2018 REV National Swimming Championships Seventh Heaven for Nigel Forbes Young star wins Seven Gold medals , Breaks Four National records and sets New Five Championship Records

Nigel Forbes Photo courtesy of Bahamas Aquatics

The future of swimming in The Bahamas continues to look bright as seen in the performances of the competitors at the 2018 REV National Swimming Championships which ran June 16-19. One of the top swimmers at the Championships was Nigel Forbes of the Tritons . He won Seven Gold medals in the 11-12 age group while setting new national marks in four events and lowering the Championship record in five races.

Dustin Tynes

In his first race he lowered the meet record in the 200 metre breaststroke with a swim of 2:39.42 . That bettered the old mark of 2:41.45 set by Olympian Dustin Tynes (Rio 2016).He is now within reach of the 2014  national record  of 2:38.61 set by local and regional star Izaak Bastian

Event	CARIFTA	Rev Nationals	CCCAN record	National Record
200 metre breaststroke	2:43.39 Gold	2:39.42 Gold	2:35.89	2:38.61

Evante Gibson Photo courtesy of the bahamasswimmingfederation

In the 100 metre butterfly he dismissed the competition by more than seven  seconds to land Gold in a new Personal best of 1:03.27. That broke the 2007 championship record of 1:03.79 set by Evante Gibson in 2007. It also brings him closer to the national record of 1:02.83 set by Samuel Gibson in 2014 . His newly minted PB would also move him from the second seed to the number one swimmer at the upcoming CCCAN Championships in Aruba . The CCCAN Championship record stands at 1:01.83.

Event	CARIFTA	Rev Nationals	CCCAN record	National Record
100 metre butterfly	1:04.09 Gold	1:03.27	1:01.83	1:02.83

 

His next event , the 400 metre IM he was equally as dismissive as he was more than 20 seconds ahead of the competition as he took Gold in a new Championship and national record time of 5:18.05.He owned the old national record of 5:20.46 which he set in April of this year and the meet record of 5:26.52 was set by Kevon Lockhart in 2015.

11-12 50 metre butterfly medallists from left to right Marvin Johnson Freeport Aquatics Silver medallist, Forbes Gold medallist and Msanaa Bosland of Barracudas Bronze medallist

The 50 metre butterfly saw him putting on an excellent display of sprinting in both the heats and the finals. The morning preliminaries saw him lowering his personal best and the  Championship record of 28.28 held by DaVante Carey and Ian Pinder when they tied for Gold in 2015. The final saw him getting past the  another 2007 Gibson national record of 27.77  with a blistering 27.67. That reaffirmed his favourite’s tag and number one seeding for CCCAN. It also brings him within touching distance of being the fastest 11-12  English speaking CARIFTA region swimmer in the event. That accolade belongs to Trinidad and Tobago’s  Olympian Dylan Carter (Rio 2016) with his 27.34 blast from 2009.The CCCAN record is 27.30.

Nigel Forbes of The Bahamas on his way to 50 metre butterfly Bronze at the UANA Cup Photo courtesy of Michael C Lyn

Event	UANA	CARIFTA	Rev Nationals	CCCAN record
50 metre butterfly	28.68 Bronze *	28.61 Silver	27.67 Gold	27.30

*Top CARIFTA region swimmer

The 200 metre butterfly was the only event he did not set a record in it.He took the title by over 10 seconds stopping the clock in 2:28.42.

Nigel Forbes of The Bahamashistoric First Gold Medallist for The Bahamas and the CARIFTA region at the UANA Cup in the  11-12 50 metre breaststroke

Regular service however resumed in the 50 metre breaststroke as he lowered his personal best from 33.74 to 33.34 in the heats. Clearly he had a lot more in the tank  as  he was in scorching form in the final .He broke the meet and national record of 32.94 regional standout Izaak Bastian with a 32.54 clocking besting the field by over four seconds. He again is the number one seed for CCCAN where the meet record stands at 32.42.

Event	UANA	CARIFTA	Rev Nationals	CCCAN record
50 metre breaststroke	34.20 Gold	34.05 Gold	32.54 Gold	32.42

Nigel Forbes during the morning heats of the 100 metre breaststroke at CARIFTA 2018 Photo courtesy of Bahamas Aquatics

When draftingthecaribbean contacted him on June 18 he spoke his national record breaking swims in the 50 metre butterfly and 50 metre breaststroke

“It feels good .I know I have been training hard to get these records and now I have finally broken them”.

For his final record breaking act Forbes again lowered his personal best of 1:14.90 to 1:14.40 in the morning heats of the 100 metre breaststroke.The final saw him blasting away the Championship record 1:13.67 (Bastian 2014) and national record 1:12.26 (Tynes 2009) with a time of 1:12.24 split time 33.58. As the clear favourite and top seed in the event he is in reach of the CCCAN record of 1:12.18

Izaak Bastian opening up a lead in the 200 metre breaststroke at CARIFTA 2018 Photo courtesy of Mike C Lyn

Event	UANA	CARIFTA	Rev Nationals	CCCAN record
100 metre breaststroke	1:15.07 Gold	1:15.81 Gold	1:12.24	1:12.18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advertisements

TWO RACES, TWO GOLD MEDALS, TWO PAN AM QUALIFYING TIMES JOANNA EVANS WINS 200 IM IN NATIONAL RECORD AND TAKES FIFTH 200 FREE GOLD

Joanna Evans at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Days 2 and 3 of the 2018 REV National Swimming Championships at the Betty Kelly-Kenning Aquatic Centre saw  Olympian Joanna Evans (Rio 2016)  setting a new national record in the 200 individual medley and winning her fifth straight 200 metre freestyle senior title all in 2019 PAN AM Games automatic qualifying times.

The 200 metre individual medley contested on Monday saw Joanna Evans unattached taking out the race faster than her former teammates at the now defunct Swift Swimming Club sister Albury and Lilly Higgs unattached and Laura Morley Makos. Her former  clubmates are national record holders in the breaststroke and would make the challenge on their favoured stroke in the medley. With a split of 1:05.98 at the half way mark and her country women splitting 1:09’s the expected push came . This as they out split her on that section of the race as their splits were Albury 38.69,Laura 39.33 and Lilly 39.78.Joanna was timed at 40.55. But they would not overcome her early advantage as she won the race in a new personal best and national record time of 2:18.10.

McKayla Lightbourn Photo courtesy of seminoles.com

 

That bettered the 2011 Championship record of 2:20.11 by McKayla Lightbourn, a standout for Florida State University . It was also faster than Lightbourn’s national record of 2:19.72 set March 12,2011.Joanna’s Gold medal swim  was also faster than the PAN AM A time of 2:19.99 and Evans’ old PB of 2:20.71 when she won the crown in 2017 .

Personal bests were recorded by the Silver and Bronze medallists Albury Higgs and Morley with times of 2:21.50 and 2:21.72 . Lilly Higgs finished fourth in a time of 2:24.15. That trio were well under the PAN AM B time of 2:28.92.

Joanna celebrating her win in the 1650 yard freestyle and new school record at the Texas Invite Photo courtesy of texassports

The 200 metre freestyle saw the University of Texas standout winning her fifth consecutive senior crown .She just missed her Championship meet record of 2:01.62 set at the 2016 edition of the national championships. She would however be well under the PAN Am A qualifying mark of 2:03.55.

Year	Time	Split	Medal
2018	2:01.73	59.31	Gold
2016	2:01.62	59.68	Gold
2015	2:06.22	1:00.88	Gold
2014	2:10.85	1:03.07	Gold
2013	2:11.60	1:02.91	Gold

Claudia Poll Photo courtesy of http://www.hirsit.org

At the CAC 2014 Games in Mexico Evans placed seventh in the 200 metre freestyle in 2:04.07. Her national record in the event currently stands at 1:59.19 which is faster than the current Games record of 2:00.19 by Costa Rican Olympian Claudia Poll (Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004).

Silver went to Laura Morley who stopped the clock in 2:09.45 .The Bronze was won by Lilly in 2:09.49. Both swimmers were under the PAN AM B time of 2:10.96.

When draftingthecaribbean contacted Evans yesterday she gave her thoughts about training heading into the Championships

“Basically I took a break after the Commonwealth Games and I have been trying to get back to where I want to be.I did not rest coming into the Championships so I am happy with swims. It is a nice prep for the CAC Games in a few weeks’ time”.

2018 REV National Swimming Championships DaVante Carey makes Golden Debut with senior swimmers, wins 50 backstroke in national record time and takes 100 metre butterfly crown

DaVante Carey of Makos had a sensational debut on Day one of the  2018 REV Bahamian National Championships on Saturday June 16 as he won Gold in a new national record in his first individual senior final in the 50 metre backstroke.

Carey with 50 back Silver medal at CARIFTA 2018 Photo courtesy of Bahamas Aquatics

 

Carey had set the senior national record of 27.04 in the event at the 2018 CARIFTA Swimming Championships in Kingston Jamaica in a Silver medal winning performance in the 15-17 age group .

50 backstroke medal podium from left to right Albury Silver, Carey Gold and Russell Bronze

In the morning heats he saw that record fall to Miller Albury of Alpha Aquatics who stopped the clock in a time of 26.83.The final promised to be good and it  did disappoint as Carey took his first Gold medal as senior swimmer in a new national and Championship record of 26.75. Miller won Silver in 27.35 and Carey’s teammate Tyler Russell won Bronze in a personal best of 28.05. For DaVante his effort  saw him barely outside of the Youth Olympic Games A standard of 26.73. His time would also have placed him 7^th in the 2014 edition of the CAC Games.

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

Event	Time	YOG A	Meet Record	National record	CARIFTA 2018
50 metre backstroke	26.75	26.73	27.72	27.04	27.04

When draftingthecaribbean spoke to him today he spoke about his standard setting swim

“In the race I got a good start where I kicked out to the 12 metre mark. I would say I was ahead of the competition well  into three quarters of the race and then I got good competition from Miller Albury  who started closing in on me. When the race was finished and I looked on the board I was quite shocked at my time because it really did not feel that fast. I got my Youth Olympics B cut but I was off the A cut by .02 of a second .Hopefully I will get the time at the upcoming CCCAN Championships in Aruba (June 29 to July 4).

 

In the 100 metre butterfly Carey had finished out the medals in Kingston with a then personal best time of 57.18 (split time 26.46) .That would not be the case in Nassau. He posted the only sub 58 second clocking 57.58 (26.57) to earn Lane 4 in the Championship final and put his personal best on notice. In the final he was the fastest to the half way mark with a time of 26.31 and was only swimmer under 30 seconds on the last lap to earn Gold in a new personal record of 56.26 . It helped to him close in on the Youth Olympics A time of 55.59. Makos teammate Ian Pinder won Silver in 57.82 with Samuel Gibson of Alpha Aquatics earning the Bronze in 58.25.

Event	Time	Split	YOG A	PAN AM B	CARIFTA
100 metre butterfly	56.26	26.31	55.59	56.95	57.18

DaVante who became the youngest winner of the senior 100 butterfly in more than a decade said this about the race

“It was a really rough race because it was right after 50 backstroke and I did not know how I was going to complete that race. Basically what I did was go out as fast as could go and just tried to hold that pace coming back.I am really happy that strategy worked as I went a best time 56.26.It hurt coming back, the most it has ever hurt coming back in the 100 butterfly but I had to push through it. I will be trying to get my A cut for the Youth Olympics at CCCAN”.

2018 REV National Swimming Championships Albury Higgs wins 200 metre breaststroke in national record time, Laura Morley takes Silver as both women swim under PAN AM A standard

Albury Higgs Photo courtesy of gamecocksonline

The quality in Bahamian swimming was on display in the women’s 15 and over 200 metre breaststroke on Day One of the 2018 REV National Swimming Championships on Saturday June 16.This as Albury Higgs won Gold in a new national record time and former record holder Laura Morley won Silver , both ladies were faster than the PAN Games A standard time.

Laura Morley Photo courtesy of iuhoosiers.com

Higgs got her hand to the wall first in a time of 2:32.30  (split time 1:13.31) . Laura  representing  Makos was second in 2:33.92 (split time 1:14.56) and the Bronze to  Katherine Slatter of Barracudas in a personal best time of 2:53.89. The PAN AM A time stands at 2:34.43.The top two swimmers also are in striking distance of the 2019 World Championship  B standard in the event of 2:31.01 and the initial Olympic qualifying  B standard of event of 2:29.89.  Earlier in the morning session her cousin Miller Albury became the first Bahamian under the 27 seconds barrier in the 50 metre backstroke.

Record breaking family on Day One of Bahamian nationals Miller record breaker in the 50 metre backstroke and cousin Albury who set the national record in the 200 metre breaststroke

Albury spoke to draftingthecaribean about her recordbreaking feat yesterday and said

“I am very pleased with my swim and national record in the 200 breaststroke! I have been training at school in South Carolina this summer and I didn’t really rest for this meet. so I was not sure how my swims would go, but I am happy with the results so far!”.

Higgs and Morley, who both compete for NCAA Division I Universities University of South Carolina and Indiana University respectively  have been at the helm of raising the standards in the event over the last few years

Albury Higgs and Laura Morley in action for their universities University of South Carolina and Indiana University Photos courtesy of gamecocks online and iuhoosiers.com

200 metre breaststroke National Record Progression

Time	Name	Location and Date
2:36.42	Laura Morley	Nanjing August 22,2014
2:36.37	Laura Morley	Indianna Dec 5,2015
2:35.64	Albury Higgs	Knoxville March 5,2016
2:35.03	Laura Morley	Ohio March 27,2016
2:34.00	Laura Morley	Indianna March 2 2017
2:32.98	Laura Morley	Indianna March 2 2017
2:32.30	Albury Higgs	Nassau June 16,2018

 

2018 REV National Swimming Championships Miller Albury becomes first Bahamian under 27 seconds in 50 backstroke

Miller Albury first Bahamian under 27 seconds in the 50 metre backstroke

Miller Albury became the first Bahamian under the 27 seconds mark in the 50 metre backstroke on Day One of the 2018 REV National Swimming Championships on Saturday June 16. In the preliminary heats of the event Miller who trains with Performance Aquatics in Florida but swims for Alpha Aquatics at home made a big breakthrough dropping from 27.99 to 26.83. That lowered the senior national record of DaVante Carey 27.04. DaVante had set the national mark in Silver medal winning performance at CARIFTA 2018 in Kingston Jamaica.

In the final Miller would record the second fastest time of his career as he won Silver in 27.34. Gold went to DaVante Carey of Makos who regained his record in a time of 26.75 to make it two swimmers for The Bahamas under 27 seconds and the Bronze  went to Tyler Russell also of Makos who stopped the clock in a personal best time of 28.05.

When draftingthecaribbean spoke to Miller we asked about his historic achievement on the same day cousin Margaret Higgs took the 200 metre breaststroke in a new national record

Record breaking family on Day One of Bahamian nationals Miller record breaker in the 50 metre backstroke and cousin Albury who set the national record in the 200 metre breaststroke

“It is always awesome coming home to swim in the Bahamas national swimming championship. The morning session was a solid swim for me in the 50 back, setting a new Bahamas and national record. I’ve been working hard with my backstroke so I was pleased with the PB in the 50”.

National Champions in the 200 metre freestyle relay from left to right Perez Moss,Luke Kennedy Thompson standing in for Armando Moss, Miller and Jared Fitzgerald

Miller would also earn Gold in the 200 metre freestyle relay as he provided a game changing third leg split of 23.86 to help his team gain the lead and take the title of national sprint relay champions. The team that included Perez Moss 24.04, Jared Fitzgerald 23.65 and anchor Armando Moss clocked a total time of 1:35.53. Silver went Barracudas in 1:36.32 and Bronze to the Makos in 1:38.11.

 

 

Young “Veteran” Chadé Nersicio commits to Florida State University

Curaçao’s Chadé Nersicio has committed to swim for the Florida State Seminoles .She will begin her collegiate career in the 2019-2020 season.

Nercisio is a veteran for her country  having competed at the three long course World Championships (Barcelona 2013,Kazan 2015 and Budapest 2017)  and two World Short Course Championships ( Doha 2014 and Windsor 2016).At each global competition she has improved upon her placing.

Chade Nercisio photo courtesy of Curaçaosport.com

At the regional age group level at CCCAN she has won Five Gold,Three Silver and One Bronze and has set more than Three Championship records. At CARIFTA 2018 in Kingston she added to her medal tally which currently Twelve Gold,Three Silver and Five Bronze.Along the way to that medal haul she has reset the meet record over Five times.

Chadé Nercisio before her race Photo courtesy of Michael Lyn

Competing for her high school in Florida, Trinity Christian she has been one of the most consistent sprinters in the state. She has won a medal in the 50 yard freestyle each year since the 2015 -2016 season in the Class 1A to be among the best sprinters in the Sunshine state.

When draftingthecaribbean contacted the future Seminole she spoke about her college selection, what she is looking forward to in college swimming and a possible area of study

Chadé Nersicio Photo courtesy of East Coast Aquatic Club

“Well I’ve been contemplating college selection since I got here ( Florida in 2015), but I think I started paying more attention around the beginning of this year. I came here to pursue my dream which also includes going to a college with a good swim program but also academics. As I mentioned before they have a good swim program and also academics. I also trust the coaches, they’re much like my coach right now (John Kjaerulff Head Coach of East Coast Aquatics) which is I think is a good thing, because we have a good and healthy relationship. I’m looking forward to focusing more on what I’m good at and further growing as a swimmer at FSU. I think I want to study International Business.

Chadé also elaborated on CARIFTA 2018 in terms of her expectations heading into the Championships and how the meet was overall and what lessons were learnt.

Chadé with the 15-17 50 metre butterfly Gold at CARIFTA having set the Championship record in both the heats and the final Photo courtesy of Mike C Lyn

“Well, I was not expecting much because I had just had a prelim-final meet the week before (Southern Zone Sectional Championships in Plantation, Florida), where I had all personal bests except for 2 events out of the 9. I was there to enjoy my sport and support my friends last CARIFTA Games.I absolutely love Jamaica, but my swims were a little rough, I would say I did ok.My best swim was probably the 50 freestyle because I dropped time. I think I went 26.18 which is closer to the Olympic B cut (25.51) so I was proud of that swim. Well, I guess to control my nerves and to try my best even if I don’t want to swim that event.

She also spoke about her plans for the rest of the season and her Olympic ambitions and what she work she needs to put in to make Tokyo 2020 a reality

Chadé Nercisio starts her race Photo courtesy of Michael Lyn

“My first meet coming up for this long course season is Michael Lohberg in Coral Springs I think June 15-17, which is a non-taper meet for me, then I have Sectionals in Gainesville at The University of Florida pool, then I have CAC Games in Colombia.I think the delegation flies out July 17, and my last meet for the season will either be Future Championships or Junior Nationals, we haven’t decided that yet. I think about the Olympics every day, but to get there I need to take it one day at a time, and that’s what I’m doing. I’m trying to work harder, eat but also sleep better now that its summer I don’t have school it gets a bit easier. The events I am targeting  are the 50 and 100 freestyle and quite possibly the 100 fly if I can find the motivation I had back in Trinidad & Tobago when I went 1:02.Training hard every day, every set, I find it hard to train hard when there are sets I don’t like (usually long-distance sets) but my coach motivates me every day, he says “Good for me, good for you” or he counts down the days to Tokyo 2020 when I am not trying during these sets.

 

Nercisio will join CARIFTA region stars Izaak Bastian of The Bahamas and Lauren Hew of the Cayman Islands at Florida State who start their college careers in September this year. Florida State University has been home to regional talent over the years to include Arubans Daniella van den Berg, Jemal Le Grand, Suriname’s Rafael Van Leeuwaarde,Trinidad and Tobago’s Cadell Lyons to name just a few.

 

 

 

FIRST ATTEMPT AT 800 METRE FREESTYLE RESULTS IN NATIONAL AGE GROUP RECORD FOR TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO’S NIKOLI BLACKMAN

One of the young stars emerging from CARIFTA 2018 in the 11-12 age group was Trinidad and Tobago’s Nikoli Blackman who continued his excellent form at the National Long Course Open championships held last month at the National Aquatic Centre in Balmain Couva. He had a national age group record breaking swim in the 800 metre freestyle. What made the feat even more remarkable was that it was the young swimmer’s first attempt swimming the grueling event.
Competing in the open mixed 800 metre freestyle on May 10 Blackman  won Silver in 9:23.30 lowering the old age group mark of 9:29.06 by Kael Yorke. That record was set back in 2013. The Gold was won by local distance star Graham Chatoor in 8:53.06 who is his final year of the 15-17 age group. The Bronze was won by Delroy Tyrell who is in his first year of the 15-17 age group in a time of 9:53.78. Third person overall in the race however was Graham’s sister Jada who stopped the clock in 9:26.70

Blackman concentrating before his race at CARIFTA 2018 in Kingston Photo courtesy of Harold Wilson

Blackman ,while competing in Kingston at CARIFTA swam 3900 metres on his way to winning 12 medals, Three Gold, Eight Silver and One Bronze in 16 events. The versatile athlete has been named to the 2018 CCCAN team in both the pool and open water events.

Blackman moments after setting a new 11-12 800 free national record Photo courtesy of Dinnora Anthony

When draftingthecaribbean contacted Nikoli he gave his opinion about his performance

“When CARIFTA ended I had to reduce my training from 9 sessions per week to 5 as I had to prepare for the Secondary Entrance Assessment Exams (SEA). Though my fitness was down a bit my strategy for the race was to work my kick and try and stay ahead of my teammate, Jada Chatoor, who was in the lane next to me.  I was aware of the record as My Dad and I have discussed it for a while now. When the race was over I was happy to see that I had lowered the record from 9:29.06 to 9:23.30”.