Abdulrahman Sheriff
28 October 2009
Nairobi — Kenya's national team of 10 swimmers arrived back in the country on Tuesday night having finished fifth at the Eighth Africa Junior Swimming Championship in Mauritius.
Kenya's team captain, Sylvia Brunlehner of the Mombasa Academy and Bandari Swim Club, won two silver medals in the girls' 15 to 16 years 50 metres backstroke and 50m freestyle competitions.
In the 50m backstroke, Brunlehner clocked 31.99 seconds to finish behind South Africa's GreerAllison who returned 31.79 seconds. In the 50m freestyle, Brunlehner finished second in 27.72 seconds with the winner, Egypt's Amina Magdy, finishing top in 27.65 seconds.
Another Kenyan entrant, Mikhail Teja, put up a brilliant show to set new national records although he failed to win any medal.
Mikhail set a new national mark in the boys' 12-13 years 50m butterfly when he clocked 29.01 seconds to break the old record time of 30.32 seconds set by David Jones in 2002.
Mikhail also shattered the 100m butterfly mark of 1:11.81 seconds set by Otto Niemenen in 1995 when he clocked a new record time of 1:07.13 seconds. As if that was not enough, the young Kenyan also won the 200m individual medley event in a record time of 2:37.02 seconds, breaking the old mark of 2:39.00 set by David Jones at Kasarani in October, 2001.
South Africa won the championship with 50 gold, 25 silver and 23 bronze medals, followed by Egypt who secured seven gold, 22 silver and 11 bronze medals.
Zimbabwe claimed fourth spot with two gold, four silver and 10 bronze medals. Kenya team coach, Fakhry Mansoor, said it was unfortunate that Achieng Ajulu-Bushell could not attend this competition due to other commitments.
"We were expecting at least five gold medals from Achieng," said Mansoor. He commended all the swimmers for performing exceptionally well.
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