Greenhill tops 8th Secondary Schools Swimming Championships

Greenhill Academy’s Karla Mugisha, Sonia Mwere, Joshua Mandre and Ampaire Namanya produced energetic displays to help their school top the 8^th edition of the Secondary Schools Swimming Championship held at their school pool in Kibuli on Saturday.

The four swimmers won a combined 29 gold medals on the day from the different events that they competed in and collected 584 points out of the 1749 that won the one-day championship for their side.

Swimming in the 16 and over and the 12-13 categories, Mugisha and Mwere were unstoppable in both categories and led the way for the school’s girls’ team that collected a total of 844 points in also topping the women's teams.  

Swimmers dive in at the start of one of the races. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Greenhill's Ampaire Namanya in action. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Mwere in particular registered three personal bests in winning the 100m freestyle (1:09.68), 50m back (36.43) and in the 100m back (1:21.59) races.

Mandre was also the best in his category (12-13 men) where he picked 156 points ahead of teammate Nathaniel Kagina (115 pts) and St Mary’s College Kisubi’s Ryan Barungi.

Namanya, 18, was also on top of his game winning six individual gold medals from the 100m freestyle and breaststroke races as well as in the 50fly, breast, and freestyle races; and in the 200 individual medleys.

But despite also picking four other gold in the relay races, Namanya (108 pts) was third overall in the individual standings behind Seroma Christian High School’s Ian Aziku and Lubiri Secondary School’s Michael Mukiibi who finished first and second respectively on 146 and 109 points respectively.

Lubiri SS' Rahmah Nakasule in action. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Greenhill captains Ampaire Namanya and Karla Mugisha (centre) receive the trophy from UOC president Donald Rukare (2nd left) and USF president Moses Mwase (3rd right) with captains from Elite High Seroma. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

“It feels very good to be back. I was off-form before but at least I have moved. My coach has helped me a lot, his training was really effective. But I’m not going to swim much this year because of exams but next year I promise, I’m going to come back with a bang,” Namanya who is in S6 said.

“This is the first event I’ve got only straight golds so yeah, it’s my best outing ever,” Namanya stated.

Quite excited about her team’s performance was Elite High School’s captain Nancy Nandi who on their second gala finished third overall with 1173 points.

 “I can’t explain the excitement because it is too much. This is my second gala but we have managed to be number three. It’s our second time competing but imagine we are number 3. We thank the administration and our parents for supporting us; swimming is one of the most expensive sports and I would like to thank them,” Nandi, 19, said.

The different swimmer pose with their medals. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

“As captain, I’m going to ensure I rally my teammates to train even harder and I will also re-emphasise teamwork because it is what has helped us to achieve, so we are going to put in more effort,”

Other outstanding displays were registered by Lubiri SS’s Akram Lubega and Rahmah Nakasule who won gold in the 100m freestyle (1:05.86), in the girls’ 14-15 category; where Acorn’s Glory Upendo (1:13.48) and teammate Nahiyyah Busuulwa (1:13.70) took silver and bronze respectively.

Nakasule also scooped gold in the 50m-back, fly and freestyle, 100m breast, 100m back and the 200m individual medley races.

200m freestyle relay medalists from Seeta High Green Campus (left), Greenhill Academy and St Mary's College Kisubi pose with their medals. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

200m freestyle relay medalists from Elite High School (left), Greenhill Academy and Seroma Christian High School pose with their medals. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Lubega beat Seeta High’s Alfred Kivumbi and Seroma’s Rodney Ssebaale in the 100m freestyle; Nana Kasimu in the 50m back, King's College Budo’s Schwarzkopf Thembo in the 50fly and100m back as well as Greenhill’s Joshua Mandre and Seroma’s Quentin Muwanguzi over the different races.

Elite High School’s Daniel Kayemba and Lubiri’s Melva Nandugwa were also good for gold in the 50m backstroke and 100n breast, where St Mary’s College Kisubi’s Kevin Rugaaju and Greenhill’s Mwere picked silver, in the 16 & over and in the 12-13 categories respectively.

Greenhill’s Esther Atto, Vienna College’s Luzinda Nakafu, and Simona Kagugube, Kisubi’s Ryan Barungi and Jethro Mugisha and Seroma’s Eriana Nabiryo among others were some of the other outstanding swimmers for their sides on the day, in the event that attracted 11 schools.

Combined team scores

Greenhill Academy 1749 points

Seroma Christian HS 1452

Elite High School EBB 1173

Seeta High Green Campus 1164

Lubiri Secondary School 1066

Vienna College Namugongo 919

St. Mary’s College Kisubi 583

Kings College Budo 506

Acorns International School 481

Nabumali High School 331