Seroma tops USSSA swimming championships

Seroma Christian High School swimming team amassed 877 points to win the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) Swimming Championships at Seroma Christian High School on Saturday.

Aga Khan High School Academy (768 pts) and the defending champions, British School of Kampala Rafters (BSK), with 664 points, came second and third, respectively, in the championship that doubled as a qualifier to next year’s Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) Games.

Seroma also topped the boys’ and girls’ categories with 411 and 406 points, respectively, as they defended the boys’ trophy while they beat BSK to the girls’ trophy in the event that attracted 22 teams.

Seroma Christian High School's Reagan Kisakye in action during the USSSA Swimming championship at Seroma High School pool. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

BSK was second in the girls’ category with 380 points, while Aga Khan was third with 323 points. In the boys’ category Aga Khan came second with 371 points, while Greenhill Academy collected 312 points to finish third.

The champions were inspired to the championship by the likes of national swimmer Zara Mbanga, who won gold in the 200m IM and in the 100m breaststroke races. Mbanga claimed gold in the 200 IM with a personal best of 2:33.13, ahead of British School’s Peyton Mary Suubi (2:36.53) and Aga Khan’s Theresa Kikambi (2:37.78), who settled for the silver and bronze, respectively.

She also won gold in the 100 m breaststroke (1:19.90) ahead of Kikambi (1:21.55) and Shasha Vimbai of Aga Khan, who made 1:30.51.

British School Kampala's Peyton Mary Suubi in action during 100m butterfly race of the USSSA Swimming championship at Seroma High School pool. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

In the boys’ 50m breaststroke for the 12-15 years old, Seroma’s Payton Ssekitto (33.81) also claimed gold ahead of Greenhill Academy’s Elisha Karuhanga (34.21) and North Green’s Jayson Aronda (35.25). The girls’ 100m backstroke gold was claimed by Paloma Kirabo in 1:12.24, ahead of her schoolmate Tyrah Muganzi (1:14.27) and Karen Mwangi of Seroma, who clocked 1:17.86 for the bronze.

Seroma also topped the boys’ 200m freestyle relay, taking the gold ahead of Greenhill and Aga Khan. On their part Aga Khan topped the girls’ relay relegating the British School and Seroma to the second and third places. Aga Khan also won the 200m freestyle relay ahead of Seroma and Greenhill.

Combined team scores: Top ten

Seroma Christian High School 877

Aga Khan High School 768

BSK Rafters 664

Green Hill Academy 618

North Green 520

Lubiri SS 442

Kings College Buddo 303

Elite High Shool Entebbe 197

Ndejje Secondary School 188

Seeta High Main Seeta High