The year’s first short-course gala impresses
The Namibian Swimming Federation (Nasfed) held its first short-course gala of the year over the weekend. The gala was held at Dolphins Swimming Club in Windhoek, and various clubs were welcome to participate.Representatives from Dolphins, Marlins Swimming Club and Aqua Swimming and Fitness Club went up against each other for the best time record.
On Friday, the first half of the course saw swimmers of different age groups go up against each other in 50-metre breaststroke and 200m individual medley.
The second half was a 4×100m medley relay. It closed off with 1 500m freestyle. On Saturday morning, they had some more relays in backstroke, butterfly and freestyle.
Winners: Girls
The girls’ 50m breaststroke for the 17 to 18 age group saw 17-year-old Maya Stange of Aqua Swimming and Fitness Club get the best time of 36.43 seconds. The 19 and over girls’ 50m breaststroke was won by 24-year-old Molina Smalley of Dolphins Swimming Club. She got the best time of 34.23 seconds.
The girls’ 17 to 18 200m individual medley (IM) saw Stange get the best time of two minutes and 38.88 seconds, while the girls’ 19 and over 200m IM was won by Smalley in a record of two minutes and 25.51 seconds.
Winners: Boys
The boys’ 17 to 18 50m breaststroke saw 18-year-old Aqua swimmer Christopher De Jager earn the best time of 33.01 seconds. The boys’ 19 and over 50m breaststroke was won by 19-year-old Armas Magongo of Aqua, with 33.43 seconds. In the men’s 45 and over 50m breaststroke, 70-year-old Richard Coomer of Aqua was victorious in a speedy 46 seconds.
Meanwhile, the boys’ 17 to 18 200m IM saw De Jager finish in two minutes and 18.79 seconds. The boys’ 19 and over 200m IM was won by Magongo, who secured a time of two minutes and 31.97 seconds.
More to come
Nasfed spokesperson David Bishop said the gala was originally set to be held in Oranjemund, but some swimmers could not make it there.
“This is due to scheduling and travels around many events that took place, like the South African Championships and Cana Zone 4. We shifted the calendar and held this one in here in Windhoek and others in Oranjemund and Swakopmund.”
He added that there will be a big gala in June in Oranjemund, which will see all the cubs travelling down there to compete.