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Ngqabutho Moyo Sports Reporter
FOUR Matabeleland swimmers broke three-year standing national short course records in January.
The times were confirmed by the Zimbabwe Swimming Aquatic Union last week.Among the four who broke records are Falcon College boys Liam O’Hara and Luke Van Breda.

Christian Brothers College boys Grant Smith and Denilson Cyprianos were also outstanding setting new times in their events.

Matabeleland swimming is expected to get a good lift following the refurbishment of the City Pool to one with electronic ‘touch pads’ on either side making it an international facility. Another leading swimmer in the country Andy Cyprianos recently left for the US on an academic and swimming scholarship.

Denilson Cyprianos beat the Under-12 men’s 200m freestyle time of two minutess 31.19 seconds, 800m freestyle 10 minutes 53.65 seconds, 50m backstroke 35.66 seconds, 200m backstroke two minutes 46.67 seconds with schoolmate Smith breaking the Under-13 boys’ 50m freestyle 28.02 seconds), 50m backstroke 34.33,  200m backstroke two minutes 43.06 seconds while O’Hara shattered the Under-13 men’s backstroke of two minutes 44.78 seconds, 100m individual medley one minute 11.15 seconds and Van Breda swam 10 minutes 04.19 seconds over 800m for a new record in the boys’ Under-15 category.

Joseph Gliwitski, the Matabeleland spokesperson said the swimmers worked hard and deserve to be on the spotlight.

“The boys did us proud and have earned their reputations, we hope that they continue working hard which will see them do the same on international platforms,” he said.

Gliwitski said MASB have selected a 33-member team that will represent Matabeleland in the national juniors swimming championships this month.

“We’ve selected a 33-member junior swimming team that will represent Matabeleland in the Zimbawe National Swimming Championships this month to be held in the city,” he said.

Gliwitski said the team will be coached by the national swimming boss Lorna Riley while the team managers are Thomas Werrett  and Gloria Rollo.

 Matabeleland Junior Squad

Nine years
Boys: Garrick Duff, Jayden De Swardt, Onesimus Ngwenya, Anthony Gliwitski
Girls: Onye Onovu, Chante Querl, Jade Chicksen, Jayda Collett
10 years
Boys: Codie Selman, Dean Jones
Girls: Hailey Banda, Timea Schultz, Erin Bent, Miriam Maposa, Neziah Kinnaird
11 years
Boys: Cory Werrett, Dylan Lee, Alex Van Wyk, Courtney Du Preez
Girls: Arianna Androuliakos, Hannah Evans, Danika Bruce, Caitlin Cummings, Megan Taylor
12 years
Boys: Farhaan May, Jake Oostindien, Tait Mills, Sean Reynolds
Girls: Rianna Rollo, Bethia Muntanga, Lashay Green, Aisha Mahommed, Wendy Mpofu