The Fiji National Schools Swimming Championship officials led by Patrick Bower yesterday confirmed that five national records were broken during the two-day event at the Damodar Aquatic Centre.

Top on the list was Marist Brothers High School swimmer Temafa Yalimaiwai who broke three records in the Male 15-16 400metre freestyle, 100metre butterfly and 200metre butterfly.

Yalimaiwai also broke the 26-year-old record that belonged to Carl Probert in the 400metres freestyle, where he clocked 4 minutes 20 seconds.

In the 100metre butterfly, Yalimaiwai broke his own record which he set during the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games with a new time of 58.57 seconds. While in the 200 metre butterfly he stopped the clock at 2 minutes 12 seconds.

In the female division, Miley King of Nadi Airport School broke the record set by Aimee Elaisa in the 200metre breaststroke with a new time of 3 minutes and 23 seconds.

In the senior division Moana Wind of Saint Joseph Primary School broke the record for the 50 metre butterfly with a time of 29.51secs. The old record was set by Yolani Blake in 2016 with the time of 28.69secs.

MEDAL TALLY

Bower who is the Fiji Schools’ Swimming Association president said a team are still working on the getting the medal tally out.

“Due to the new grading system by Fiji Schools’ Swimming Association that was introduced this year, getting the medal tally on time is probably the most challenging,” he said.

“Fortunately we have a great team who’ve been working tirelessly during the championships to get the medals sorted correctly so that every event and medal winner is rightly awarded.”

A total of 27 primary schools and 29 high schools participated during the competition recording over 800 athletes.

Edited  by Leone Cabenatabua

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