Nokuthula Cyprianos
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Falcons Swimming Club’s Liam O’Hara’s 100m breaststroke time of one minute 07.86 seconds in the boys’ 15-16 years age-group saw him become the first Matabeleland Amateur Swimming Board (MASB) swimmer to book a place in next year’s International Swimming Federation (FINA) Youth Games.
The qualifying time for the FINA 15-16 age group 100m breaststroke to be held at a venue yet to be announced is one minute 08.08 seconds.
O’Hara booked a place for the world meet at last Friday’s MASB Gala held at the Bulawayo City Pool.
MASB chairperson Nokuthula Cyprianos heaped praised on O’Hara, one of the three MASB swimmers to have qualified for next year’s South Africa Junior Swimming Championships to be held in Durban in March.
“As a board we’re happy to see swimmers managing to attain qualifying times for international competitions which shows that the clubs, coaches and athletes are really doing a commendable job.
“O’Hara is one of our best swimmers and we’re happy to see him booking a place for next year’s FINA Youth Games.
“It is our hope that he’ll qualify for more events and his qualification will also inspire other swimmers to better their times,” said Cyprianos.
The other Bulawayo based swimmers who will join O’Hara at the South African Junior Swimming Championships are Barracudas’ Cory Werret and Denilson Cyprianos of Penguins.
Meanwhile, Crusaders’ Markye Koen set a Matabeleland record in the girls’ 50m freestyle with a time of 28.55 seconds. She broke the previous record of 28.77 seconds which was held by M Leach.
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