Williams sets new record at CNS tourney

Eric Williams of Rivers State provided an exciting end to the fourth Chief of Naval Staff Open Swimming Competition in Calabar when he broke a six-year national record in the men’s 50 metres breaststroke men just as seven championship records were set at the three-day competition.

Williams, who holds the national record of 29:80 set in 2007 and the competition record of 29:89 in the event in 2011, also returned with a time of 29: 74 seconds in Calabar to hit a new mark and win gold.

Seven old competition records were also broken in this year’s championship which drew swimmers from 15 states, the security forces and the University of Ibadan competing for laurels in 32 events including 16 males, 16 females, 28 individuals and four relay races.

Faith Edorodion of team Edo set a new competition record of 1:12:51 in the women’s 100m butterfly and in 50m butterfly women when she returned with a time of 31: 41.

She set the old competition mark of 1:15:07 (100 metre butterfly) and national record of 1:07:71 in the same event in 2011.

Edorodion also holds the competition record of 31:86 seconds in the 50m butterfly and the national record of 29:97 set respectively in the events at the third edition of the championship in Ilorin, Kwara, in 2011.

Rachael Tonjor of Edo, who holds the national and competition records of 33:81 and 35:17 in 50m breaststroke, in 2011, set a new competition record of 35:13 in Calabar.