Dunford returns to top competition, third in Austin

By evelyn watta
Jan 23, 2014

Commonwealth Games champion Jason Dunford is back in competitive action fittingly timing his return six months before he plunges for his title defence in Scotland.

Dunford, Kenya’s most medalled swimmer, placed third at the Arena Grand prix in Austin, Texas US last weekend,his top event since his self imposed yearlong break, after a disappointing London outing.

He registered some steady swims at the FINA 2012 world cup series and at the African championships held in Nairobi the same year where he won seven medals, before taking a recess after the World short course championships in Turkey.

Dunford, 27, timed 53.73 for third in the 100m Butterfly event on saturday won by American Tom Shields in a scintillating time of 52.72.

Another American Eugene Godsoe finished second in 53.69.

Dunford won Kenya’s first ever-swimming medal at a top event- gold in the 50m butterfly at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

He skipped most of the competitive events last year including the World long course championships in Barcelona opting to concentrate on his training for the Commonwealth Games due for July 23 to August 3 in Glasgow, Scotland and the African championships.

He will be using the American meets to buildup on his form.

Last December the former Olympics 100m butterfly record holder, won the 5000m freestyle event at the first ever Nairobi Amateur Swimming Association Swim-A-Thon gala at Kasarani.