Dar swimmers struggle, but improve PB in Zimbabwe

Dar es Salaam. Tanzanian swimmers are looking to finish strongly today after settling in unconvincing positions at the Cana Zone Four Championships taking place in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

The championship, which has attracted some finest talents from 14 African countries, will reach its climax this noon.

Tanzania has been represented by seven swimmers, namely Rania Karume, Ophelie Konig, Jeanette Mugenburg, Alicia Horton, Sanne Kleiveld, Isam Sepetu and Christopher Fitzpatrick. Despite failing to win medals so far, they have improved their personal bests (PB), which is worth praise.

According reports from the Zimbabwe’s second largest city, Karume took the fifth place in the U-12 category in 100m backstroke after clocking 1.26.30 minutes.

Her entry time was 1.28.62, thus despite failing to finish in the top three, she managed to improve her time by 2.32 seconds.

The Zanzibar swimmers swam in breaststroke earlier and finished in the 15th place after clocking 45.79.

Her entry time was 46.29. She managed to improve her personal best by 0.50 seconds.

In the boys’ Under-14 breaststroke event, Chris Fitzpatrick battled bravely, but could only finish 12th, clocking 36.69 seconds, he improved his personal best by 1.27 seconds. His entry time was 36.69 in the 50m competition. Another swimmer, Alicia, who competed in the 50-metre backstroke race for the Under-14, finished ninth after timing 37.69 seconds. She entered into the competition with the personal best of 37.78, but following her latest result, she has improved by 0.09 seconds.

The swimmers battling it out for medals in Bulawayo come from South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Madagascar, Namibia, Seychelles, Angola, Tanzania and the hosts. Cana Zone IV Swimming Championships is an International Swimming Federation (Fina)-approved event at which swimmers can achieve qualifying times for the 17th Fina World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, in 2017.