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Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S swimmers at the ongoing FINA World championships James Lawson and Devyn Leask yesterday missed out on qualification for the semi-finals in Budapest, Hungary.

Zimbabwe has four swimmers participating in Hungary – Lawson, Leask, Peter Wetzlar and Robyn Lee. Lawson came first in the men’s 50m breaststroke in heat four, in a time of 28.85seconds, which equalled the national record he set two years ago in Kazan.

But his time could not earn him a place in the semi-finals after the other heats produced better times.

Heat nine, won by Great Britain’s Adam Peaty in a world record time of 26.10second,s had six swimmers qualifying. Heat seven have five qualifying and heat eight produced four semi-finalists.

Lawson had on Monday finished fourth in the men’s 100m breaststroke in 1minute 3.52seconds and concluded his events yesterday with the 50m breaststroke.

It was the same script for Leask, who came first in the women’s 200m freestyle in heat two, in 2minutes 8.13seconds posting her personal best time. But she also missed out on qualification to the semi-finals as other heats posted better times.

The UK-based swimmer is left with the 100m freestyle tomorrow while Lee had her events – 100m butterfly and 100m backstroke – on Monday.

In the 100m butterfly she was sixth in her heat in 1minute 2.84seconds. Lee went on to finish fourth in the 100m backstroke in 1minute 5.5seconds and could not go to the next round as well. Zimbabwe Aquatic Union president Mary Kloppers, who is one of the officials with the team in Hungary, said the exposure was good for the athletes.

“James has finished swimming. He equalled his own national record from two years ago. Robyn Lee has (also) finished swimming, she got close to her personal best times. She is still young and all this is experience for her.

“Devyn Leask, also young, did a personal best in 200m freestyle this morning (yesterday),” said Kloppers.

Only Wetzlar qualified for the championships, becoming the first male swimmer from this country to qualify for the competition. The other three were selected based on FINA points after Zimbabwe were allocated four slots.

“I am very proud and happy with the team. We were allowed to take up to four athletes, two male and two female. We did selection based on FINA points,” Kloppers said.

Wetzlar’s first event at the championships, the men’s 100m freestyle, is on today. He concludes his programme with the 50m freestyle tomorrow.