Seals swimmers on top after first league meet

By Michael Nsubuga

Nuwa Senkebe, Avice Meya, Anthea Mudanye, Mercedes Mwebeiha, Alexis Kituuka and Hannah Kyanda set themselves on course for the overall championship in their age categories, after coming top in the Seals League meet season opener at Kampala Parents School pool on Saturday.

The newly introduced swim league format will have the top swimmers in each age category crowned at an awards gala at the end of the year.

The league meets that are part of the official Uganda Swimming Federation calendar are open to all swimmers from all schools and clubs in the country.

Points are awarded to the top 6 participants for each event with the consistent and top performers crowned at an awards gala at the end of the fourth event in December.

The league meets and galas are a way of promoting local swim competitions and the sport in line with the Uganda Swimming Federation's (USF) vision of growing the sport in Uganda.

Boys dive in to compete in the 50m butterfly event during the Seals league meet swimming championship at Kampala Parents School pool, February 14 2015. PHOTO: Michael Nsubuga

After the first meet Senkebe leads the 15 and over boys category with 36 points followed by Louis Wolimbwa (25pts) and Makerere University's Ronald Ssegwanyi is third with 19 points.

In the girls' category 20-year old Avice Meya is top on 39 points with International School of Uganda's Maya King and Standen Isabelle tied in second place with 17 points each.

Altona Swim Club's Shiminah Kulabako closely follows on 16 points.

Fourteen year old Anthea Mudanye (41pts) leads the 13-14 year olds alongside Katrina Ssangalyambogo (36 points) and Nicole Lutalo (23pts).

Mercedes Mwebeiha leads the 11-12 years old category on 46 points with Chiara Nansamba (23pts) and ISU's Clow Shelby (20pts) third.

Alexis Kituuka (32pts), Anne Ingabire (21pts) and Daya Mpeera (17pts) are the leaders in the 9-10 year olds, while Hannah Kyanda (18pts), Ssanyu Kagugube Nambeguya (17pts) and Isabel Angemi (12pts) are the leaders in the 8 and under category.

The next Seals league meet will be held in April, with the third one in August before the final one in December.

In between the meets, the Seals Club will also hold clinics for all the swimmers in partnership with the Swimlab Aquatics of South Africa.