Defeated Dunford mulls retirement as Kenyan swimmers fall
Jason Dunford competes at a past event. Dunford will make a decision on whether he will retire after this year’s Commonwealth Games. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- Dunford, who acknowledged being under pressure to perform by virtue of being the title holder, said it was just a bad race after things didn’t just go the way he wanted.
- It was a heart-breaking moment for Talisa Lanoe, who had to plunge into the Tollcross pool to break the tie with Bethany Firth from Northern Ireland in the swim-off.
One of Kenya’s finest swimmers Jason Dunford will make a decision on whether he will retire after this year’s Commonwealth Games.
Gutted and disappointed after he failed to make the 50m butterfly final on Thursday night, Dunford, who was the defending champion, said he would consider retiring after the “Club” Games.
However, the 27-year-old Dunford said he will still give it a thought upon completion of his next two events, the 100m freestyle and butterfly respectively.
Dunford finished ninth overall during the semi-finals, which was just one place after the cut-off thus failing to qualify for yesterday’s final. He clocked 24.03.
He said retiring isn’t a decision he will take lightly and will take his time.
“I wasn’t myself after I failed to make the final hence I could have said a lot of things in anger,” Dunford said. “However, after a serious soul-searching I don’t want to make a rushed decision. I want to take a step at a time.”
Dunford, who acknowledged being under pressure to perform by virtue of being the title holder, said it was just a bad race after things didn’t just go the way he wanted.
“I still have two more races to go and that is where I want to focus for now. I don’t want to think about my opportunities but just reach the final,” said Dunford, who will compete in 100m freestyle today and 100m butterfly Sunday.
Other Kenyans also continued to have a torrid run in the pool, failing to advance to the next level.
It was a heart-breaking moment for Talisa Lanoe, who had to plunge into the Tollcross pool to break the tie with Bethany Firth from Northern Ireland in the swim-off. Both clocked 1:07.18 to tie in 16th place but it’s Firth, who carried the day. Daniella Awori 1:08.46 and Anita Field 1:11.08 finished 22nd and 24th respectively.
Sylvia Brunlehner failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the women’s 50m freestyle, finishing just two places off the cut of 16 best. She clocked 26.86in an event where Anita Field wound 48th in 29.27.
