Swimmers break 49 records in national meet
Dar es Salaam. Forty-nine records were broken during the just concluded National Swimming Club Championship in the city.
Organised by Tanzania Swimming Association (TSA), the championship served as a qualifying event for the 2019 World Championship.
Taliss-IST’s Hilal Hilal was in a class of his own as he smashed eight national records in the men’s category at the International School of Tanganyika (IST) swimming pool.
He smashed the records in the 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 50m butterfly, 50 breaststroke and 100m individual medley.
The sensational swimmer also broke three more records in the 50m backstroke, 100m breaststroke and 50m freestyle.
Isaack Mukani of Bluefins broke four national records in the event that featured more than 200 swimmers from 10 clubs.
Mukani broke record in the 200m individual medley, 50m butterfly, 200m freestyle and 100m butterfly.
Up-and-coming swimmer Peter Itatiro (12) of Dar es Salaam Swimming Club smashed three national records.
He broke the records in the 200m individual medley, 50m butterfly and 100m butterfly, while Collins Saliboko broke two national records.
TSA secretary general Inviolata Itatiro was impressed with the level of performance displayed by the swimmers.
“These swimmers are still very young, which is good news for the future of swimming in Tanzania when we are looking at the 2020 Olympic Games and World Championship,” said Itatiro.
Other swimmers who sparkled at the championship with national records they smashed in bracket are Denis Mhini of Mis Piranhas (1), Austin Okore of DSC (1), Judah Miller, Carter Helsby (1) and Delvin Barick of Mwanza swim club (1).
Also on the list are Romeo Mihaly of Champions Rise, Isam Sepetu of DSC and Delhem Rashid of International School of Moshi who broke one medal each.
In women’s category, Natalie Sanford of FK Blue Marlins broke 11 national records while Natalia Ladha smashed six.
Others are Charlotte Sanford of FK Blue Marlins (3), Sonia Tumiotto of DSC (1), Smriti Gokarn of DSC (1), Ria Rakusin of Wahoo (1) and Aminaz Kachra of Bluefins (1).
