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Lovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
MASHONALAND swimmers fired warning shots on what should be expected of them in the Zimbabwe Senior Swimming Championships which started at Bulawayo’s City Pool yesterday evening.

They dominated most of the races and appear on course for another routine win in local swimming.

Twenty-year-old James Lawson of Crocs won the evening’s last competitition the Boys 17 and Over 400 metre freestyle. He improved his seeding time of 4 minutes 29.19 seconds when winning in 4 minutes 22.87 seconds.

Liam Burnett of Mashonaland was second in 4 minutes 43.52 seconds and he had finished behind Lawson in the seeding competition in 4 minutes 38.80 seconds.

Dylan Steyl occupied the last podium position in 4 minutes 42.85 seconds.

Matabeleland’s Ashby Tink was sixth in 5 minutes 16.15 seconds as Mashonaland had four swimmers in the top six.

In the Boys’ 15-16 group Chase Onorati led another Mashonaland first-two finish when he completed the 400 metre freestyle in 4 minutes 35.22 seconds followed by Liam Davis in 4 minutes 47.12 seconds.

The hosts’ Luke Van Breda was third in 4 minutes 51.77 seconds to earn Matabeleland six points.

Matabeleland swimmers shone in the same event in the Boys’ 13-14 category with Liam O’hara scooping 10 points for first position in 4 minutes 53.97 seconds followed by teammate Grant Smith (5 minutes 03.98 seconds).

Mashonaland’s Cole Onorati was third in 5 minutes 06.43 seconds with fourth position going to another Bulawayo boy Denilson Cyprianos (5 minutes 13.03 seconds).

There was no stopping for Mashonaland in the Boys’ 12 and Under group’s 400 metre fresstyle with Dylan Huang first in 5 minutes 23.61 seconds. Jake Oostindien was second (5 minutes 35.04 seconds) and the leading swimming province Mashonaland won third spot with Christian Cullen in 5 minutes 39.85 seconds.

Courtney McAllister was the toast of the home girls’ team winning the 15-16 group’s gold medal in 5 minutes 09.90 seconds followed by her younger sister Jessica in 5 minutes 15.91 seconds.

Nyasha Mukonoweshuro was third to ensure Mashonaland stayed consistent by placing in almost every event when she finished the 400 metre swim in 5 minutes 19.63 seconds.

Sarah Hawgood won the 17 and Over title in 4 minutes 55.19 seconds, Nomvula Mjimba (Mashonaland) was the champion in the 13-14 group with Chiedza Mtetwa getting the gold in the Girls’ 12 and Under 400 metre freestyle.

Mtetwa is from Mashonaland and her time was 5 minutes 32.42 seconds.

National boss of the swimming board Lorna Riley said everything had gone according to the script and expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Public Works for attending to the pool ahead of the event.

“We are happy Public Construction guys made sure we have the pool ready by fixing it. In all we have about 155 swimmers which is more or less of what we expected though some provinces withdrew their swimmers.

“The first day proceedings have gone well and we look forward to a great competition in the next days,” said Riley.

The swimmers are bidding for qualifying standards such as the All-Africa Games and the South African Level Three Championships.

Competition continues today with a mixed bag of events for all the age-groups.

It will be a tall order for Country Districts, Masvingo, Matabeleland and the Midlands to catch up with dominant Mashonaland.