The 8th National Swimming Championships started in high gear on Thursday. The competition saw Darrel Swimming School dominating in almost all categories.
The games started with the category of 800 meters freestyle and Darrell School showed early intentions of dominating the competition.
In women’s contest, Darrell School of Swimming scored 57 points, followed by Kubu Swimming Club with 20 points. In the same category, for men, Darrell School of Swimming got 134 points, BDF Dolphins coming second with 64 points, third place was Phikwe Piranhas with 20 and in fourth place was Kubu Swimming Club with 17 points. The combined team scores were also dominated by Darrell Swimming School at 191 points, BDF Dolphins notched 64, followed by Kubu with 37 then Phikwe Piranhas with 20 points.
Darrell took top position for categories of 400 long course meter freestyle boys Under 10, Under 11, Under 12, Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17. The only category that they could not dominate was the boys Under 14 category, which went to Phikwe Piranhas. Darrell girls also dominated the day just like their male counterparts, winning 3 age categories out of four.
Kubu Swimming club got their share of victory by coming first in the category of the 13 year olds. For the category of 200 long course meter breast stroke, Darrell Swimming School girls were at it again, taking points home in all age categories except for girls under the age of 13 which was taken by Kubu Swimming Club, giving Darrell a run for their money by coming first, second and third place.
“This BSSA National Championship will be much fun and the competition will be very intense. There will be new swimmers expected at these competitions,” said Botswana Swimming Sports Association Acting Public Relation Officer, Timothy Maje, before the start of these games.
Maje said the Championships are going to produce marvellous and sterling performances as the competitors are fresh from the African Zone 6 competitions which were held in Zambia two months ago.
Maje also said there is more attention on new comers like, Thuma Botswana, Baobab School and Maruapula School. He said Batswana, especially those who like swimming sport, should come in numbers to watch these championships.
Teams which competed were BDF Dolphins Swimming Club, KUBU Swimming Club, Phikwe Piranhas, Darrell School of Swimming, UB Swimming Club, Gaborone Aquatic Club, Swim Rite Club, Thuma Botswana, Barracuda Swimming Club, Baobab School, Crescent School, Maruapula School and Southern Schools.
Scania Botswana was the major sponsor of this Championship and it provided the winners with medals and trophies.
The main purpose of the competition was to enhance a competitive mode in swimming sports in Botswana and to scout for talent for national team.
