Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Collin Matiza
27 October 2009
Harare — YOUNG Zimbabwean swimmer James Lawson set a new African Junior record in the boys 100m breaststroke at the 8th Junior African Swimming Championships which ended on Sunday in Port Louis, Mauritius.
According to reports from Port Louis, Lawson was the toast of the Zimbabwean team when he swept to victory in the boys 12-14 years 100m breaststroke event in a new African junior time of 1 minute 09.20 seconds.
Lawson had earlier clocked 1:10.89 in the preliminaries before setting a new African record in the final in which he beat South Africa's Craig Emslie (1:09.53) for the gold medal.
The bronze medal went to Egypt's Mohamed Raouf who clocked 1:09.88 when coming third behind Emslie.
As if winning the gold medal in the 100m breaststroke was not enough for him, Lawson scooped another one in the 200m individual medley.
The 14-year-old promising swimmer swept to victory in this event in 2:20.97, beating South Africans Hardus Louw (2:21.11) and Matthew Bowers (2:24.42) into second and third places.
But Lawson's winning time in the 200IM was below the African junior record of 2:17.72 that was set by South African Kristopher Matulovich in 2005 in Mauritius.
Another promising young Zimbabwean swimmer Nicholas Burnett also qualified for the boys 12-14 years 200IM final and came fourth in 2:31.63.
Lawson's medals in the boys 12-14 years 100m breaststroke and 200IM events were the only golds that Zimbabwe clinched at the four-day championships which took place at the Serge Alfred Swimming Stadium in Beau Bassin, 8km from the Mauritian capital Port Louis.
The championships came to an end on Sunday with South Africa scooping the highest number of medals.
South Africa bagged 50 gold medals followed by Egypt with seven gold and Zimbabwe with two, thanks to Lawson's exploits in the boys 12-14 years 100m breaststroke and 200IM events.
The host country took five silver and six bronze medals.
But full marks must also go to the seven-member Zimbabwean team of Kaleigh and Syanne Graham, Tarryn Rennie, Samantha Welch, Burnett, Lawson and Sloane Marshall for holding their own at these championships.
The Graham sisters Kaleigh and Syanne set the ball rolling for the Zimbabwean team in Port Louis when they won two bronze medals on the opening day of the event on Thursday night.
They grabbed the bronze medals when coming third in the finals of the girls 100m butterfly and 200m breaststroke events.
First to collect a bronze medal on Thursday night was Kaleigh who came third in the girls 12-14 years 100m butterfly in 1:08.20.
Syanne emulated her sister Kaleigh when she clinched a medal of the same colour in the girls 15-16 age-group's 200m breaststroke final in which she came third in 2:52.30.
Not to be outdone by the Graham sisters was little Welch who also won a number of medals including a silver medal when she came second in the girls 12-14 years 100m breaststroke final in 1:15.44.
She lost the gold medal to Jessica Liss of South Africa who won the race in 1:12.72 while third place went to another South African Nina Hess who clocked 1:19.38. Welch then went on to collect a bronze medal in the 200IM in which she came third in 2:31.59. The first two places in this event went to South Africans Liss (2:22.52) and Tamlin Crafford (2:30.64). Welch grabbed another bronze medal in the girls 15-16 years 4x200m freestyle relay in which she swam with Rennie and the two Graham sisters.
The Zimbabwean team clocked 9:23.43 in this relay event in which they came third behind South Africa (8:46.65) and Egypt (9:09.43).
On the last day of the competition on Sunday night, Welch won a silver medal in the girls 12-14 years 50m breaststroke final in which she came second behind South Africa's Liss.
Third place went to Hess of South Africa.
The same night also saw Kaleigh Graham winning a bronze medal in the girls 12-14 years 200m freestyle event in which the first two places went to South Africans Vanessa Mohr and Liss.
Kaleigh's sister Syanne was also in action on Sunday night in which she scooped a silver medal in the girls 15-16 years 50m breaststroke in which she came second behind South Africa's Tarryn Mackenzie. The boys 12-14 years 50m breaststroke final was also held on Sunday night and Lawson took a silver medal when coming second behind Emslie of South Africa..
Meanwhile, Param Naidoo, the coach of the South African team, said on Sunday at the end of the championships that it was expected that his swimmers would dominate the competition.
He added that South African swimmers are a reference on the African continent and that they take part in all competitions with a team that can compete in all categories.
Naidoo regretted that African countries, apart from South Africa, Tunisia, Egypt and Zimbabwe, have a lot to achieve before being able to compete with the big nations.
Sunday's finals selected results
Girls (12-14 years)
50m breaststroke: Gold Jessica Liss (South Africa), Silver Samantha Welch (Zimbabwe), Bronze Nina Hess (South Africa).
200m freestyle: Gold Vanessa Mohr (South Africa), Silver Jessica Liss (South Africa), Bronze Kaleigh Graham (Zimbabwe).
Girls (15-16 years)
50m breaststroke: Gold Taryn Mackenzie (South Africa), Silver Syanne Graham (Zimbabwe), Bronze Muminah Connelly (South Africa).
Boys (12-14 years)
50m breatstroke: Gold Craig Emslie (South Africa), Silver James Lawson (Zimbabwe), Bronze Darren Chin Wah Mauritius.
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