Six from NSA qualify for nationals

Jetro Piso broke the 100 metre free, 100 metre fly, 100 metre back, 100 metre breast and the 200 metre individual medley (IM) records for undoubtedly the best individual performance of the day.

He qualified for the South African senior short-course nationals to be held in Pietermaritzburg at the end of August.

Giano Dos Santos set three record times in the 50- and 100 metres back and 50 metre freestyle. Dos Santos is also the youngest swimmer in the province’s history to qualify for SA senior short-course nationals.

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Master swimmer Michelle Esterhuizen broke two event records in the 100 metre free and 50 metre fly. She also qualified for nationals.

Skye Munro broke four event records and has now qualified for six events in Pietermaritzburg. She and Jordan Minifie (Uniswim) entertained all with the most exciting race of the day, the 100 metre freestyle. It took true grit to win the race and it was riveting nail-biting swimming at its best.

Jimmy Munro started his season like he ended his last, with three new event records in 100 metre breast, 100 metre free and 100 metre fly. He earned first place in 100 metre free, breast, fly, back and the 200 metre IM in his age group and a second place in the 50 metre freestyle open event.
Vidhaan Singh missed qualifying for the nationals by two tenths of a second in the 100 metre breast. He

was very close to qualifying in the 50 metre breast as well, but he still managed event records in both events. He still has one more chance to qualify at the second short-course gala to be held at Curro Nelspruit this weekend.

Up and coming young NSA stars served notice to their competitors. Jodi Dos Santos was her own brilliant self, achieving four first places in her age group. Lomar Botha was first place in the 50 metre back and Hannes Feuth also a gold medal in 50 metre breast. Paige Lombaard and her sister Mila demolished four event records among them.

Tome Stoltz broke the u/8 50 metre fly record and will be a joy to behold over the next couple of years. Kiara Craven swam a very good 50 metre free. Musi Ncube is also improving in leaps and bounds.

Yuva Singh shares with Brooklyn Croxon (Uniswim) the record in the 100 metre free and Dylan Ormiston broke two event records and was victorious in all the events he participated in.

Dylan Boshoff set the new 100 metre free record in his age group. Lastly NSA’s youngest new star, Christiaan Spruyt completed a 100 metre freestyle at the age of only seven.

NSA was joined by members of their sister club, NSA Development. Aiden Kay took first place in the 50 metre fly and Vicky Wankya participated for the first time as a registered swimmer.

Cristelle Kriel, Mpumalanga sportswoman of the year, and Raymond De Freitas have also qualified for the SA Short Course Nationals.

It is the first time in Mpumalanga’s swimming history that six swimmers from one club have qualified for nationals.

This amazing achievement is the direct result of coach Gideon du Toit, who’s cutting-edge, scientific approach to swimming has now set the benchmark for the rest of the province.

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NSA accumulated a total of 1 616 points. Uniswim Nelspruit was second with 962 points and Curro Swimming Academy placed third with 759 points.