Jamaica’s Nicholas Vale signaled his intentions to qualify for this year’s CARIFTA Championships in Barbados with personal bests at the 2019 Long Course Sectional Qualifier in Plantation,Florida held from Feb 8 to 9.
Vale, representing the Pine Crest swim club topped the 200 metre freestyle field with a new personal best time of 1:57.03. Nicholas was the best of the 63 strong field. He will be aiming to be on the medal podium in Barbados as he is atop the Jamaican rankings for 15-17 boys in the event . In the last two editions of the Championships Nicholas placed 5th with times of 1:57.46 and 1:58.32. Setting a personal best ahead of the Championships puts him in good stead to make that a medal a reality.
Nico Campbell at CARIFTA
Photo courtesy of Michael C Lyn
The last time Jamaica was on the boys 15-17 200 freestyle medal podium was 2015 in Barbados when Nico Campbell recorded 1:54.62 for the Silver medal. That Championship was in Barbados and Campbell’s time is also the fastest time ever done by a Jamaican in the event at CARIFTA.
Comparison of personal best times
200
freestyle
2018
2019
First 50
27.02
28.23
Second 50
30.26
30.17
Third 50
30.55
29.03
Fourth 50
29.63
29.60
Final time
1:57.46
1:57.03
Vale also lowered his personal best from the 2018 CARIFTA Kingston Championships in the 200 metre backstroke from 2:17.46 (split time 1:05.83) to 2:16.07 (split time 1:06.32) to place fourth. Looking at how Nicholas is pacing his races it can be seen that he is developing his back end speed. That was evidenced by his 400 metre freestyle when he negative split the race 2:10.10 and 2:07.88 to have a total time of 4:17.98 to place third overall.
In his other races he placed fifth in the 50 metre butterfly in 25.95 and the 100 metre freestyle saw him fifth again in 54.10 (split time 26.24) , just missing out on his personal best of 53.87
When draftingthecaribbean spoke to Vale on February 16 he gave his thoughts on his performances
“I am really happy with my performances at the Sectional qualifier especially the 200 metre freestyle and 200 metre backstroke.They were both best times .I was really happy with the 200 metre freestyle because I had not dropped that time in a while. I know I can go faster in the 200 metre backstroke.I feel really good going into CARIFTA. I have some really big goals I hope to break the the CARIFTA record (54.87 set by Suriname’s Zuhayr Pigot in 2014)”.
Zuhayr Pigot
Photo courtesy of Times of Suriname
In 2018 Vale had won the Silver medal in the 100 metre butterfly in a time of 56.29. The fastest ever time recorded by a Jamaican at CARIFTA
Nicholas Vale Silver medallist
Photo courtesy of Mike C Lyn
The pool swimming segment of the CARIFTA Championships will be held from April 19 to 23.Championships is an approved qualifying meet for the 18th FINA World Championships 2019 – Gwangju, Korea, the Pan American Games 2019 – Lima, Peru and the XXXII Olympiad 2020 – Tokyo, Japan
Alex Sobers of Barbados continues to add to his swimming legacy with another five star performance for the Emmanuel College Lions at the 2019 Conference Carolinas Men’s Swimming Championship at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center in Charlotte,North Carolina. Sobers laid waste to all his personal bests and conference records in every single event that he contested.
The opening battle in the 200 yard medley relay saw the Lions disqualified. With a moniker such as Lions the team from Franklin Springs would not be deterred or bowed and swam a time trial in the event . And what time trial it was as the Lions shattered the school record , the Carolinas record and recorded the eighth fastest time in the NCAA Division II so far.
Lions record setting 200 medley relay team Rosa, Santos,Coach Gilchrest,Sobers and Mendes.Photo courtesy of goeclions.com
Leg
Name
Time
Backstroke
Thiago Rosa
22.60
Breaststroke
Joao Santos
24.46
Butterfly
Rafael Mendes
22.05
frreestyle
Alex Sobers
19.69
Total Time
1:28.80
The previous school and conference records previously stood at 1:30.43 in 2017 and 1:30.08 by the 2018 Limstone College team.
Sobers denied a Gold medal with the disqualification would certainly make up for it with his performances in his remaining events.
Sobers competing in the heats of the 500 yard freestyle .Photo courtesy of goeclions.com
Coming to the Conference Championships Alex was the holder of the 500 yard freestyle mark with a time of 4:27.56 set in 2017. The 2018 conference record belonged to Robert Zamarano of Barton who had stopped the clock in 4:42.09. Both marks were swept away with disdain in Sobers’ preliminary swim as he touched in 4:22.74. Now already the best his school and the conference had ever seen in the event the final served to be a coronation ceremony as he lowered that time to win by over 20 seconds and record a time of 4:19.41 , the fastest time currently in Division II . The Division II record of 4:17.09 held by Dutch Olympian Dion Dreesens while competing for Queens University of Charlotte can officially be put on notice.
Sobers celebrating with Gold medal in the 500 yard freestyle
Comparison of Personal best splits
2019
2017
48.92
50.67
52.36
55.17
52.32
55.18
53.13
54.00
52.68
52.54
4:19.41
4:27.56
Sobers is now the fastest ever English speaking Caribbean and CARIFTA region swimmer in the event bettering the 4:25.03 set by countryman and Olympian Damian Alleyne in Nov 1999. Alleyne set that time as 16 year old swimming for the world renowned Bolles school in Jacksonville Florida . He still holds the Bolles record for the 15-16 age group .He set that time at the 1999 4A state when it was a then record performance.The girls record is held by Jamaican Olympian Janelle Atkinson . The record board also includes names such as US Olympic gold medallist Caleb Dressel.
Top times from the Region
Country
Name
Time
Aruba
Mikel Schreuders
4:25.31
Aruba
Daniel Jacobs
4:25.82
The Bahamas
Jeremy Knowles
4:26.00
Cayman Islands
Shaune Fraser
4:27.56
The Lions would roar to an emphatic win of more than five seconds in the 400 yard medley relay. Falling by the wayside was the school record of 3:18.77 and the Carolinas conference record of 3:17.84
Lions Gold medal relay medallists 3:17.21
Leg
Name
Split
backstroke
Thiago Rosa
49.05
Breaststroke
Joao Santos
54.49
Butterfly
Rafael Mendes
50.37
freestyle
Alex Sobers
43.30
Total time
3:17.21
Sobers had the fastest time of the relay that bettered his 43.68 when he was the anchor on the team that set the school record in 2017. It also puts the Lions as the 16th fastest team in Division II.
In the 200 yard freestyle relay the same quartet put up a gold medal winning time of 1:21.53 . That places them 16th in Divison II and broke the Conference record.
The 200 yard freestyle saw the 2018 Carolinas record of 1:40.43 set by Saint Leo ‘s Fridtojov Mork taken down in the heats when Sobers touched in a time of 1:37.94. He crowned himself King and the best the conference has ever since when he set a new PB, School record and conference record of 1:35.32 (split time 46.41). That ranks him as the second fastest in Division II.He crushed the field by more than five seconds.
In the 100 yard freestyle he again took down the Conference record in the heats with a swim of 44.25. The old record belonged to Mork of Saint Leo with a time of 45.06.The final saw the Lions going 1-2 as Sobers recorded his first sub 44 seconds clocking of 43.65 (split time 20.86).Silver went to teammate Rose in 44.01. Sobers bettered his PBof 44.20 and Rosa’s school record of 44.00.The swim places Sobers ninth overall in the Division.
Sobers and his teammates capped the meet with yet another school and conference record in the 400 yard freestyle relay and a winning margin of almost ten seconds.They stopped the clock in a time of 2:57.90
Leg
Name
Split
First
Joao Santos
44.49
Second
Thiago Rosa
43.59
Third
Rafael Mendes
46.13
Fourth
Alex Sobers
43.69
Total time
2:57.90
The old school and conference records stood at 2:58.24 and 3:00.34.
For his tremendous efforts Sobers was named Carolinas Co -swimmer of the Year along with his teammate Joao Santos. The Lions finished second to Barton College amassing 732 points.
Nicky Neckles with Silver in the 100 metre backstroke at the 2010 Games
Photo courtesy of swimbarbados.com
Sobers continues to raise the bar for his country with record breaking exploits. In December draftingthecaribbean spoke with Damian Alleyne, a leader in the freestyle events in his time from the late 90’s to early 2000’s, after Sobers lowered his national record in the 200 metre freestyle at the World Short Course Swimming Championships in in China from 1:48.98 to 1:47.55. Alleyne belonged to a Golden era of male swimming in Barbados that included such names asNicky Neckles, Bradley Ally, Cliff Gittens, Martyn Forde, Shawn Clarke,Andrei Cross among others. We spoke to Alleyne about his record breaking swim in 2001 and what what Alex’s swim in China meant in the context of swimming in Barbados moving forward
Damian Alleyne Barbados Olympian (2000,2004)
Photo courtesy of Khalil Goodman for Better Health Magazine June 2011
” To be honest, I don’t remember the exact details of my swim, I believe I was home for SC Nationals at Christmas and managed to squeeze that time out. As far as what Alex has accomplished, I believe it shows a positive progression for the sport of swimming in Barbados and the Caribbean. I am very proud of Alex and what he has been able to accomplish in his swimming career and I can’t wait to see what more he can achieve! I always had the mindset that I wanted to set the bar for swimming in Barbados. I wanted to make sure that bar was so high that the next swimmer to come along and challenge it would be a legitimate, world class, athlete and Alex has displayed this. I wish him all the best in any future endeavors and can’t wait to see how much further he takes the sport for the next generation to aspire to”.
Former Jamaican Technical Director and head Coach of Varsity Swimming Jacky Beckford-Henriques and University of Waterloo Warriors brought the heat to this year’s edition of the OUA ( Ontario University Athletics) Swimming championships held from Feb 7 to 9 at Brock University. Beckford -Henriques brought the Caribbean sunshine through the ice storm to earn her first major coaching accolade when she was awarded the OUA Men’s Team coach of the Year.
Coach Jacky with her Waterloo Warriors
The Warrior men placed second overall with 575.5 points to the University of Toronto who won with 982.5 points moving up from fifth last year . The women placed fourth overall with 403.5 points. That was another upward move from sixth last year.
Lukas Wormald .Photo courtesy of athletics.uwaterloo.ca
Warrior Lukas Wormald got the Dr Jeno Tihanyi award for winning both the 200 and 400 metre individual medley events in times of 2:02.62 and 4:23.57 respectively . He was also awarded Rookie of the Year.Warrior Katie Ivancic got the female OUA Community Service Award
The team amassed 12 medals overall Three Gold, Three Silver and Nine Bronze medals. In addition to their medal haul the Warriors set Ten new school records
Event
Name
Time
50 Freestyle
Alex Lojko
23.19
400 metre
freestyle relay
Alex Lojko
51.78
400 metre
freestyle relay
Peter Li
50.78
400 metre
freestyle relay
Hohyun Ryu
51.69
400 metre
freestyle relay
Danyon Chu
51.51
3:25.76
100 metre
freestyle
Jocelyn van leeuwen
56.77
200 metre
freestyle
Jocelyn van leeuwen
2:02.76
100 metre
backstroke
Eloise Ladyman
1:01.59
50 metre
breaststroke
Christina Ji
32.41
100 metre
breaststroke
Christina Ji
1:10.54
50 metre
butterfly
Jose Andres
27.43
200 metre
medley relay
Eloise Ladyman
28.79
200 metre
medley relay
Christina Ji
32.10
200 metre
medley relay
Josie Andres
27.05
200 metre
medley relay
Jacquelyne Mariano
26.18
1:54.12
400 metre
medley relay
Eloise Ladyman
1:01.59
400 metre
medley relay
Christina Ji
1:10.38
400 metre
medley relay
Josie Andres
1:01.15
400 metre
medley relay
Jocelyn van leeuwen
57.54
4:10.66
The Warriors also bettered the U Sport Championship standards 22 times over the length of the three day meet.
Draftingthecaribbean contacted Coach Jacky and asked her what concerns she had coming to the meet and who were some of the standout athletes
” I was missing our top butterflier Aidan Chow who is on Co-Op, the plus I flew in Jake Gu my top Breaststroke Swimmer,who is on Co-Op in China (Chinese New Year J, so he got time off from work) he scored 34 points plus and was key on Medley Relays, we came 2nd by 15 points so that was a good call. Lukas Wormald winning 200 and 400 IM, will go to Canadian Trials trying to make FISU ( World University Games) team. Christina Ji winning 50 metre breaststroke and 3rd in 100 Breast was a key swimmer on two medley relays.
Josie and Coach Jacky Photo courtesy of Josie Andres
Josie Andres in final year – second in 50 metre breaststroke an event she had never swum at OUA. She was extremely important, swimming butterfly in therelays. The women’s 400 metre medley team which is now ranked third in Canadian Universities going into USports Championships.
Cameron McCuaig set two national Para records at the OUA’s .Photo courtesy of athletics.uwaterloo.ca
Cameron McCuaig breaking two Canadian Para Records in 50 metre and 100 metre backstroke in the S9 category with times of 30.86 and 1:06.86 ( that makes it three national records he has broken since training with Coach Jacky).
We also asked Coach Jacky what initiatives she brought in since her arrival at Waterloo, which coach has been an inspiration for her and persons who have had total belief in her abilities
“Increasing size of Support staff .So a first was strength and conditioning coach,an integral part of program, a physiotherapist at meets plus two trainers under Physio, two student assistant coaches with a team of 40 so attention for all. Andrew Cole who hired me at McMaster after one conversation decided to find a way to get me on his coaching Staff. He is a fantastic role model and has remained a mentor to me, even in the middle of this last meet. Two persons have always had faith in my abilities and are strong motivating individuals in my Coaching life – my son Dominic Walter and former swimmer Tony Morrison.
She also spoke of her Caribbean charge at Waterloo St Lucia’s Jyasi Daniel who swam at the meet
Jyasi Daniel .Photo courtesy of athletics.uwaterloo.ca
” I enjoy having a Caribbean swimmer we can relate and he is trying to make CCCAN so will continue that plan after this. He had personal bests in his 100 metre butterfly and his 50 metre butterfly with times of 59.74 and 26.74 respectively
One of the region’s most distinguished swimmers in junior waters Kael Yorke was honoured by the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee. Yorke was bestowed the award of being the Junior sportsman of the Year for 2018. The awards ceremony which is in its 24 year took place on Saturday December 29 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain saw Yorke’s sister Keaona accepting the award on his behalf.
Keona Yorke receiving the 2018 Junior Sportsman of the Year Award on behalf of her brother
He joins other past Junior Sportsperson from swimming to include Christian Homer and Cherelle Thompson
Junior Sportsman Awardees
2015 Junior sportsperson awardees Jeron Thompson and Khalifa St Fort.Photo courtesy of realworld fiction
2010
Christian Homer
2013
Dylan Carter
2015
Jeron Thompson
right Kimberlee John Williams at the 2009 awards with other winner .Photo courtesy of TTOC
Junior Sportswoman awardees
2009
Kimberlee John-Williams
2010
Cherelle Thompson
Left Christian Homer and second from right Cherelle Thompson with other awardees for 2010. Photo courtesy of the Guardian
Kael Yorke had a fantastic year for his nation and has been extraordinarily consistent with top performances in his best stroke, the butterfly.
Kael Yorke
The year started with his first national meet at the UANA Cup in Coral Springs in Florida from January 18 to 21 where he was the number one swimmer for the English speaking Caribbean when he won Silver and Bronze in the 50 and 100 metre butterfly with times of 25.52 and 56.53.
Kael Yorke diving off the blocks in the heats of the 50 metre butterfly
Photo courtesy of Harold Wilson
Next on his list of international duties was the CARIFTA swimming Championships in Kingston Jamaica from April 1 to 4 where he kept up his remarkable butterfly record at the Championships.
Year
50
100
200
Age group
2017
Gold
Gold
Gold
15-17
2016
N/A
9th
Bronze
15-17
2015
Gold
Gold
Gold
13-14
2014
Silver
Bronze
Gold
13-14
2013
Gold
Silver
Bronze
11-12
2012
5th
10th
4th
11-12
CARIFTA 2018 15-17 100 metre butterfly medal podium.Photo courtesy of Michael C Lyn
Meet
50 butterfly
100 butterfly
200 butterfly
CARIFTA
25.45 Silver
55.57 Gold
2:05.88 Gold
At his nation’s national Championships he had a long awaited break through in the 100 metre butterfly when he recorded his first sub 55 seconds clocking to take the national title in a time of 54.84 . That swim earned him his first senior team cap as it qualified him for the Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla Colombia.
He would continue to rack up the international flying miles as he would continue to prove himself at the junior ranks at the CCCAN Championships from June 29 to July 4 in Aruba . There he again proved his mastery of the butterfly with podium spots in all three events
CCCAN 15-17 50 metre butterfly podium.Photo courtesy of C.C.C.A.N
Event
Time
Medal
50 metre
butterfly
25.17
Gold
100 metre
butterfly
55.28
Gold
200 metre
butterfly
2:08.27
Bronze
He would continue to improve in Colombia lowering his personal best in the 100 metre butterfly to 54.57 in the heats. That gave him another first in his CV , a major regional Championship final berth. In that final as the youngest swimmer he placed seventh in a time of 54.27 (split time 25.02).He would take well to the senior ranks as he would make the B final in the 200 metre butterfly and place sixth in yet another personal best of 2:05.20.
Kael at the University of Indianapolis
After those duties he was off to embark on a new journey in the collegiate ranks as he started school at the University of Indianapolis in the NCAA Division II.Despite the change in programmes and the long flight to the Argentina Yorke continued to give for his best for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago at the Youth Olympics from October 7 to 12. He was given the added honour of being the flag bearer. In the 50 metre butterfly he was the number one swimmer in the CCCAN region and 26th overall with a time of 25.20. The 100 metre butterfly saw him finishing second in the CCCAN region with a time 55.72 to finish 28th overall.
He would end his junior international career with the 15-17 record in the 200 metre butterfly with a time of 2:05.03 (split time 58.71). That ranked him 21st overall.
Kael is making impact already in the collegiate ranks as in November at the 15th House of Champions Invitational he won the 100 yard butterfly in a time of 48.53. That ranks him as number three in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and number four all time in the school history.
When draftingthecaribbean contacted Kael he gave his thoughts on winning the Junior Sportsman of the Year award
Junior Sportsman of the Year award
” It is an honour to receive this prestigious award of being the top Junior male Athlete of Trinidad and Tobago.It is something I have been working to for awhile now. It is something I really wanted to achieve to add to the accolades I have received during my junior years of competition and is the icing on top of the cake.My season this year has been really amazing probably one of my best years yet. My greatest achievement to me this year was my seventh place finish in the CAC Games final for the 100 metre butterfly.Competing against Olympians and national champions is something that was really a great experience for me as I was a junior and the youngest in the final. The Youth Olympic Games was another highlight for me although it was not my best Games it was still an opportunity to compete against some of the juniors I will be seeing at future World Championships and probably even the Olympics”.
Regional standout Izaak Bastian of The Bahamas was recently named the Nassau Guardian Junior Male Athlete of the Year for 2018.
Izaak Bastian Championship record holder in the 50 metre freestyle and CARIFTA’s fastest ever swimmer
Photo courtesy of Mike C Lyn
Bastian who still has one of year of CARIFTA eligibility has stood as one of the region’s top breaststroker at the junior level and has started to compete regularly at the tough World Junior and senior level.
He started the year well proving invincible at the inaugural UANA Cup in Florida and the CARIFTA Championships ensuring his name was etched in the record books
Meet
50 breast
Place
100 breast
split
Place
UANA
29.23 CR
Gold
1:04.37 CR
30.29
Gold
CARIFTA
28.69 CR
Gold
1:03.12CR
30.12
Gold
Meet
200 breast
split
Place
CARIFTA
2:17.78 CR ,NR
1:05.33
Gold
Bastian celebrates Championship record breaking swim in Kingston Jamaica .Photo courtesy of Mike C Lyn
In addition to a five star performance in the breaststroke events which included a senior national record in the 200 metre event he also added a top class performance in the 50 metre freestyle. He won Gold and set the Championship record in the land of the sprinters with a time of 23.25 . That took down the record of the region’s number one sprinter for 2018 Renzo Tjon A Joe of Suriname
Renzo Tjon A Joe reacts to winning Gold in the 15-17 metre freestyle in 2013 in Kingston Jamaica. Photo courtesy of Mike C Lyn
With a very short turnaround time Bastian was off to Australia to test his mettle against the best of the Commonwealth . In the 50 metre breaststroke he raced against the best in the world in the form of global standard bearer Adam Peaty of England. He maintained the Bahamian record of making the semi finals and recorded a time of 29.28
Dustin Tynes
Photo courtesy of Ohio State Swimming
Year
Semi final time
Swimmer
2014
29.53
Dustin Tynes
2002
30.90
Travano McPhee
There would be more senior meet action in store for Izaak as he would head to the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Colombia in the summer. His best result would be in the 100 metre breaststroke where he would make the Championship final and set a personal best of 1:02.91 to place seventh.
Izaak Bastian
Photo courtesy of swimswam
Bastian would then start college at Florida State University and be back in competition for his nation at the Youth Olympics in Argentina in October. His best performance would in the 50 metre breaststroke. He would first record the fastest time ever from the English speaking Caribbean with a time with a 29.01. That would enable him to make the semifinal of the event, a first for a swimmer from the English speaking Caribbean . He would record a time of 29.35. He would also record the fastest time ever from the English speaking Caribbean in the 200 metre breaststroke with a clocking of 2:22.37.
At Florida State University he has made an impact on the programme. In the 100 yard breaststroke he is currently ranked 9th overall in the Atlantic Coastal Conference (ACC) with a personal best and NCAA B time of 54.19. He is also just outside the Seminoles all time top ten performers in the event with the tenth fastest swimmer Ryan Telford having a time of 54.02.
The 200 yard breaststroke sees him holding number 5 on the ACC conference top times listing with a 1:57.29 . The all time top performers list also sees him at fifth place with fellow CCCAN representative Julio Horrego of Honduras at number 6 with a time of 1:57.96.
Julio Horrego .Photo courtesy of seminoles.com
When draftingthecaribbean contacted Izaak we got his thoughts on 2018
Jesse Marsh Jamaica second from right
Izaak Bastian Bahamas third from right along with their St Andrew’s teammates of the 200 medley relay
“This year was actually pretty good for me it was actually one of my better years. It comes with different training as well. I was at Saint Andrews for four years which did very well for me and switching it up for me (being at college ) is going to help me. It started off with UANA and before the competition I had taken 3 to 4 weeks off so I could mentally reset to get this year in order and my training blocks in order and I actually swam better than I expected to there. With those swims it gave me the confidence going into the year. Even though I took time off I am capable of a lot more so that was always in the back of mind giving me a confidence boost there. For CARIFTA I wanted to put it all in the pool and see what I could do. I try to bring my best every year but 2018 I really wanted to bring it. So I talked to Sid Cassidy ( Head Coach at Saint Andrews) about it so that we were on the same page. I wanted to fully taper down , shave and be the best I could be for a meet at that time. I went to Jamaica and I honestly think I surpassed my expectations .I won every event I swum except for the 100 metre freestyle.
Jeron Thompson and Kael Yorke .Photo courtesy of Trinidad Express
I had a really good time racing all the guys like Kael Yorke and Jeron Thompson from Trinidad and Tobago, Luis Sebastian Weekes from Barbados, Tyler Russell from The Bahamas. After that I went straight to the Commonwealth Games , my first senior international meet. It was a great experience but not the best meet coming straight from CARIFTA , getting sick right after CARIFTA and flying two days. It was rough but I still wanted to go knowing I would miss some of my better events 200 metre breaststroke and 100 metre breaststroke.I still wanted to go to have my first senior international exposure to prepare for the rest of 2018 and 2019. It was my first time in a village and I had a lot of fun and getting to meet some of the older guys from the other sports like Shaunae Miller-Uibo and stars like that. I really wanted to test myself. Last summer I went to FSU and started to train long course there. We went to CAC Games with somewhat of a taper.It was not what I was used to for a taper . I went there with the same mentality as CARIFTA ,just bring it and see what I could do.Even though I had changed programmes still have the confidence to know the training made sense and was going to work out for me. I went best times and had a good time there.It was a great time in Colombia especially with the new training and learning to trust their process now instead of what I was normally used to because I will be working with them for the next four years.At the Youth Olympics I did my best and like the Commonwealth Games I made the semis in the 50 metre breaststroke. At FSU we had our mid season meet (the Georgia Tech Invite Nov 15 to 17) and it was good to see the team dynamics works at a championship meet. It was definitely more taxing than the normal one day duel meet. I am in training for our championship meet ACC’s which are the end of February and the beginning of March and NCAA hopefully in Austin Texas the end of March. At our training in Deerfield we ramped up the training and really got to see what we were made of”.
On November 10 Nigel Forbes of the Bahamas representing the YMCA Waverunners created history for himself and his country when he recorded the fastest 100 metre butterfly time for an 11-12 boy from the English speaking Caribbean.
The calendar year 2018 had proven extremely successful for young Nigel with starting with the top CARIFTA region 11-12 100 metre butterfly performance at the inaugural UANA Cup in Florida where he won a Silver medal. After which he won the CARIFTA , REV National Championships and CCCAN crowns
Meet
Time
Split
Medal
UANA
1:03.34
29.08
Silver
CARIFTA
1:04.09
30.47
Gold
Nationals
1:03.27 CR
28.99
Gold
CCCAN
1:01.95
30.05
Gold
Nigel though winning Gold had just missed the Championship records at CARIFTA and CCCAN
Boys 11-12 100 metre butterfly podium .Photo courtesy of C.C.C.A.N
Meet
Time
Record Holder
Year
CARIFTA
1:02.40
Yael Touw Ngie Tjouw
2014
CCCAN
1:01.83
Eumir Quintero
2005
It would almost seem that it would be the case of that oft repeated swimming adage ” last one fast one” . The occasion would be the 2018 Barracuda Family Guardian Invitational. In that race Nigel produced the fastest time ever by an 11-12 boy in the 100 metre butterfly. He uncorked a time of 1:00.20 breaking the unofficial CARIFTA English speaking record of 1:00.29 set by Franz Huggins way back in July of 1992.
Nigel Forbes looking at his time after a victory in 2018
When draftingthecaribbean informed Nigel Forbes about his feat ” He said he was “shocked and suprised”. When asked to describe the race he said “coach told me to go out hard and see what he had coming back.I went out hard and felt good on the first 50 metres but everything hurt on the last 50 metres. My coach told me it was a good swim and I should continue doing what I was doing in practice”
Nigel Forbes
When asked about his plans re time in the event now that he is in the 13-14 age group he said ” I am looking to do a 59 low or 58 and will be trying to achieve that time a meet in Florida shortly”
Franz Huggins with his Marlins Swim club at camp in Florida in 2012
Draftingthecaribbean contacted the former record holder in the event Franz Huggins , the former age group coach of Dylan Carter and Joshua Romany . The year was 1992 and Huggins was being conditioned by Richard Knaggs, a Central American and Caribbean Games medallist.
Huggins described the type of training he was doing at the time and who his main challengers would be
” Heavy aerobic with a lot of speed endurance. Three times a week was racing. It was not only being able to race but repeat it in training . Patrick DaSilva was a training partner who was older in the 13-14 age group who helped push me in training on the swimming. Joel Seda and Arsenio Lopez of Puerto Rico , Enrico McConney of Barbados,Masai Zebechaka and Tshaka Douglas of Jamaica would be the main competition.
He also described the race and how he felt at the time
Franz Huggins swimming butterfly in 1992
The record was held by Jose Santa Puerto Rico at 1:02.13 set in 1986 in Curacao 1:02.13. My goal was to go faster than 1:02 and my previous best was 1:04.60 the previous year .I felt confident going out fast on the opening 50 metres and then the base training would help me to finish well .That year (the now defunct) Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships CISC was held in Trinidad and Tobago hosted by Marlins Swim. I have never experienced such a adrenaline rush before,. In the race there was no pain, went out in 28.4 and finished well in a time of 1:00.29 That year I went faster than everyone in 13-14 at the meet.That performance also got me nominated for the Sportsman of the Year.
Nomination letter for Sports personality of the year 1992
Huggins also gave advice for age group swimmers
” Most kids are still developmental cycle and need to have a structured work and rest cycle . Training should be generalized and not specialized at a young age. Swimmers should swim as many events as possible.They should also learn about different energy systems and the concept of proper nutrition.He also emphasized resistance training is important for injury prevention and Motor skills but not for gaining muscle mass.
He also had a few words for Nigel as well as other age group standouts
The one thing I would tell any swimmer who has had a measure of success at this age is that that really has not yet begun.There are so many things to achieve and goals to set. As a young swimmer there is still the Junior world Championships, Commonwealth Youth Games, Youth Olympics and then you get into senior swimming, those who go to college in the United States have many championships, then you get into senior swimming there are the Central american and Caribbean Games,PAN american Games,World Championships and Commonwealth Games and the ultimate being the Olympics so just take it one step at a time .Every success is a benchmark but it is a long road ahead.Stay grounded and keep working hard”.
Jack Kirby being honoured as the 2018 Junior Sportman of the year
Photo courtesy of the Barbados Olympic Association
Jack Kirby of Barbados was recognized for his outstanding performances for the year 2018 by his nation’s Olympic Association on December 20 at BOA and Flow awards ceremony at the Barbados Hilton when he was named Junior Sportsman of the Year. This is the second consecutive year he is being bestowed with this honour after being given the accolade in 2017 as well. This is the third year that a swimmer is being recognized as the top junior sportsman as Olympian Alex Sobers won the award in 2016
2016 Junior Sportsman of the year Olympian Alex Sobers .Photo courtesy of the Barbados Olympic Association
Kirby who is one of the top regional junior swimmers in the sprint freestyle events and sprint individual medley but is known primarily in regional circles as being the top swimmer in the backstroke record shows
Meet
50 back
Place
100 back
Place
200 back
Place
UANA
26.63 CR
Gold
56.34 CR
Gold
N/A
CARIFTA
26.27 CR
Gold
56.59 59 CR
Gold
2:11.64, 205.22 NAGR
Gold
CAC
26.07 NR ,NAGR
6th
56.19 NAGR
5th
2:07.80
heats only
Junior
Nationals
N/A
56.75
6th
Start of the 15-17 50 metre backstroke final
from left to right Carey Silver medallist and Jack Kirby of Barbados Gold medallist
Photo courtesy of Mike C Lyn
In 2018 Kirby established himself as the fastest ever swimmer at UANA and CARIFTA swimming Championships in the sprint backstroke events. And in his senior international debut at the CAC Games he was the youngest swimmer in the 50 and the 100 metre backstroke Championship final. He is the best backstroker of all time in the 15-17 age group and the fastest backstroker of all time for Barbados with his 26.07 clocking in the 50 metre backstroke.
National records in 2018
National
record
Time
50 metre
backstroke
26.07
15-17
National record
Time
50 metre
backstroke
26.07
100 metre
backstroke
56.19
200 metre
backstroke
2:05.22
50 metre
freestyle
23.46
100 metre
backstroke
50.97
CARIFTA
records
Time
50 metre
backstroke
26.27
100 metre
backstroke
56.59
200 metre
backstroke
2:05.22
At the 2018 SPEEDO Winter Junior Championships in North Carolina held in a 25 yard pool Kirby recorded a big personal best in the 100 yard backstroke heats. This as he dipped below the 48 seconds barrier for the first time in his career to record a time of 47.88. It also puts as him only the third swimmer from Baylor to break 48 seconds .
Jacky Kirby in action in the backstroke Photo courtesy of Baylor Swimming
Kirby represents Baylor both at school and club level in the United States. In February of last year he also captured Gold in the 100 yard backstroke by over a second in a then personal best at the Tennessee State Championships.
Draftingthecaribbean spoke to Kirby and asked him for this thoughts on receiving this award and what was the high point for him in 2018
Jack Kirby UANA Gold medallist and Barbadian age group in the 100 metre backstroke
“I’m extremely very grateful to be chosen for the award because I know I was chosen amongst many Bajan athletes on the same level as me. The highlight for this year has to be (Central American and Caribbean) CAC Games in Barranquilla. I say CAC Games because my competitors were older than me and I was still able to compete with them in finals”.
University of Southern California (USC commit) Jack Kirby .Photo courtesy of swimswam
Not one to rest on his laurels the University of Southern California bound Kirby representing Baylor today Jan 10,2019 made the Championship final of the 50 metre backstroke at the 2019 TYR Pro Swim Series #1 – Knoxville
