Swimmers impress in ESA Gala 1
MANZINI – Some swimmers registered personal best (PB) finishing times. Eswatini Swimming Association (ESA) President Herman Jele was impressed with the swimmers’ competiveness in the ESA Age Group Gala held yesterday morning at Enjabulweni School. Jele said this was a time gala and the focus was on improving the swimmers’ PB finishing times, thus there were no medals or trophies tabled for the winners. The president commended the large attendance of 64 swimmers, and also welcomed new clubs in Griffins and Splash.
“We are excited as an executive to see participation increased compared to last season. We have produced 40 new swimmers and we have 64 active swimmers this gala. Our numbers will be even higher in the next round because we welcomed the Pelicans, who will join us in the next gala. The starting gala gives us a sense of anticipated trajectory. It’s everything positive; we have the support of parents, community and the general involvement is excellent,” Jele said.
Swimmers Luca Fraser, Hayley Hoy and Damien De Sousa, among others, put up a good show and were a marvel to watch in their different heats as this was a competition against the clock. Swim Lab Club’s De Sousa, aged 16, and took first place in the Men’s 50 SC Metre Breaststroke, recording 32.16 seconds.
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Enjabulweni Sea Wolves
Wave Aquatics
Sharks
Swim Lab
Griffin (New Club)
Splash Swimmers (New Club)
He was closely challenged by the duo of Luca (12) and Cameron Jele who finished second and third in 34.52 and 36.20 seconds respectively.
Hoy also lived up to her winning reputation; free-styling for the crown in the women’s division, clocking 1:05.05 minutes, followed by Raya Young who came in at 1:11.17 minutes and Elizma Venter came in third with a finishing time of 1:20.24 minutes.
Sharing her overall experience, Hoy said, “It’s not easy considering that I am coming back from an injury, but I am excited and looking at improving my time in order to qualify for international competitions.”
Swim Lab Coach Welcome Dlamini, who is also ESA Vice President, revealed that there was a line-up of competitions that the swimmers needed to thrive to qualify for, adding that the next gala was penned for November 12, 2022. At the end of November, the cream of the crop of local swimmers will compete in the Mpumalanga Championships between the last week of November and the beginning of December. They will again honour an invitation gala in Mozambique before the end of the year.