McKenzie makes EGA history

Swimmers from ESP Aquatic Academy competed at the Eastern Gauteng Aquatics Summer Championships in December, where they excelled.

Although the competition was strong, the ESP Piranha team excelled, bonded well and had many fun filled days.

Heats for the championship were swum in the mornings with finals in the evening.

ESP’s swimmers competed in 34 finals, won 14 medals and 4 trophies.

Bernelee Doster and Kyle McKenzie led the points for ESP Piranhas, winning numerous races with McKenzie breaking two EGA records.

He broke the 200 individual medley gala record in a time of 2:13:24, the record was set 31 years ago.

McKenzie followed his achievement by breaking the EGA’s 18-year-old category 400 individual medley record when he swam it in 4:47:36.

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He additionally placed second in his age group (17-year-old and over) and won five gold, one silver, and two bronze medals.

Doster was awarded the Victrix Ludorum for the girls’ 14-15-year-old group, won three gold medals, four silver medals and one bronze medal.

Clayton Malaza finished ninth overall, in the 17-year-old and over age group.

The academy’s junior girls have established a Mighty Mice Squad and worked well together, encouraging each other every day.

Mikayla Pon and Annebel van Wyk scored the bulk of the points in the 10-11-year-old group.

Pon finished fourth overall, swimming 11 finals and achieving 11 personal best times.

Also read: Swimming team places third

Van Wyk attained sixth place overall, winning two silver, one bronze medal, as well as two trophies in her age group.

Oratile Matli placed eighth overall and Ethan Hooper ninth overall with a bronze medal too.

Other medal winners and finalist were:

• Morgan Corns – one gold medal

• Tambai Dutiro – two bronze medals

• Oyama Malaza – swam three finals

• Ashley Corns – swam two finals

• Savannah Sheerin – swam one final