the 22-year-old boys Under-14 50-meter backstroke record with a time of 32,06 seconds surpassing the 32,39 seconds set by Brandon MacDonald on 1 November 1994.
Onovi bettered Maryke Koen’s 37,29 seconds record in the girls Under-9 50m freestyle set on 10 January 2010 by 20 microseconds while Werret clocked 1 minute 25,45 to beat O’Hara’s 1 minute 25,63 seconds record in the boys 12 and under 100 metres breaststroke set on 25 November 2013.
Not to be outdone, O’Hara eclipsed the Under-15 50 metres butterfly record of 28,82 seconds set by Andresious Cyprianos on 16 October 2010 when he clocked 28,67 seconds. Matabeleland Swimming Board chairperson Nokuthula Cyprianos said the swimmers managed to attain Level Three, South African Juniors qualifying times with their feats. She said most swimmers did well in Mutare as some broke records and others achieved their personal bests. Penguins coach, Amanda Manuel expressed delight at Denilson’s achievement saying he is a hard worker and shown great potential in the sport.
She said he is a very active sportsman as he also plays rugby and water polo. On Friday several other swimmers were presented with their Matabeleland Colours, recognition for their service to the region while officials were honoured with certificates.
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