Ghanaian swimming prodigy, Abeiku Gyekye Jackson gave swimming fans a glimmer of what to expect in the future when he shattered three national records (NR) at last Saturday's GH Dolphins (GHD) Invitational Meet held at the Ghana Armed Forces Leisure Centre in Accra.
The blistering pace of the phenomenal 15-year-old GH Dolphins captain put him in control of most of the age 15+ events as he reset the records in the 50metre (m) freestyle to 24.9seconds(s), reduced the 100m butterfly time from 59.9s to 59.8s and took a second of the 50m breastroke to finish in a time of 33.4s.
Jackson, a 2014 Commonwealth Games participant used his superior swimming skills honed under the tutelage of his father and national swimming coach, Abbiw Jackson in seeing-off his competitors including the impressive Lincoln Community School (LCS) Lions duo, Karl Emil Joker and Thibault Missinne.
"The competition was great for me; i competed in eight events and won all, breaking national records were just a bonus," Abeiku said.
"My next target is to drop my times further come August at the FINA World Championships in Russia and hopefully secure qualification into the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio," he added
The age-categorised invitational sponsored by Jazz Thai Rice was contested by young swimmers from clubs such as the GHD, Lions, ANOPAPHINS of the Agoro Ne Obra Pa (ANOPA), Lycée Jacques Prevert D'Accra (French School), Annointed Dolphins and Omni Swimming and Water Polo School.
Abeiku's 11-year-old brother and GHD teammate, Kow Asafuah Mensah Jackson also reigned supreme in the age 11-12 category winning both the 50 and 100 metres freestyle as well as the 50 and 100 metres Backstroke events.
Other notable winners of the competition dominated by the LCS Lions include, the lions' Karoline Joker who won the girls 50m age 15+ backstroke, girls 50m backstroke Under-10 winner, Wong Fodor Lia, boys 50m breastroke age 13-14 winner, Charlie Scott and girls 50 metre butterfly 15+ winner, Kaylee Coklin.
The various winners and participants of the competition were presented with certificates and trophies after the event while paralympic swimmers, Bryan Baffour Akotoh and Ivan Tchamou were given special awards for their stellar displays.