Records tumble as Ugandan swimmers shine at CANA championships

Ugandan swimmers continued to collect the necessary points that will ensure they win the 6th edition of the CANA Zone 3 Swimming Championships as the competition entered day two at the KISU pool in Bukoto on Friday.

But it was also with new personal bests and new meet records from the galaxy of Ugandan youngsters who despite a two-year hiatus without swimming action continued to pick medals and the necessary points to ensure victory on home soil.

First to set a new CANA meet record was Tara Kisawuzi who rewrote Kirabo Namutebi’s 50m butterfly record of 30.50, set in the last CANA event in Kenya in 2019 by 20 seconds.

Girls relay teams of the 15&over 400m freestyle race from Tanzania (left), Kenya (center) and Uganda pose with their medals

Kisawuzi in the process not only set a new personal best of 30.30 but also beat Kenya’s Audrey Chebet and Sophia Latiff of Tanzania to the gold in the 13-14 years’ category.

John Kafumbe was also at his best in the boys’ 200m freestyle race setting the new one at 2:04.85 and beating compatriot Arthur Tayebwa (2:11.12) and Jesse Onyach (2:12.95) to the gold as well.

Pendo Kaumi in the boys 13-14 50m butterfly race and Steve Magera in the 15-16 years categories clocked 28.67 and 26.43 respectively not only to bag gold but also to set personal bests and new meet records over the distance, just like Kenya’s Victoria Okumu who also set a new meet record of 2:16.62 in the Girls 17&over 200m freestyle event.

Other Ugandans who continued to enjoy golden performances included Karima Katemba (13-14 years) and John Kafumbe (15-16) who clocked 2:18.17 and (2:04.85) to win their 200m freestyle races.

Kenyas Stephen Ndegwa in action on day-two of the CANA Zone 3 Swimming Championships at KISU pool

Rahmah Kalungi (30.28) in the 12&under girls 50m butterfly race, Steve Magera (26.43) in the 15-16 category, and Esther Atoo (35.20) in the 17&over also picked gold medals in the 50fly races; where Filbertha Demello of Tanzania and Marion Alala of Kenya, Pulsen Ssettumba and Jesse Onyach and Sudan’s Adil Sharif Azza picked silver and bronze medals respectively.

Sonia Mwere, Heer Usadadiya, and Sophia Nagayi had also pocketed silver in the 200m freestyle races while Rashida Najjuma and Samora Lumonya had managed bronze over the same distance.

The Ugandans also exhibited great power in the relays winning the 400m freestyle races in the boys 14&under and 15&over as well as in the girls’ 15&over categories where Tanzania were runners up in each one of them. Tanzania was also beaten by Kenya in the girls’ 14&under freestyle relay.

By the end of event 62 on Friday, Uganda had collected 20gold, 25 silver, and 21 bronze bringing their total points collected to 1161 with Kenya and Tanzania still on neck-on-neck in terms of points collected.