Spartans dominate HAS senior champs

Zimpapers Sports Hub

SPARTANS are this year’s Harare Amateur Swimming Senior Championships winners after dominating the just-ended meet at Les Brown Swimming Pool.

The curtain came down on championships held over two consecutive weekends on Sunday. And it was the Spartans who proved to be the better club this time around, beating last season’s winners Vikings, who finished second. Spartans accumulated 2 419 points while Vikings had 1 932.50.

Sharks were third with 1 838 in an event that saw 10 clubs competing in the final weekend of the competition.

HAS chairperson Rumbidzai Mahobele described the event as a success.

“I think it has been a very successful event. We are very proud of our swimmers. They have put in a lot of work and I think it has paid off for most of them.

“A lot of them have achieved personal best times, dropping 5 seconds and more, which is a very good achievement.

“We also have some swimmers that have made times for South African Tours, which is also a welcome performance from our athletes and we are very proud of them, very happy for them,” said Mahobele.

The competition is part of the selection criteria for the provincial team to represent Harare in national events.

Some of the swimmers that took part in the championships shared their experiences with Panashe Gotora of Sharks conceding it was not an easy competition.

“The competition is very stiff, everyone has been training, everyone has been trying their hardest to post PBs and swim their best.

“So, I think the level of competition has been very high,” said Gotora.

The likes of Sibusiso Fayayo shift focus to the Africa Aquatics Zone IV Championships scheduled to run from tomorrow to Saturday in Windhoek, Namibia.

Zimbabwe Swimming are fielding 28 swimmers and the team is expected to leave for Namibia today. Fayayo was pleased with his performance during the provincial championships.

“I think the people here, in my age group, they pushed me to get good times. I think the competition has been extremely good and I think that there is some really good talent in this province.”

The Sharks swimmer is looking forward to the event in Windhoek.

“I have never actually competed against other countries. I have competed against other clubs, representing Zimbabwe but never against other countries.

“So, I think it’s going to be a new and interesting experience for me and I hope that it helps to boost my swimming,” said Fayayo.

Vikings’ Matida Musere, also going for the Zone IV meet is excited about the upcoming event. “This competition has given me an insight of what I am going to expect in the Zone IV Championships.

“And in Namibia, I expect again lots of PBs and hopefully times to qualify for the SANJ, which is the South African Junior Nationals in April next year. I am not too far, I am a few splits from the time,” said Musere.

Dorado Swim Club were 4th, followed by Highlands on fifth position.

Harare Otters and Crocs were sixth and seventh respectively.

Wild Orcas were eighth, followed by The Falcons and Pirates Zimbabwe in positions nine and 10. As a province, Mahobele said they will continue with preparations for the National Junior Championships scheduled for the end of January next year. 

It will be followed by the National Senior Championships in February.

Harare will host the juniors and Bulawayo will host the seniors.