Consistent show by swimmers at AAG Games

NAMIBIAN swimmers put in consistent performances at the All Africa Games on Monday as none of them could reach a final, but Byron Briedenhann and Corinna Wahl set new personal best times.

All the other swimmers came close to their personal best (PB) times. Swimming in the 50m backstroke event, Briedenhann finished sixth in his heat in 30,08 seconds, to improve upon his former personal best time of 30,21.In the 50m backstroke for women, Corinna Wahl came seventh in her heat in a time of 34,93, improving upon her former personal best time of 35,57.Stephan van Zijl was fractionally short of his PB of 31,15 seconds in the 50m backstroke, to finish sixth in his heat in a time of 31,15.Ilka Preschel was also just outside her PB of 35,83 in the 50m backstroke, winning her heat in a time of 35,91 seconds.There were, however, only three swimmers in her heat, none of whom managed to qualify for the finals.In the 100m butterfly for women.Corinna Wahl came last in her heat in a time of 1:13,89, just outside her personal best time of 1:13,33.Jonay Briedenhann came 4th in her heat in a time of 1:08,95, about a second off her PB of 1:07,89.Namibia’s swimming coach Ryan Skinner expressed satisfaction with the day’s performances, saying it was a good day for Namibia.”Our swimmers had an off day on Sunday and that definitely helped.We went to the beach and had some rest,” he said.”Byron put in a strong swim, Corinna put in a gutsy effort and Jonay swam a good, consistent race.All around, it was a strong performance by our swimmers today,” he said.The swimmers were the first from the Namibian contigent to compete at the event which started last week Wednesday.The Namibian team which is represented in more boxing, athletics, swimming, chess, cycling, shooting, wrestling and gymnastics has not yet landed any medal.The chess team performed poorly in their early rounds, while some of the boxers have so far made it to the next rounds of their respective categories at the event.Swimming in the 50m backstroke event, Briedenhann finished sixth in his heat in 30,08 seconds, to improve upon his former personal best time of 30,21.In the 50m backstroke for women, Corinna Wahl came seventh in her heat in a time of 34,93, improving upon her former personal best time of 35,57.Stephan van Zijl was fractionally short of his PB of 31,15 seconds in the 50m backstroke, to finish sixth in his heat in a time of 31,15.Ilka Preschel was also just outside her PB of 35,83 in the 50m backstroke, winning her heat in a time of 35,91 seconds.There were, however, only three swimmers in her heat, none of whom managed to qualify for the finals.In the 100m butterfly for women.Corinna Wahl came last in her heat in a time of 1:13,89, just outside her personal best time of 1:13,33.Jonay Briedenhann came 4th in her heat in a time of 1:08,95, about a second off her PB of 1:07,89.Namibia’s swimming coach Ryan Skinner expressed satisfaction with the day’s performances, saying it was a good day for Namibia.”Our swimmers had an off day on Sunday and that definitely helped.We went to the beach and had some rest,” he said.”Byron put in a strong swim, Corinna put in a gutsy effort and Jonay swam a good, consistent race.All around, it was a strong performance by our swimmers today,” he said.The swimmers were the first from the Namibian contigent to compete at the event which started last week Wednesday.The Namibian team which is represented in more boxing, athletics, swimming, chess, cycling, shooting, wrestling and gymnastics has not yet landed any medal.The chess team performed poorly in their early rounds, while some of the boxers have so far made it to the next rounds of their respective categories at the event.