Seahorses Aquatics from Machakos county were the winners of the Kenya Aquatics National Junior Swimming Championships that came to a conclusion today in Eldoret.
The two day championships, witnessed standout performances from various clubs across the country where Seahorses Aquatics showcased its dominance with several swimmers achieving remarkable times. Among the notable performances was 9-year-old Melissa Alala, who clocked an impressive 39.60 seconds in the 50-meter butterfly, securing first place and setting a new championship record.
Melissa’s teammate, Aisha Hassan from Lake Victoria Sports Club from Tanzania, also delivered a stellar performance in the 50-meter breaststroke, finishing with a time of 44.14 seconds.
In the boys’ category, Nagib Juma from Mombasa Aquatics stunned the competition with a 20.00-second finish in the 25-meter butterfly, solidifying his place as one of the fastest young swimmers in his age group. Another standout was Jason Mwanzia from Fithub Aquatics, who took first place in the 50-meter butterfly for 9-year-olds, finishing in 44.49 seconds.
Bandari Swimming Club also had a standout presence at the championship, particularly in the younger age categories. Mariana Machocho, aged 8, was a star for Bandari, securing first place in the 100-meter individual medley with a time of 1:38.47. Mariana continued her impressive run by winning the 25-meter breaststroke with a time of 23.77 seconds, and placing second in the 25-meter butterfly, clocking in at 18.72 seconds.
The event also highlighted the emergence of new swimming powerhouses, with Torpedo Swimming Club from Eldoret and Swift Swimming Club from Kisumu taking second and third place overall, respectively. This marked a significant change in the landscape of Kenyan swimming, as regional clubs outside of Nairobi and Mombasa are beginning to assert their dominance.
Collins Marigiri praised the organization and the competitive spirit displayed by all participants.
“We appreciate the overwhelming support from stakeholders for this junior swimming championship. This is the first national event held in Uasin Gishu, and we are thrilled by the turnout. Our next focus is the national championship in Mombasa, which will serve as a qualifier for the Africa Aquatics Zone 3 Swimming Championship in Burundi this November. We are determined to field a strong team to compete for the overall title and provide our swimmers with international exposure.”
The competition saw participation from across Kenya, including swimmers from Homa Bay, Kilifi, and Laikipia, as well as entrants from Tanzania, showcasing the growing popularity and reach of the sport. Omar Ali Omar, Chairperson of the Technical Committee of Kenya Aquatics, emphasized the importance of these competitions in talent identification and development. “Junior Swimming Championships like this one are crucial for identifying talent at an early age. The greatest swimming legend, Michael Phelps, was discovered when he was just six years old and was guided to become an Olympian. Swimming in Kenya is on a positive trajectory, and with continued support, we aim to meet the 2028 Olympic goals.”
Eng. Peter Mwangangi, Head Coach of Seahorses Aquatics, expressed his pride in his swimmers’ performances. “I am extremely happy that my club won the overall title. The competition was fierce, which pushed our swimmers to deliver their best. Many of them achieved personal best times, including 10-year-old Ryan Juma, who finished the 50-meter butterfly in 40.03 seconds. I would like to thank Kenya Aquatics for their support in enhancing coaching capacity in Kenya. Our recent exposure to international coaching clinics such as ASCA one has been invaluable, and my aim is to have my swimmers compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.”
As the event concluded, attention now shifts to the upcoming national championship in Mombasa, where Kenya’s finest will compete for spots in the Africa Aquatics Zone 3 Championship. The future of Kenyan swimming looks bright as young talents continue to rise and regional clubs challenge the traditional strongholds, promising an exciting new era for the sport in the country.