Supermarlins Swimming Club shampionshipshowcased their prowess over the weekend, emerging overall champions of the Kiambu Invitational Swimming Championships held at Regis Academy, Runda. The event, which attracted over 30 teams from across the Nairobi Metropolitan region, was a thrilling prelude to next month’s Kenya National Swimming Championships.

The Supermarlins, renowned for their dominance in last year’s Kiambu Level One and Minnows Championships, amassed an impressive total of 84 medals, including 31 golds, 29 silver, and 24 bronze. The runners-up, NextGen Multi-Sport Academy, secured 48 medals, with 28 golds, while Crawford International School took third place with 67 medals overall.

In individual categories, NextGen led the men’s division with 29 medals, while Supermarlins dominated the women’s division, clinching 42 medals.

Emerging Stars and Record Breakers

The event also saw standout performances from young swimmers in the 7 and Under category, where Sifa Mathia (Supermarlins) and Barack Laja (Orca) emerged victorious. In the 8-9 years division, Nadia Nuru (Aqua Shark) clocked an impressive 52.73 seconds in the 50m backstroke, while Blaise Rumu (Orca) dominated the breaststroke with a time of 51.30 seconds.

The 18 and Over category was led by Zetech University Tritons, with stellar performances from Prince Wise and Naomi Kibet, who swept the men’s and women’s titles respectively.

Lakisha Waswa (Dashing Dolphins) triumphed in the 14-15 women’s category, while Murori Muthomi (Crawford) topped the men’s standings with an unbeatable 66 points.

In team relay events, Aga Khan Academy took the mixed 9 and Under 200m freestyle relay, while Orca and NextGen claimed victories in the 10-13 and 14 and Over categories, respectively.

Building Momentum for Nationals

The Kiambu Aquatics Invitational, alongside the Meru Inaugural Invitational Championship held concurrently, marked the first major swimming events of 2025. Both galas served as qualifiers for the Kenya National Swimming Championships, scheduled for 15-16 February at the Kasarani Aquatic Arena.

Prominent lawyer and swimming parent Wahome Thuku from Dashing Dolphins praised the gala’s organization, saying, “The swimmers, especially from our club, have improved their personal bests. We are looking forward to the nationals at Kasarani. We also urge the government to invest in swimming pools across the country to complement the CBC curriculum, where swimming is highly emphasized.”

Upcoming Events on the Swimming Calendar

As the swimming season heats up, all eyes are now on the PIPSSA Kenya Invitational Swimming Gala, set to take place on 1st and 2nd February 2025 at Moi Educational Centre. The gala will feature six age-group categories and serve as a qualifier for the Inter-County Sports Challenge, happening on 8th and 9th March 2025 at St. Christopher’s School, Nanyuki.

Looking ahead, the regional spotlight will shift to the Kigali Mini International Games in early April. Hosted in Rwanda, the event will bring together top teams from across East Africa and offer participants a chance to visit the Kigali Genocide Museum, promoting sports tourism and cultural exchange.

With the National Championships around the corner, Kenya’s swimming community is buzzing with excitement as athletes prepare to showcase their talent on the national stage.