Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar and Zambia to grace Long Course contest

Kenya Aquatics SG Marigiri said the inclusion of the foreign swimmers will spice up proceedings at the two-day championship.

by WILLIAM NJUGUNA

Sports15 May 2025 - 08:00

In Summary

Haniel Kudwoli, Stephen Ndegwa, Nathan Matimu, Adam Mensch, Shaka Gikunda, Mohammed Ridhwan, Imara Bella-Thorpe, Sara Mose and Maria Brunlehner are among the top Kenyan swimmers expected.
Marigiri said Kenya hopes to send a relay team to the World Championships.

Haniel Kudwoli at the World Championships in Budapest/FILE

Swimmers from Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar and Zambia will grace the Kenya Aquatics National Long Course Championship at the Kasarani Aquatic Stadium on May 31- June 1.

Kenya Aquatics Secretary General Collins Marigiri said the inclusion of the foreign swimmers will spice up proceedings at the two-day championship, a qualifier for the World Championships on July 11-August 3 in Singapore.

“The swimmers from the three countries will make the event very competitive. I am confident we will see various personal and national records. We have a strong rivalry with our East African brothers. I’m confident it will be a hard-fought event,” noted Marigiri.

In addition to their performances at the Kasarani event, Aquatics Kenya will also consider performances from past displays and FINA points accrued over the past year in selecting the team to Singapore.

“The selection criteria are rigorous. We are not leaving anything to chance. Only the best will represent the country in Singapore,” added Marigiri.

Haniel Kudwoli, Stephen Ndegwa, Nathan Matimu, Adam Mensch, Shaka Gikunda, Mohammed Ridhwan, Imara Bella-Thorpe, Sara Mose and Maria Brunlehner are among the top Kenyan swimmers expected.

Marigiri said Kenya hopes to send a relay team to the World Championships.

“We are looking at the qualification times and world ranking points to see if we can have a mixed relay team to the global event,” he added.

Preparations for the event have started and will be over in a fortnight.

Meanwhile, Kenya will send 20 swimmers to the World Masters Swimming Championship, which will run concurrently with the World Championships.

Elsewhere, top swimming clubs will converge at Regis School on May 24-25 for the Kiambu Aquatics Sprints and Relays Championships.

Crawford School, Supermarlin, Woodcrek School, MPesa Foundation, Sabis School, Otters Swim Club, Light International School, Orca Swim Club and Aqua Shark Swim Club are among the listed teams.

The event is a qualifier for the Long Course Championships.