Dolphins Dominate Kenya Junior Swimming Championships

By Michael Nsubuga

Dolphins Selina Katumba and Seals’ Hannah Kyanda were the top swimmers as Uganda Clubs took top spot at the Kenya Junior Swimming Championships.

Katumba, 11, collected 5 individual gold medals in the 50m backstroke, butterfly, breaststroke, freestyle and 100m Individual Medley races to lead the Dolphins to the overall winners’ position with 470.50 points.

On her part, eight year old Kyanda won gold in the 25m backstroke race before she took silver in the 100m Individual Medley event in her age category.

She also bagged silver and a bronze in the 25m freestyle and the 25m breaststroke races.

It is the fourth time in a row that the Dolphins (470.50pts) are topping the annual Kenyan event that attracts over 2000 swimmers who are under 11 years from different clubs around East Africa. The Seals Club finished second overall with 182 points.

Katumba was also part of the 200m freestyle relay team that included Suubi Byansi, Tamala Mpiima and Krista Sanyu, that also won gold in 2:14.14.

Other Dolphin gold medalists included Tendo Kaumi (25m butterfly, 25m back, freestyle & 100m IM), Swagia Mubiru (50m backstroke), Samora Lumonya (50m breaststroke), Kirabo Namutebi(50m breast), and Zuri Owiny (25m freestyle).

The Dolphins relay teams (9&11 years) also took gold in the 100 and 200m medley relay events as well as in the 100m medley relay and 200m freestyle relay in the 7 and 8 years categories.

The Stars on these teams included John Gasasira, Kevin Rugaaju, Tendo Kaumi and Steve Magera. The rest were Shane Birungi, Ttyaba Kiggundu, Pendo Kaumi and Joshua Kaganda.

Kirabo Namutebi (50m breast), Kaumi Tendo (25m freestyle&100m IM), Samora Lumonya (50m breast), Swagia Mubiru (50m back) and Zuri Owiny (25m freestyle) also claimed individual gold alongside the 100m freestyle, 100m Medley Relay teams in the 7,9 and 11 years categories.

Seals’other stars included Carlton Musenze (gold in 25m breast), Joy Cynthia Alande (silver in 25m freestyle), Mercedes Mwebeiha (silver in 50m butterfly), Moussa Adam (silver in 25m freestyle).

There was also gold performances for the Seals’ 100m freestyle and 200m Medley Relay teams in the 8 and 10 year olds.

Altona Club’s Abba Mayanja also made a debut at the championship with impressive performances albeit with no podium finish.

Top ten

                                                            Gold     Silver   Bronze   Total/medals

1-Dolphins Swim Club Kampala            23        15          18         123

2-Seals Swim Club Kampala                4         6            7           59

3-The Banda Club                                  7          4           4          44

4-Bubbles Swim Club                        2         1            2           38

5-Kenton College                        0        1            2           33

6-Nyali Primary School                    6         3            7           30

7-The Makini Schools                    3         6            0           28

8-Agakhan Academy Mombasa             6         3            5           27

9-Jaffery Academy Mombasa                1         1           1            25

10- Topedo Eld                                        2         3          0           20