Kenya names a 33-man squad to the CANA Zone 3 and 4 Championships

23/04/2013

Dunford of Kenya competes in the men's 100m butterfly swimming heats at the World Championships in Rome — Silvia Brunlehner swimming to glory

Kenya have named a 33-man squad to the CANA Zone 3 and 4 Championships set to start this Thursday in Lusaka, Zambia.

Tam manager, Winnie Kamau, said the team is in high spirits ahead of the tournament hence they expect to improve on their medal haul fro0mnthe last event. “We have a very strong squad of very experienced swimmers and we will no doubt win more medals than last year,” added Kamau. The team departed yesterday morning for Lusaka.

Kenya will be competing against 11 nations including— South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Botswana, Madagascar, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Kamau said the team was selected during the national Age Group Championship at Kasarani in February.

“We had a very competitive trials and for the past one half months, we have been in training thus expect good results,” She added. Kamau said she expects fierce competition from South Africa and Zimbabwe in the week-long contest.

“South Africa and Zimbabwe have a tradition in swimming and good facilities and we expect tough competition from both countries for our swimmers,” she added.

Last year, the team to the same event in Mozambique garnered 14 gold, 23 silver and 16 bronze. She said they have set a target of 20 gold medals this year.

She said swimmers who win and improve on their times will have a chance of representing the country at international events slated for later in the year including—FINA World championship in Barcelona in July, and the Africa Junior swimming championship in Egypt in October.

Squad: Girls: Bella Thorpe, Virginia Okumu, Emily Muteti, Maria Brunlehner, Ger Ogot, Coral Hayes, Nasimiyu Khatundi, Kira Evans, Anita Fields, Daniela Awori, Martha Opiyo, Akinyi Ogot, Tory Pragasa, Natasha Oduor Otieno, Mumbi Kiragu, Shaan Vora, Misha Fernandez and Ayushi Chermaine.

Boys—Urvi Dayal, Nabil Shah, Kabir Debi, Marco Pellegrini, Batian Thorpe, Roy Kiruri,Thomas Thorpe, Kimani Maina, Naim Bayusuf, Ramadahan Vyombo, Hamdan Bayusuf Issa, Issa Abdalla, Mikael Teja, Karan Khanghram and Sahil Harunana.