Bandari rule Kasarani aquatics

Bandari Club hogged the limelight as six national records tumbled at the National Age Group and Relays Long Course Championships at the Kasarani Aquatic Stadium on Saturday.

International Danilo Rosafio claimed two of the records that were all set by Bandari swimmers and teams as the competition entered its second day.

Rosafio, 15, tapped the wall in 2 minutes and 23.85 seconds to win the 200m butterfly in a national junior record time. Rosafio’s time, which was also a new national record in boys aged 14-15, erased the previous record of 2:26.31 set by Ridhwani Abubakar on April 21, last year.

“I expected to break the record since my converted time was faster than the record time,” said Rosafio, who holds three national short course records in 100m freestyle, 100m individual medley and 50m freestyle.

“I still have five more events to go and I hope for more good times,” explained Rosafio, who is set for the Africa Junior Championships due on March 28 to 31 in Cairo, Egypt.

Siengfred Katumwa also from Bandari, broke the boys’ 12-13 national record in 400m individual medley with a new time of 5:56.31.

Bandari teams also set new national records in girls’ 12-13 4x200m freestyle and boys’ 12-13 4x200m freestyle respectively.

EVENT WINNER

Katumwa’ time still placed him second behind the event winner, Maahir Harunani, as he broke the 14 years record that was held by David Jones of 5:59.60 set in March 2002. Hurunani won the event in 5:46.40.

The team of Saloni Patel, Kreeshi Shardia, Josette Njeri and Lanisha Salim clocked 11:49.03 to set the new national record, clipping the previous time of 11:50.54 that was held by At Austin Academy, set in 2002.

Muhammad Bilal, Rosafio, Edmund Vuko and Mohamed Iqbal blasted to new times of 9:42.90, beating the previous time of 10:10.14 set by Bandari in 2011. Rosafio claimed boys’ 14-15 100m freestyle and 200m individual medley victories. He won the 100m freestyle in 55.50, beating Iqbal and Tendo Mukallazi in 57.70 and 1:03.29 respectively, before clocking 226.46 to win in individual medley race.

International Emily Muteti of Mombasa Aquatics Club also ruled the roost in five events; girls’ 200m, 100m breaststroke, 200m butterfly, 100m freestyle and 200m individual medley.

Muteti tapped the wall in 2:51.35 for victory in 200m breast, edging out Mumbi Gichovi and Kirabo Namutebi in 3:04.08 and 3:11.90 respectively. Muteti’s triumphant time in 100m breast was 1:18.54 while she timed 2:33.47 in 200m fly.

She was home and dry in 59.72 in 100m free.