Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
SPARTANS swimming club lived up to expectations by retaining the title at the Ecocash National Sprint Gala staged over the weekend in Bulawayo.
The two-day inter-club competition attracted over 20 clubs, and the defending champions, with one of the biggest teams at the event, gave it their all to claim the top spot again this year.
The Harare-based club wrapped up the meet with a combined team score of 677. They were ranked top in both the boys’ and girls’ rankings.
Spartans coach Lindsy Tudor-Cole was full of praise for the team.
“I am so proud of all of them. I mean, it was a very long gala there. I think there were 20 different teams from the whole of Zimbabwe, so obviously I think over 400 swimmers, and they really did well.
“We actually won the boys category, the girls category and the overall category . . . They really performed so well,” said Tudor-Cole.
Spartans had the likes of Kaylea Rogers, Neema Bhulabhai, Alexis Johnsen and Gabriel Munengwa dominating several events.
Rising star Kaylea Rogers had a good outing competing in the Girls 12 years and under, picking up several medals, including five gold medals in 200m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 50m freestyle, 100m backstroke and 50m backstroke.
Munengwa, a promising star, posted some interesting results when getting gold in the Boys 11 to 12 years 50m butterfly, 50m freestyle, and the Boys 12 and Under 100m butterfly.
Spartans dominated the Boys 12 and Under 200m freestyle when claiming the top three positions, with Wade Cameron coming first in 2 minutes 28.38 seconds.
He was followed by Mohan Guo with a time of 2 minutes 29.25 seconds, and Munengwa was third in 2 minutes 30.93 seconds.
Lindsy-Tudor attributed the success to teamwork at the club.
“The great thing about Spartans is we really work well as a team. It becomes like a family; it’s not just a team. We all work so well together.
“It was a long, long day, but they managed to handle themselves so well. And we literally had a personal best time.
“So, not only did we do well on the medal tally, but the swimmers themselves were improving their personal best times throughout the whole day, which was amazing.”
The next event they are targeting is the Harare Provincial Championships.
And they are hoping to carry the momentum going into their next competition.
“We are going to work really hard because we have got our Harare Provincial Championships the last week of November and the first week of December.
“That’s our Senior Championships. Most of those swimmers that were with me this weekend will be competing in that. That’s our goal now.
“We start again on Tuesday and we really work hard for that,” Tudor-Cole said.
Vikings from Harare were also second with a combined team score of 346.5.
Stingrays Swimming Academy from Bulawayo amassed 314 points to complete the top three. This was the first time the gala was held in Bulawayo and next year it returns to Mutare.
