Nakmai breaks 37-year-old record at swimming champs

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ELITE swimmer Ian Nakmai has broken the 37-year-old record in the 100m breastroke during the Theodist National Swimming championships held at Sir Donald Cleland Pool in Port Moresby over the weekend.
The West New Briton stopped the clock in a time of 1:12.56 to set a new senior record which was held by Nigel Cleaur since 1973. Cleaur’s previous time was 1:12.90
Nakmai’s record was one of the eight PNG records registered during the championships.
PNG Swimming Inc president Elizabeth Wells said three PNG records were claimed by Ryan Pini in the 400m freestyle for the 25-29 age group masters category in a time of 4:48.98; in the 200m freestyle 2:30.25 and the 100m freestyle 55.38.
Tony King in the 45-49 Masters age category swam two PNG record swimming times in the 100m freestyle and 50m freestyle clocking 1:04.22 and 27.53 respectively. The previous records were held by Bruce Mead of Boroko Club set in 2006.
Anna-Liza Mopio Jane set a senior and Open PNG record in the 50m backstroke swimming 32.86, the previous record was held by Krystle Babao 33.59 set in 2005.
She said records tumbled as swimmers raced the clock to swim personal best times at the event.
At the end of the event, 53 swimmers achieved a place in the PNG Aquatic Excellence squads for the next 12 months.
In the PNG aquatic excellence gold junior squad for the 9-11 years old age group times were swum by Savanah Tkatchenko and Ben Paton while in the PNG aquatic excellence silver junior squad times were swum by Ayla Beagrie, Kimberley Ila, Shanice Paraka, James Runnegar, Catherine Vali, Angus Dubur, Raila Ila,. Pauliasi Kaitani, Leonard Kalate, Jeankapa Koupa, Ashton Kunda, Tanguy Langelet, Ryan Maskelyne, Jasmine Mileng, Megan Nott, Darcy Pomeroy, Leilani Thomson, Georgia-Leigh Vele and Fiona Yu.
In the PNG aquatic gold excellence squad for the 12-14 year old swimmers, Tegan McCarthy, Bobby Akunai and Peter Kunda registered places. 
In the silver aquatic intermediate excellence squad 16 swimmers clocking times to be in the squad were Livingstone Aika, Edna Aisi, Colin Akara, Alastair Blake, Ben Cross, Campbell Eaton, Ishan Guru, Millie Knight, Olive Meraudje, Jodi Mileng, Britney Murray, Anthea Murray, Rebecca Natera, Jack Paton, Sheldon Plummer and Bethani Tukana.