Records broken at Swimming Gala

Superb. Tendo won the 50m breaststroke and freestyle events at the USF National Sprints Gala. PHOTO by Ismail Kezaala

Kampala. The inaugural GEMS Cambridge International School Kampala (CIK) Uganda Swimming Federation (USF) National Sprints Gala saw 19 age group national records (NR) broken in Butabiika over the weekend.
However, USF and its clubs need to reconcile the records.

For example, USF consider Joshua Ekirikubinza’s 24.99 from the June 23 Club Championships as the 50m freestyle NR in the 15 and over category.
But Mukalazi, now representing the country with nine others at the Cana Zone III Championships in South Sudan, went 24.88 at the Silverfin Championships held at GEMS and controlled by federation officials on November 4.
The same can be said of his sister’s new 30.66 NR achieved in the 13-14 years age group 50m butterfly event. That time pales in front of the 29.90 managed last week.
Namutebi managed NRs in the 100 IM (1:09.79), 50m breaststroke (35.48) and 50m backstroke (32.11) but times in the latter two are not really the best she has done since turning 13 in February. Despite winning the freestyle race during the sprints gala, which ironically dragged on for four hours, Mukalazi was nearly a second slower with 25.86.
He also won the 50 breaststroke (32.33) and 100 IM (1:04.68).
But there were also no new personal bests for Adnan Kabuye, who won the senior age group’s 50m backstroke (29.73) and 50m butterfly (28.43).
Mukalazi could have done with a rest after competing a week prior to the sprints while Kabuye was competing for the first time in nearly two months of concentrating on only school.
Their coach Muzafaru Muwanguzi lightheartedly and rightly wondered why “everyone is concentrating so much on galas rather than training lately.”
For the senior girls, Avice Meya managed to break the 50m breast record going 37.71 while Zara Nsubuga’s 31.80 in 50 back made the cut too.
Seals’ Francesco Kagugube, who has also been in and out of local competitions all year, managed an NR in the boys’ 13-14 years 100m IM (1:08.45) and 50 breast.
But the bulk of the records were broken in the lower age groups of; 10 and under by Carlton Musenze, Jordan Ssamula, Karimah Katemba plus in 11-12 years group by Neema Kangi, Karla Mugisha and John Kafumbe.

NRs Set at Sprints Gala

10 & Under
BOYS
100 IM Carlton Musenze (1:24.03)
50 breast Jordan Ssamula (42.21)
50 back Jordan Ssamula (38.19)
GIRLS
50 fly Karimah Katemba (37.98)
11-12 Years
BOYS
100 IM John Kafumbe (1:15.05)
50 breast John Kafumbe (38.27)
GIRLS
100 IM Karla Mugisha (1:14.88)
50 breast Karla Mugisha (37.72)
50 back Karla Mugisha (35.51)
50 fly Karla Mugisha (33.75)
50 free Neema Kangi (29.87)
13-14 Years
BOYS
100 IM Francesco Kagugube (1:08.45)
50 breast Francesco Kagugube (33.24)
GIRLS
100 IM Kirabo Namutebi (1:09.79)
50m breast Kirabo Namutebi (35.48)
50m back Kirabo Namutebi (32.11)
50 fly Kirabo Namutebi (30.66)
15 & Over
GIRLS
50 breast Avice Meya (37.71)
50 back Zara Nsubuga (31.80)