One NASU (Namibia Swimming Union) record and four Namibian records were established at the third NASU Short Course Gala of the season which took place at the Dolphins Pool last weekend.
Heleni Stergiadis broke two Namibian records and Philip Seidler and Mollina Smalley one each, while Joanne Liebenberg set one NASU record for non-Namibians.
Heleni Stergiadis of Dolphins broke two of her own Namibian records in the Girls 12 and under category.
She took more than a second off her previous 200m freestyle record of 2:21,56, with a new record time of 2:20,41, while she set a new record of 2:34,67 in the Individual Medley to break her previous record of 2:34,88.
Molina Smalley who is studying in England and trains at the world-renowned Plymouth Leander Swimming Club, shattered the Women’s 17-18 800m freestyle record by more than 26 seconds.
She won the race in a new record time of 9:30,69, to break Toni Roth’s former record of 9:57,22.
Philip Seidler of Dolphins was also in great form as he won the Men’s 17-18 1 500m in 16:47,38, which was more than 42 seconds faster than Jorn Diekmann’s former record of 17:30,06.
Joanne Liebenberg of Dolphins set a new NASU record for non-Namibians in the Women’s 12 and under 800m freestyle.
She took nearly 20 seconds off her own previous record of 10:02,15 with a new time of 9:42,52.
Seidler had the best performance in terms of the international FINA points system. He obtained 600 FINA points for his 1 500m freestyle victory, while Mollina Smalley obtained 592 FINA points for her 800m freestyle victory.
The final short course gala of the season will be held on 22 August, while the Short Course National Championships will be held in Swakopmund on 25 and 26 September.
Several of Namibia’s top swimmers are currently also competing at top international events around the world.
Zanre Oberholzer, Daniela Lindemeier, Zander Skinner and Lushano Lamprecht are competing at the FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia which started last Friday and continue till 9 August.
After the World Championships Oberholzer and Lindemeier will continue to Moscow to compete in the FINA World Cup on 10 and 11 August.
Seven swimmers, namely Mollina Smalley, Kiara Schatz, Zune Weber, Lushano Lamprecht, Zander Skinner, Phillip Zeidler and Nicolai Flemming will compete at the FINA World Junior Championships in Singapore from 25 to 30 August.
