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Ellina Mhlanga Senior Sports Reporter 

DEFENDING champions Highlands look set to retain their title in the Harare Amateur Swimming Senior Championships. 

They took the lead, in the first weekend of the competition, at Les Brown pool. 

The provincial championships, held over two weekends, took place from Friday to Sunday, and will resume this coming weekend. 

Highlands are leading with a combined team score of 1 312, as their swimmers dominated most of the events, in both boys and girls sections. Some of their swimmers, who had a good outing, include Limbikani Kalipengule, Mikayla Makwabarara, Chinyere Mgbemena and Benjamin Rorke. 

They came tops, in a number of events, in their age-groups. 

Highlands also picked more points in the relays, in close contests with Spartans, who gave a good account of themselves. 

Highlands also dominated the girls and boys 15-and-Over 200m medley relays while Spartans came second, in both sections, in this age-group. 

Rorke, who is one of their seniors scheduled to represent the country at the African Union Sports Council Region Five Youth Games set for December 2 to 12, was pleased with his times. 

“It’s been pretty good, I think I have done quite well, holding up my times,’’ said Rorke. 

“I mean, for the amount of training I have done, I think I definitely deserve the times that I have got. 

“I am quite chuffed with them.

“It’s been pretty hard because I have just had exams, so pushing through training after exams, was pretty hard. 

“But, I got there and, obviously, these times will show me how prepared I am for Region Five, if I do go.’’ 

Spartans emerged winners in the mixed 12-and-Under 200m freestyle relay, mixed 15-and-Over 200m freestyle relay, girls 12-and-Under 200m medley relay. 

They also had the likes of Tanatsirwa Chitsurura, Ryan Franceys and Alexis Johnsen doing well in individual events. 

Spartans are second with 874 points and Sharks are third with 413 points. 

Dorado Swimming Club and Pirates are fourth and fifth with 333 and 322 points respectively. 

Harare Otters Swim Club are sixth with 75 points and The Falcons Swimming club have 42 points on position seven. 

Other swimmers expected to go for the Region Five Games and participated at the weekend’s competition are Chitsurura, Donata Katai, Chinyere Mgbemena, Timea Schultz, and Franceys. 

“I am very happy with my times, seeing as we were coming from the past galas, I was bit at the bottom but now I am getting back to where I want to be,’’ said Chitsuura.