South Africa-Based Olengo Leads Kenya’s Swim Squad at Africa Aquatics in Algeria

Neo Olengo has been building toward this. The South Africa-based Kenyan swimmer is leading his country’s delegation at the 17th Africa Aquatics Senior Swimming Championships in Oran, Algeria — running May 5 to 10.

Olengo trains out of South Africa, and it shows. The exposure to higher competition levels has sharpened him. He was already turning heads at the continental level in Namibia two years ago. This is the next step.

Kenya are sending a squad looking to make a mark on the continent. Algeria hosts for the first time, at the Mediterranean Village Oran in Bir El Djir.

Top finishers will have one eye on the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow later this year — the championship doubles as a qualifier warm-up for several African nations.

Olengo is the flagbearer. Kenya are watching to see how far he can take them.