Swimmers from Trinity and Mahamaya expected to dominate

By Leslie FERNANDO

SWIMMING: The swimmers from Kandy, Trinity College and Mahamaya College last year's champions, are expected to dominate at the three-day National Age Group Swimming and Diving Championships conducted by the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) to be held on September 11, 12, 13 at the Sugathadasa Stadium Swimming Pool. The meet will commence from 8.30 a.m. each day.

Both Trinity and Mahamaya boys and girls have fared prominently in this year's Age Group Relay championships, Short Course Nationals, Pentathlon Championships and the National School Games, showing superior swimming skills.

Their current form should see them retain the overall boys and girls titles. However, in the boys, St. Joseph's College, Ananda, S. Thomas' College, Royal College, AIS will offer stiff opposition.

In the girls events it will be tussle for minor honours from Hillwood College, Kandy, Ladies College, AIS and Musaeus College.

According to a senior official of SLASU, this may also serve as a trial to pick swimmers for two proposed international swimming meets to be held in October and November.

The official added that all leading swimmers and divers will vie for honours at the three-day meet.

In 2007, Trinity College emerged boys champions while Mahamaya College, Kandy retained the girls overall championships.

Royal College retained the boy's overall diving championships and Bishop's College became overall girls diving champions.

The age categories for swimming for both boys and girls are under-10, under-12, under-14, under-16, under-19 and over 19. Altogether 136 events are on the card. All events will be swum as timed finals except for the 50-metres free-style event.

There will be qualifying times set to enter for all 136 events. The normal events are 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500 metres free style, 50, 100, 200 metres breast stroke, 50, 100, 200 metres back stroke, 50, 100, 200 metres butterfly stroke, 200 and 400 metres individual medley.

The meet will begin at 8.30 a.m. and the afternoon session from 2.30 p.m. each day.

The diving championships will take place on the same days as swimming but the events will start from 11.00 a.m. each day. The age groups are 13 years and below, (Group 'C'), 14 TO 15 years (Group 'B') 16, 17, 18 years (Group 'A'), open age 19 years and above (Group 'D'). The events are one-metre and three metres spring board and platform diving.

The age group champions will be selected among the boys and girls and challenge trophies will be presented by SLASU.

The swimmers failing to equal or improve on the qualifying times will not score points.

The age group and overall team championships will be decided on points and if there is a 'tie', performances will be compared with the record and a decision will be made by SLASU.

The points will be awarded as follows: For the first 8 places: First place (10 points), second (7), third (6), fourth (5), fifth (4), sixth (3) seventh (2) and eighth (I).