Chronicle Editor
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
LOCAL swimmers will take to Les Brown Pool in Harare on Wednesday as they battle it out for national honours in the Senior National Championships.
The nationals will run for five days and will culminate in the selection of swimmers that will represent the country at various competitions.
Zimbabwe Swimming Board Control chairperson said they are ready to host the event that is expected to give swimmers an opportunity to meet qualifications times for various international competitions.
“We have several international competitions with the main one being the Fina World Junior Championships scheduled for Hungary next year and the nationals will present the swimmers with the chance to qualify for that event.
“Athletes can also make times for various South African juniors,” she said.
Doorman said they are expecting tough competition at the event with several swimmers in top form this season.
Matabeleland Swimming Board are sending a strong contingent of 70 which they hope will overturn Mashonaland’s monopoly of the national championships.
Outstanding swimmers that are likely to lead the province’s onslaught include Stingrays’ Tichatonga Makaya who has made several records this season, Denilson Cyprianos who broke three national backstroke records at the African Union Sports Council Region Five Games in Botswana, Barracudas’ Cory Werret, Jayden de Swardt, Timea Schultz of SOS, Falcon’s Liam O’Hara, Rollo Riana and Dale Bruce of Crusaders among others.
Mashonaland will bank on numbers with swimmers such as Paige van der Westhuizen, Donata Katai, Charlotte Martel, Chiedza Mtetwa and Callum Morgan expected to lead their medal charge.
Last year’s national competition was won by Mashonaland, who dominated both the boys’ and girls’ events to amass a whooping 2 957 points compared to Matabeleland’s 2 074. Mashonaland Country Districts were a distant third with 190 points.
Matabeleland swimming squad
12 and Under: Kayden Bhana (SOS), Teak Watson (SOS), Patrick Duff (SOS), Tawanda Jani (BG Dolphins), Khaya Vimba (Crusaders), Ruan Nel (Crusaders), Onesimus Ngwenya (Penguins),Odinaka Onwuchukwu (Stingrays), Daniel Willows (SOS), Reece Rollo (Crusaders), Nicholas Roukounis (SOS), Nsikelelo Sibanda (Barracudas), Sibusiso Sibanda (Barracudas), Joshah Siwela (BG Dolphins), Mitchell Stanely (Barracudas), Miguel Timveos (Stingrays), Tyler Varley (Zambesi Tigers), Olivia Accorsi (SOS), Avril Carinus (Zambesi Tigers), Kudzai Chapepa (Barracudas), Kesley de Swardt (Barracudas), Nozintaba Masiye Moyo (Penguins), Shayna Middleton (Crusaders), Pamela Ncube (Penguins), Onye Onovo (Penguins)
13-14 years: Jayden de Swardt (Barracudas), Garrick Duff (SOS), Dean Jones (Barracudas), Romeo Kahwema (Penguins), Tich Makaya (Stingrays), Shepherd Matshazi (Stingrays), Sean Mutazu (Stingrays), Codie Selman (Barracudas), Emmanuel Sibanda (Stingrays), Erin Bent (Barracudas), Jade Chicksen (Crusaders), Hannah Denn (Barracudas), Zoe Gangira (Barracudas), Nadia Goremykin (Crusaders), Neziah Kinnaird (BG Dolphins), Morgan Liddle (Crusaders), Nomaqhwa Ndlovu (Penguins), Caitlyn O’Donnell (Zambesi Tigers), Ngosika Onovo (Barracudas), Chantel Querl (SOS), Timea Schultz (SOS)
15-16 years: Vuyo Ndlovu (Stingrays), Dylan Lee (Stingrays), Farhan May (Stingrays), Tait Mills (Falcon), Antonio Moyo (Stingrays), Jasper Mpofu (Stingrays), Nathan Ngwenya (Penguins), Jake Oostindien (Falcon), Cory Werrett (Brracudas), Stacey Babbage (Stingrays), Temwani Chibiya (Barracudas), Aisha Mahomed (Stingrays), Rianna Rollo (Crusaders), Megan Taylor (Barracudas)
17 and Over: Dale Bruce (Crusaders), Denilson Cyprianos (Stingrays), Ethan Donaldson (Flacon), Roan Isemonger (Crusaders), Brett Jones (Barracudas), Joash McKonie (Stingrays), Liam O’Hara (Flacon), Jordan Smith (Barracudas), Quintin Tayali (Stingrays).
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