Over 200 swimmers will converge at the M-Pesa Academy in Thika on April 1 for the Mount Kenya Swimming Championship
The event will act as a yardstick to select a team for the Kampala Invitational Championship and Dubai's Hamilton Aquatics Development Championship set for April and June respectively.
Mount Kenya secretary-cum -coach Ali Omari said they have invited swimmers from Nairobi and Mombasa to come and spice up the event and offer competition to swimmers from the region.
"We want to pick a strong team that will do duty for Kenya in both Uganda and Dubai and that's why preparations have kicked off in earnest in readiness for the double high-profile events.
He added: "All those seeking to participate in the Thika contest should prepare sufficiently because of the high level of competition expected to be witnessed.
"We also urge corporates and well-wishers to support these initiatives because when we work together, swimming as a sport will grow further and this will be for the betterment of the whole region," said Omari.
Kenya intends to send 50 swimmers to the championship in Kampala scheduled for August 15-19. Various counties have been conducting championships to select swimmers for events in both Kampala and Dubai.
Nairobi County Association secretary Kenneth Karani said they are keen to replicate the performances at last year's regional championships held in Tanzania.
"Our swimmers are growing from strength to strength and we hope those selected from various counties will do the country proud,” he added.
Karani hopes to have the final list of selected swimmers ready by the first week of April. “We hope to have the final squad by April 6 and have one week of intensive training before departure,” added Karani.
Kenyan swimmers will be up against swimmers from Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe in the four-day championship.
