Swimmers dive ahead of competition

Edenvale High awarded Jessica Burgess with school honours for both Open Water swimming and Competitive Pool swimming.

She adds these accolades to her full Eastern provincial colours for Open Water swimming, and Colt Swimming Colours for competitive swimming.

Jessica is a matric pupil, and ESP Kempton swimmer. She recently returned from the Open Water Nationals held in Cape Town two weeks ago. She finished 17th out of more than 70 swimmers in the three kilometre event.

Jessica is a multi-awarded provincial representative in a variety of aquatic sports.

She has represented competitive swimming for the last four years and open water swimming for the past three years.

Jessica obtained second place at the Platinum Mile and finished fourth at the Heia Safari. Her best time for the three kilometre event is 41 minutes.

As a youngster, she was awarded colours five times (in five years) for Gauteng Provincial Lifesaving representation.

At a school level, Jessica has done well every year. She has qualified five years in a row for the Inter-High Prestige Gala, winning four medals which included bronze and silver in grade 11, and bronze and silver in grade 12.

Added to the medals are two Inter-High records that she recorded in the 200 metre freestyle event in grade 11 and grade 12.

Jessica was awarded the Senior Victrix Ludorum, and the Best Senior Girl Open Water swimmer titles at the recent prize giving at Edenvale High.

The Aquatic Academy has been well represented at the Inter High Prestige Gala.

Seven swimmers represented their various schools, which were Edenvale High and Reddam House, and this year they collected five medals.

Edenvale High’s swimmers included Kyle McKenzie and Clayton Malaza. Brooklynn Bohler swam in a qualifying relay team. Skye and Savannah Sheerin have represented Assumption Convent at a separate Inter High Gala.

Reddam swimmer Travis Banks, won a bronze medal in the 50 metre breaststroke. Savannah Mitchell swam four events at the Prestige Inter High Gala, winning a bronze medal too. Storm Ryder won another bronze for Reddam, after qualifying for the 50 metre backstroke event, in a time of 36.20.

Savannah also received the Victrix Ladorum award at Reddam.