Swimming: Cana African Junior Championships 2019 |17 September 2019

Damien Payet stands proud on the third step of the G2 5km open water race

Bronze medal for Damien Payet in G2 5km open water

A bronze medal in the 5km open water race from Damien Payet is Team Seychelles’ sole harvest at the 13th African Swimming Confederation’s Junior championship held recently in Tunis, Tunisia.

Not new to open water racing, Payet, who has competed in various stages of the Fédération internationale de natation (Fina) Marathon Swim World Series and also at the World Junior Open Water Swimming Championships last year in Eilat, Israel, clocked 52 minutes 28.00 seconds (52:28.00) to finish third in the G2 5km open water race, behind second-placed Mahmoud Mohamed of Egypt who clocked 51:25.00. The race was won by Khalin Ben Ajima of Tunisia whose time was 51:04.00

Seychelles’ other contestant in the race was Alain Vidot who was placed 10th overall in 1 hour 01 minute 15.00 seconds (1h01:15.00)

Other than the 5km open water race, Payet was also in action in the 200m, 400m and 1500m freestyle, 200m butterfly and 400m individual medley.

In the open water competition for the girls, Khema Elizabeth finished seventh in 1h03:27.00, while Therese Soukup was ninth overall. Her time was 1h04:58.00.

The competition which ended on September 15 was considered as a springboard for the development of future championships and also given that Seychelles is hosting the World Junior Open Water in August 2020, our open water swimmers were able to showcase their talents and progress made.

The championship was divided into two age groups categories – G1 (Born in 2005 and 2006 and G2 (Born in 2003 and 2004).

Led by Vanessa Narty, the Seychelles swimming team are expected back in the country today.

Below are the complete results of Team Seychelles at the championships

50m butterfly (G2 women 15 -16 years) – Aaliyah Palestrini: 9th out of 25 swimmers with a time of 30.54 seconds

50m butterfly (G1 women 13- 14 years) –Khema Elizabeth: 10th out of 18 swimmers with a time of 32.09 seconds

50m butterfly (G2 Men 15 -16 years) – Tyler Fred: 6th out of 33 swimmers with a time of 26.43 seconds (qualified for final), Alain Vidot: 22nd out of 33 swimmers with a time of 29.28 seconds

50m butterfly (G1: Men 13 -14 years) –Nathan Nagapin: 12th out of 23 swimmers with a time of 29.30 seconds

200m freestyle – (G2 women 15 – 16 years) –Therese Soukup: 8th out of 19 swimmers with a time of 2.14.88 (qualified for final)

200m freestyle – (G1 women 13 -14 years) –Khema Elizabeth: 11th out of 19 swimmers with a time of 2.26.23

200m freestyle – (G1 men 13 -14 years) – Tyler Fred: 8th out of 23 swimmers with a time of 2:01.76 (qualified for final), Damien Payet: 12th out of 23 swimmers with a time of 2:05.59.

200m individual medley (G2 women 15 -16 years) – Aaliyah Palestrini: 6th out of 16 swimmers with a time of 2:33.73

200m individual medley (G1 men 13 -14 years) – Nathan Nagapin: 11th out of 23 swimmers with a time of 2:32.90

4x100m freestyle mixed relay (G2 mixed 15 – 16 years) – 6th out of 14 teams with a time of 4:02.38 (Tyler Fred, Alain Vidot, Therese Soukup and Aaliyah Palestrini)

4x200m freestyle men (G2 men 15 -16 years) – 5th out of 5 teams with a time of 8:46.31 (Damien Payet, Nathan Nagapin, Alain Vidot and Tyler Fred)

400m freestyle (G2 men 15 -16 years) – Damien Payet: 7th out of 17th with a time of 4.18.95

400m freestyle (G2- 15 -16 years) – Therese Soukup: 6th out of 13 with a time of 4:46:56

100m backstroke (G2 – 15 -16 years) – Aaliyah Palestrini: 6th out of 22 with a time of 1:07:08

4x100m medley mixed relay (G2 mixed 15 -16 years) – 7th out of 14 teams with a time of 04.37.69 (Nathan Nagapin, Aaliyah Palestrini, Therese Soukup and Tyler Fred)

50m freestyle (G1 women 13 – 14 years) – Khema Elizabeth: 8th out of 24 swimmers with a time of 29.38 seconds (qualified for final)

50m freestyle (G2 women 15 -16 years) – Aaliyah Palestrini: 11th out of 29 swimmers with a time of 29.10 seconds

50m freestyle (G1 men 13 -14 years) – Nathan Nagapin: 20th out of 25 swimmers with a time of 28:80 seconds

50m freestyle (G2 men 15 16 years) – Tyler Fred 7th out of 24 swimmers with a time of 25.18 seconds (qualified for final), Alain Vidot 12th out of 24 swimmers with a time of 27:07 seconds

50m backstroke (G2 women 15 -16 years) – Aaliyah Palestrini – 4th out of 22 swimmers with a time of 31.79 seconds (qualified for final), Therese Soukup – 12th out of 22 swimmers with a time of 33.30 seconds

50m backstroke (G1 women 13 -14 years) – Khema Elizabeth 12th out of 16 swimmers with a time of 36.48 seconds

50m backstroke (G2 men 15 -16 years) – Tyler Fred – 6th out of 29 swimmers with a time of 29.32 seconds (qualified for final)

R. D.