dyton mupawaenda
Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S swimmers concluded their participation at the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships yesterday when they competed in their last races in Netanya, Israel.
The championships that roared into life on Monday end today.
However, Zimbabwe’s representative at the meet had their last events yesterday and it proved to be a tough day in the pool for the three swimmers – Tori Dawe, Mikayla Makwabarara and Bjorn Mhlanga as they could not beat their entry times in their respective events.
Dawe and Makwabarara were up for the women 50m freestyle. They were both placed in Heat six.
Dawe finished third in 27.54 seconds and Makwabarara came fifth in 27.76 seconds.
Dawe’s entry time was 27.50 seconds and Makwabarara’s was 27.56 seconds and they were ranked 44 and 46 overall out of 91 participants.
Makwabarara also competed in the women 100m butterfly and settled for position 10 in Heat two with a time of 1 minute 12.33 seconds. She was placed 52 out of 56 participants from the 10 Heats.
In the men’s section, Bjorn Mhlanga also wrapped-up his participation with the 100m freestyle. He came ninth in 55.83 seconds in Heat five. His entry time was 54.91 seconds.
On Thursday Mhlanga had finished 10th in the men 50m butterfly, in 25.64 seconds and was placed 48 in the event that featured 77 participants.
It has been a busy week that presented the young swimmers with the much-needed exposure and experience, competing at the global stage with some of the world best juniors.
Dawe set a new personal best in the women 100m freestyle when finishing the race third in 59.96 seconds in Heat six on early in the week. Her entry time was 1 minute 00.26 second.
Mhlanga also posted a personal best in the men 50m freestyle when coming fifth in 25.18 seconds in Heat four. He surpassed his previous time of 25.26 seconds.
The upcoming swimmers will be hoping to build on the experience for future competitions.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter