FIFTEEN-year-old Breanna Roman of Swimaz Aquatic Swim Club smashed nine meet records at the four-day Walter Rodney Age Group National Championships which ended at the National Stadium Pool to signal her readiness for the Carifta Swimming Championships set for the Easter Holidays in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Roman, a student of Campion College after transferring from Immaculate Conception High a couple years ago, showed the form that made her a champion at the Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships (CISC) held in Jamaica in 2008.

“I am back where I was three years ago,” said Roman when she won the 100m freestyle at the CISC here. During that championship she suffered a “slap tear” and had to pull out of the competition.

She spent one year out of the pool to recover from surgery.

“I haven’t felt that pain since,” said Roman, who evolved into a star when a growth spurt at the age of 12 pushed her up to five feet, seven inches. Now with broad shoulders grounding out powerful strokes, Roman motored her way to meet records in the girls’ 15 and under 800m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 50m breaststroke, 400m freestyle, 200m breaststroke, 100m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, 50m freestyle, and a share of the 50m backstroke.

Linval Rowe, her coach since she was age nine, noted that training gave Roman the confidence to perform well. “I told her that she would do well,” Rowe emphasised.

“She is very committed, dedicated, and talented. Imagine one swimmer breaking nine records at one meet,” he added.

In all 28 individual meet and four relay records fell at the Walter Rodgers Championships, a FINA qualifying competition, with 16-year-old Alexia Royal-Eatmon cracking five, and Tornadoes Swim Club’s 14-year-old Priscilla McClure shattering four.

Olympian Allan Roy Marsh, a vice-president of the Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica, said at the end of the meet: “This is the most exciting I have ever watched.”

Tornadoes Swim Club defended their title, amassing 1,443.50 points, beating Marlin Swim Club (1,217.50), Y Speedos (996.50), Stingray Swim Club of Cayman (728), Swimaz Aquatic (464), Blue Seal (354.50), Flying Fish Ambassadors (177), Unattached Tornadoes (24), Wahoo Swim Club (16), Royal Swim Club (14), and Blue Marlin (three).

Royal-Eatmon, unattached, broke the records in the girls’ 15 and over 50m butterfly, 200m individual medley, 200m backstroke, and 100m backstroke; while McClure set new standards in the girls’ 13-14 50m breaststroke, 200m breaststroke, 200m butterfly, and 100m breaststroke.

Acting president of the swimming association Martin Lyn said the likely 36-member team to the XXVI Carifta Swimming Championships in Bridgetown, Barbados on April 23-26 will be announced next week.

Achievement trophies went to Roman in the girls’ 15 and over, Danielle Boothe of Cayman’s Stingray in the girls’ 13-14, and Sidrell Williams of Marlin, Timothy Wynter of Tornadoes, and Antoine Young of Blue Seal in the boys’ 13-14.

Two events that had spectators on their feet were the boys’ 13-14m 200m butterfly with both Williams and Young clocking 2:29.81 for gold, and the girls’ 13-14 400m medley, which Stingrays won in a time of 5:12.85, just ahead of Tornadoes (5:15.36), and Marlin (5:15.81).

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Ken Frost, a Marin resident and chemistry professor at Dominican University, set an age-group meet record in the 100-meter breaststroke while swimming in the World Masters Championships this month.

Frost, swimming for the Tamalpais Aquatic Masters in the 65-69 age group, was first in the 100 breast in 1:20.98. He also placed first in the 200 breast in 3:02.71. Additionally, he placed second in the 50 breast and 200 individual medley and was fifth in the 200 freestyle

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Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Anil Roberts believes that Trinidad and Tobago has a future senior Olympic medallist in swimmer Christian Homer, who returned to Trinidad and Tobago yesterday after winning the country’s first Youth Olympic Games (YOG) gold medal, last week.

Homer won the final of the boys’ 50 metres backstroke, at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games, in Singapore, and Roberts said the youngster has what it takes to medal at the senior Olympic Games.

Roberts, speaking at an official welcome ceremony for Homer at the Piarco Airport VIP Lounge yesterday, congratulated the swimmer.

“No other swimmer I know deserves this honour, to be the first Olympic junior gold medallist in the history of Trinidad and Tobago. You have worked for it for a long time, and you made your own luck.”

T&T Olympic Committee president, Larry Romany also had words of encouragement for Homer.

“You have created history in being the first gold medallist in the first Youth Olympic Games. This, to the Olympic movement in Trinidad [and Tobago] and around the Caribbean, is an important feat. We are very proud of what you have achieved. We know that you have it in you to go to the Olympic Games and medal, gold medal…If not 2012, then 2016, and the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee are very much behind your development and your future.”

Homer said the win was one for the entire region to savour, and he thanked all the Caribbean athletes for their support in Singapore.

“It is a Caribbean win. Even before the race all the Caribbean delegates came up to me and said good luck and they gave me the support that I needed. And before I started the race I thought it would be awesome if I won…not just for Trinidad and Tobago alone but a win for the Caribbean.”

“This was just a stepping stone,” Homer continued. “I know I can improve. I need to work on the finish. I know what I have to do and this win definitely gives me a lot of confidence.”

The welcome party at Piarco yesterday included Homer’s mother Charmaine, father Paul, sister Tsian and brother Lee, as well as Zalayhar Hassanali, widow of former T&T president Noor Hassanali.

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Bermuda’s swimmers continue to put on an outstanding performance at the 2010 Caribbean Island Swimming Championships [CISC] in Cuba, with a total medal count of 11 (4 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze) after three days of competition.

Putting the proverbial icing on the cake, Keira Aitken won a gold medal in record style, setting a new CISC record in the 50m backstroke with a time 0:29.61, a time which sees her qualify for next year’s FINA World Championships in Shanghai, China.

That wasn’t the only record setting perfomance from the Bermuda team, as the silver medal winning female 4 x 100m medley relay team of Rebecca Sharpe, Lisa Blackburn, Kiera Aitken and Eleanor Gardner set a new Bermuda National record of 4:35.32, completely shattering the old record of 4:52.86 by a staggering 17 seconds.

In the first two days the Bermuda National Team won 6 medals, and day three saw the team continue to build on their previous successes winning 5 more medals.

Lisa Blackburn continued her superb form by winning her 3rd individual medal of these championships, a silver this time, in the 18 & over 50m breaststroke with a time of 0:35.19.

In the same event on the boy’s side, Julian Fletcher won a bronze medal in a time of 0:30.92. Emma Franklin won also a bronze medal in the girls 13 & 14 200m backstroke in a time of 2:36.34.

Finally, Roy-Allan Burch and Nick Thomson reached the finals in the 50m backstroke finishing 6th in a time of 29.07 and 7th in a time of 29.09 respectively and Morgan Hopkins reached the girls 15-17 year old 50m breaststroke final but she was unfortunately the victim of a false start.

Today [July 1] Day 4 of the Championship will see the following athletes in the water:

* 50m backstroke – Emma Franklin, 13 & 14 girls.
* 400m individual medley – Morgan Hopkins, 15 to 17 girls.
* 100m butterfly – Rebecca Heyliger, 15 to 17 girls; Roy-Allan Burch, 18 & over boys.
* 200m freestyle – Eleanor Gardner, 18 & over girls.

Bermuda sent a 10 strong team of 10 to compete in Havana City, Cuba in the meet will be held from June 28th to July 2nd. The team travelled to Florida for training in a 50 meter pool and final meet preparation before travelling to Cuba on June 26th. Representing Bermuda in Cuba are: Emma Franklin: Morgan Hopkins, Rebecca Heyliger, Eleanor Gardner, Rebecca Sharpe, Kiera Aitken, Lisa Blackburn, Nick Thomson, Julian Fletcher, Roy Allan Burch and Emma Franklin.
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In addition to Bermuda, 19 islands were invited to the 2010 Caribbean Championships: Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Netherlands Antilles, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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Trinidad and Tobago long distance swimmer Stefan Sharpe splashed to victory when the Barbados Amateur Swimming Association hosted their first-ever 5k International Open Water Swim from popular Accra Beach to picturesque Carlisle Bay.

Sixteen-year-old Sharpe, who was third in the 2009 edition of the Hyundai Maracas Open Water Championships, was among a field of 27 competitors from several Caribbean islands competing in the Barbados event.

He emerged the overall winner in a time of one hour, one minute and 32 seconds.

Sharpe’s impressive swim made him victorious over three Olympic swimmers, one of whom was Barbados’ very own Bradley Ally.

Conditions for the race were extremely rough and choppy, with waves breaking well over 100 metres offshore. Nevertheless, Sharpe fared well in the turbulent waters and kept the lead position from start to finish, swimming out into the open water and avoiding the more turbulent coastline.

Towards the latter part of the race he was confronted by strong currents which proved to be very challenging. On entering Carlisle Bay, visibility became an issue, as the wide expanse of the bay, together with the customary very busy nature of the marina, made navigating of the race buoys very difficult, forcing him to pause several times to take stock of his bearings.

However, the Marlins swimmer, who is the son of local adventure racer Robert Sharpe, made his way to victory and to the completion of his first ever 5K open water swim race.

Sharpe’s next outing will be to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the open water 5K swim as well as in some pool events in Cuba later this month at the Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships (CISC).

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The hosts’ medal haul now include five gold, three silver and six bronze.

Jamaicans at sixth place

The Jamaicans have also moved into sixth place in the standings on 265 points behind leaders and defending champions Trinidad and Tobago (559), Guadeloupe (366), The Bahamas (315) and Martinique (278). Barbados (171) are seventh.

Campbell won the boys’ 11-12 50m breaststroke in 34.54 ahead of Dionisio Carey of The Bahamas (34.90) and Che Sheldon Charlemag of Guadeloupe (35.99).

Meanwhile, McMaster captured the bronze medal in 39.98. Oreoluwa Cherebin of Grenada (38.39) won ahead of and Candis Pigue of Suriname (38.70).

Tyla Martin of the T&T won the girls’ 11-12 200m individual medley (Im) in 2:32.06 ahead of the Coral Tomascik of Cayman Islands (2:39.40) and Sue-Gin Arends of Aruba (2:39.23).

Jabari Baptiste of T&T captured boys’ 11-12 200m Im in 2:24.55, while Christian Selby of Barbados (2:31.09) ended second and Zach Moses of The Bahamas (2:33.68) ended third.

Barbados’ Zabrina Holder won the girls’ 13-14 Im in 2:29.49, ahead of Daniella van den Berg of Aruba (2:33.77) and Deandre Small of Barbados (2:35.36). Jamaica’s Danielle Boothe finished sixth (2:38.33).

Jordy Groters of Aruba won gold in the 13-14 200m in 2:17.51 ahead of Keegan Boisson-Yates of T&T (2:20.01) and Joris Bouchaut of Guadeloupe (2:20.09). Antoine Young of Jamaica finished eighth.

Meanwhile, on Sunday’s second day of the championships, Timothy Wynter won Jamaica’s fourth gold medal. Competing in the boys 13-14 50m butterfly, Wynter won the event in 26.69 ahead of the Trinidad and Tobago’s (T&T) pair of Dylan Carter (26.91) and Joshua Ramony (27.07).

Wynter returned to capture the silver medal in the 100m backstroke in 1:03.01 behind Romany, 1:02.91.

Kendese Nangle copped the silver medal in the girls’ 50m butterfly in 29.99 behind Sonia Huseley of St Lucia 29.68.

Victoria Hoo of Jamaica won the bronze medal in girls’ 15-17 200m freestyle in 2:10.22 behind Samantha Racheal of (T&T) 2:08.05.

Christian Selby of Barbados won the boys’ 11-12 200m freestyle in 2:14.25, ahead of T&T’s Jabari Baptiste (2:17.00). Jamaica’s Robert Marshall finished seventh in (2:22.03).

Romany won his second gold medal the night when he captured the boys’ 13-14 200m freestyle in a new championship record of 1:56.80, erasing the previous mark of 1:57.62, which was held by Shaune Fraser. Jamaica’s Antoine Young (2:11.28) ended eighth.

Tyla Martin won the girl’s 11-12 50 butterfly in 30.09, finishing ahead of Morghane Mazurier of Guadeloupe (31.40) and Sue-Gin Arends (32.10). Ivana Chang of Jamaica finished fifth in (32.46).

Dionisio Carey of The Bahamas won the boys’ 11-12 50m butterfly in 29.31 ahead of Raichel Freitas Roque of the Netherlands Antilles (28.61) and Baptiste of T&T (30.61). Jamaica’s Kevaughn Campbell (31.55) ended fourth.

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Timothy Wynter collects his gold medal for the 13-14 Boys’ 50m butterfly at the Carifta Swimming Championships at the National Stadium Pool yesterday. (Photo: Marlon Reid)
[Hide Description] Timothy Wynter collects his gold medal for the 13-14 Boys’ 50m butterfly at the Carifta Swimming Championships at the National Stadium Pool yesterday. (Photo: Marlon Reid)
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He then surged in the final 20 metres to finish second in the 13-14 Boys’ 100m backstroke in 1:03.21 behind Joshua Romany of Trinidad in 1:02.91.

Kendese Nangle earned silver in the 15-17 Girls’ event in 29.99 behind Siona Huxley of St Lucia in 29.68.

Victoria Ho, swimming from lane four, posted 2:10.22 for the bronze medal finish in the Girls’ 15-17 200m freestyle won by Samantha Rahal of Trinidad and Tobago (2:08.55).

There were fifth and seventh place finishes for Danielle Boothe and Stefani Webley in the Girls’ 13-14 50m butterfly, respectively.

Boothe clocked 31.27, while Webley finished in 31.67.

The black, green and gold-clad team had a one-two finish in the 16-18 Girls’ synchronised swimming solo as Michelle Ann Gabbadon captured gold with Tasha Smith-Edwards getting silver.

Meanwhile, Robert Marshall clocked 2:22.97 for a seventh place finish in the Boys’ 11-12 200m freestyle, while Antoine Young was eighth in the 13-14 equivalent in a time of 2:22.39.

Ivana Chang finished fifth in the 11-12 50m butterfly in a time of 32.38, while 30.09 was Kevaughan Campbell’s time for fourth in the boys equivalent.

Meanwhile, Trinidad’s Tyla Martin set a new record in the 11-12 200m freestyle posting 2:14.22 to lower the 2:14.59 set by Zabrina Holder of Barbados last year.

Her countryman Joshua Romany also set a record in the 13-14 Boys’ section in 1:56.80, bettering the previous mark of 1:57.62 set by Shaune Fraser in 2003.

Jamaica claimed six medals on Saturday evening.

In addition to the gold won by Dominic Walter, Kevaughan Campbell, and Timothy Wynter, Kendese Nangle won bronze in the 15-17 Girls’ equivalent in a time of 31.13 and posted 1:07.91 for another bronze in the 100m butterfly.

The Jamaicans earned a third bronze after finishing third in the Boys’ 11-12 400m freestyle relay in 4:28.83 behind the Bahamas (4:16.04) and Trinidad (4:16.50).

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Hosted by the Southern Flying Fish, sponsored by Paradise Water and sanctioned by the St Lucia Amateur Swimming Association (SLASA), the meet was part of the overall outreach swimming program which brings swimming to the other districts of St Lucia.

All four formal events planned, 3 Km, 1 Km, 100M and a "Fun 50", were successfully completed with calm seas and sunny weather facilitating the swimmers and organizers. All races took place in the Laborie Bay and the organizers were heartened with the tremendous local support and participation of the Laborie residents

While the registration was proceeding, the participants recreated on the beach, and there was a great atmosphere as the course was set up and preparations made to start the meet.

Southern Flying Fish Club members ensured that there were plenty of officials on the beach and in the rescue boat and kayaks. Dr. Ali was doctor-on-call. The officers of the Marine Police and St. Jude’s Ambulance Service personnel were present on site to ensure the safety of the competitors.

Kayak rescue team
RHAC Sharks coach Jamie Peterkin crossed the line first in the 3 Km race with a time of 51min 52 second followed by Nic Welch (63 min 4 sec), Mark Emmanus (77 min 8 sec) and Joshua Healy (77 min 10 sec)

The 1 Kilometer race had the following winners in different categories

12 and under girls: Laura Bruce (21 min 58 sec)

12 and under boys: Nathan Malazair (24 min 50 sec)

13 and over girls :Annabel Maggs (21 min 28 sec)

13 and over boys: Jamie Peterkin ( 16 min 29 sec)

The 100Meter event was won by

10 and under girls: Gabrielle Marshal (2 min 21 sec)

10 and under boys: Johnathon Bruce (2 min 22 sec)

11-14 girls: Tonnisha Emmanus ( 1 min 44 sec0

11-14 boys: Runako Daniel (1 min 43 sec)

15 and over girls: Shernice Popo ( 2 min 6 sec)

15 and over boys: Jon-L Innocent Dolor ( 1 min 36 sec)

The 50 Meter event was won by

10 and under girls: Gabrielle Marshal (1 min 27 sec)

10 and under boys: Johnathon Bruce (1 min 37 sec)

11-14 girls: Jainee John ( 1min 4 sec )

11-14 boys: Jarad Mondesir (2min 47 sec)

15 and over girls: Ayo Didier-Holstein (1 min 15 sec)

The southern crowd and organizers were appreciative of the northern swimmers for having made the trek to Laborie and the results again reflected the tremendous progress made by the southern swimmers with their swim program.

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GEORGE BOVELL III and Sharntelle McLean were adjudged as the Male and Female Swimmers of the Year 2008 by the Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ASATT).

These announcements were made at ASATT’s annual award ceremony at the School of Continuing Studies Auditorium, University of the West Indies (UWI) St Augustine campus recently. Bovell’s main achievement occurred at the Beijing Olympics, where he finished 11th overall in the semi-finals of the men’s 50-metre freestyle, clocking 21.86 seconds. In the 100m freestyle, the 25-year-old Bovell placed 20th overall in 48.83 seconds.

Also at Beijing, McLean finished 39th overall in the women’s 50m freestyle with a time of 26.19 seconds.

Edmund Pouchet was named as the Swim Coach of the Year while Stingray Swim Club took the Club of the Year.

And, in Water Polo, Russell Ferreira took the award as the top Male Player while Kelcie Ferreira claimed the prize as the top Female Player.

OTHER AWARDS
Best Swim of the Year –
Girls’ 8-and-under: Amira Pilgrim (50m freestyle) Long Course ASATT Invitational.
Boys’ 8-and-under: Amare Rawlins (50m backstroke) Long Course ASATT Invitational.
Girls’ 9-10: Syriah David (200m freestyle) Long Course ASATT Invitational.
Boys’ 9-10: Jabari Baptiste (200m freestyle) Short Course Goodwill.
Girls’ 11-12: Kristin Julien (50m backstroke) Long Course CISC.
Boys’ 11-12: Joshua Romany (400m freestyle) Long Course ASATT Invitational.
Girls’ 13-14: Kimberlee John-WIlliams (100m freestyle) ASATT Invitational.
Boys’ 13-14: Jonathan Cabral (100m freestyle) Long Course ASATT Invitational.
Girls’ 15-17: Cherelle Thompson (50m freestyle) CISC.
Boys’ 15-17: Joshua McLeod (50m butterfly) ASATT Invitational.
Female 18-and-over: Sharntelle McLean (50m freestyle) Beijing Olympics.
Male 18-and-over: George Bovell III (50m freestyle) Beijing Olympics.

Age Group Winners
Boys’ 15-and-under: Water Polo Player of the Year – Russell Ferreira.
Girls’ 15-and-under: Water Polo Player of the Year – Kelcie Ferreira.
Male 18-and-over: Water Polo Players of the Year – Ryan Percy and Christopher George.
Girls’ 8-and-under: Swimmer of the Year – Amira Pilgrim.
Boys’ 8-and-under: Swimmer of the Year – Christian Marsden.
Girls’ 9-10 Swimmer of the Year – Syriah David.
Boys’ 9-10 Swimmer of the Year – Jabari Baptiste.
Girls’ 11-12 Swimmer of the Year – Kristin Julien.
Boys’ 11-12 Swimmer of the Year – Keegan Boisson.
Girls’ 13-14 Swimmer of the Year – Kimberlee John-Williams.
Boys’ 13-14 Swimmer of the Year – Jonathan Cabral.
Girls’ 15-17 Swimmer of the Year – Cherelle Thompson.
Boys’ 15-17 Swimmer of the Year – Carryl Blondell.
Female 18-and-over Swimmer of the Year – Sharntelle McLean.
Male 18-and-over Swimmer of the Year – George Bovell III.

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After three days of competition Grenada emerged the winners with a total of 2077.5 points, St. Lucia came in second with 1769.5 points and Antigua placed third with 379 points. Age group winners were :

8 & Under Boys Jyasi Daniel St Lucia
9 – 10 Boys Corie Olivierre Grenada
11 – 12 Boys Runako Daniel St Lucia
13 – 14 Boys Nicholas Coard Grenada
15 – 17 Boys Esau Simpson Grenada
18 & Over Martin Renwick Grenada

8 & Under Girls Gabrielle Paparo Grenada
9 – 10 girls Thalia Bergasse St Lucia
11 – 12 girls Chinwe Oluonwe Grenada
13 – 14 girls Siona Huxley St Lucia
15 – 17 girls Sophia Noel Grenada

18 & Over Girls Alexandra Williams Grenada

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