The Coast Amateur Swimming Competition Association (CASA) hosted its two day Gala at the weekend for open and age group swimming competition at the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa targeting top swimmers to represent the coastal region in the national championships and eventually the country in South Africa championships in March.
Mr. Fauz Bani CASA technical team chairman says the water swimming features different distances such as from relatively low 200m to the 400m long adding that the event will also act as one of the selection for the 2016 national gala event in Nairobi in two weeks time and in South Africa championships in March.
Young swimmers have been exposed to rigorous training ahead of the junior and senior championships in South Africa and as such, the team is optimistic, they will perform well and bring back gold, bronze and silver medals from the international arena.
Individual energetic swimmers between the ages of 10-17 from different schools and clubs are participating in the swimming championship that will culminate in the national championship to be held in Nairobi in two weeks time and to prepare for invitational championships in South Africa in March.
From their impressive and fantastic swim, it was evident that the coaches and swimmers have been training exceptionally hard for the competition. The atmosphere was terrific with great poolside support from parents, friends and fellow swimmers in the swimming meet.
National records were also broken in the weekend competitions with 17 year old Emily Muteti under 400m individual medley.
Muteti who is currently in her top form and in freestyle broke the old national record of 5.22.00 seconds held by herself by clocking in a new record of 5.09.71 seconds.
Muteti of Mombasa Aquatics also previously broke the 800m freestyle national record in again all the three categories and says she is now set her eyes on the global stage.
CASA officials thanked swimmers for their excellent performance and particularly Muteti, undoubtedly the current Kenyan swimming queen.
Gaston Wabomba
Extreme Outdoors Africa – Reporter