New Bahamas 200 metre freestyle relay record holders 1:34.77 from left to right Keith Lloyd,Gershwin Greene,Kohen Kerr and N’Nhyn Fernander Photo courtesy of Bahamas Swimming
Bahamian swimmer Keith Lloyd was among the first swimmers in a competitive meet in the US collegiate system. His Delta State University challenged the University of Alabama in Alabama on Friday September 9.
In the 400 yard medley relay his Statesmen B team was the 6th fastest on the day with a time of 3:38.87. The 6ft Junior was 7th in the 100 yard backstroke in 58.10.In the 100 yard butterfly he was 12th fastest in a time of 55.68. In the 400 yard freestyle his A team had won with a time 3:10.94. Alabama won the contest 211 to 83.
Over the summer he combined with his Barracudas teammates to set a new national record of 1:34.77 in the 200 metre freestyle relay at the 2016 RBC Nationals Championships.
Margaret Higgs Photo courtesy of Rochelle Bastian and Bahamas Swimming
Margaret Higgs of The Bahamas raised the profile of the CARIFTA region in age group swimming when she made the final of the 200 metre breaststroke event at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii on Saturday August 27.She was the only swimmer from the region to qualify for a Championship final at the 2016 edition of the age group meet which featured top swimmers from aquatic powerhouses The United States of America, Japan and Australia.
Margaret Higgs about to start race in Hawaii Photo courtesy of Rochelle Bastian and Bahamas Swimming
Higgs, who is now a freshman at the University of South Carolina (https://swimswam.com/swimmac-winter-nationals-qualifier-albury-higgs-chooses-south-carolina/) touched the wall in 2:36.20 (split times 1:14.78 and 1:21.42) to be 8th among all swimmers in the morning. In the Championship final she went out in 1:14.78 and finished in 1:20.92 for a total time of 2:35.60. That performance was the 2nd fastest effort of her career.
Coming into this competition Margaret already had a stellar season in the event as she won the 15-17 CARIFTA title in Martinique in Championship record and personal best of 2:35.33. Later in her home country she added the CISC (Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships) title, which she won in a time of 2:36.83, yet another Championship record. Based on her impressive CARIFTA record in the event, her feat should come as no surprise. Except when she made her debut at CARIFTA in 2011 when she won a Bronze medal Margaret has never lost.
Age
Host Country & year
Medal
Time
16
Martinique 2016
Gold
2:35.33
15
Barbados 2015
Gold
2:39.53
14
Aruba 2014
Gold
2:41.04
13
Jamaica 2013
Gold
2:49.32
12
Bahamas 2012
Gold
2:57.61
11
Barbados 2011
Bronze
3:00.40
Margaret and Lilly Higgs Photo courtesy of Rochelle Bastian and Bahamas Swimming
Younger sister Lilly also earned a second swim in the 200 metre breaststroke. Lilly who won the Silver medals in the 200 metre breaststroke at both CARIFTA and CISC in the 15-17 category posted 2:40.91 to place 16th overall in the morning heats. In the final she split 1:16.96 and 1:21.95 for a final time of 2:38.91, two seconds faster than in the morning.
Margaret placed 30th in the 200 metre individual medley in a time of 2:26.33 (split time 1:11.44). Lilly was 18th in 2:24.35 (split time 1:09.27).
The Bahamas Junior Pan Pacific male squad from left to right Jared Fitzgerald, N’Nhyn Fernander,Gershwin Greene and Izaak Bastian Photo courtesy of Rochelle Bastian and Bahamas Swimming
The final day of action of the Junior Pan Pacific Swimming championships in Hawaii saw the entire male contingent from The Bahamas in action in the 50 metre freestyle. It would be Gershwin Greene and Jared Fitzgerald who would make it to the final in the event.
Gershwin Greene Photo courtesy of Rochelle Bastian and Bahamas Swimming
Greene entered the meet with a 23.71 which he registered at the RBC national championships when he won Bronze in the 15 and over category. He equalled that time of 23.71 to place 13th overall and earn a second swim. In the B final he went faster to clock 23.68 to finish 7th overall. He had the following thoughts about the competition
“Overall I have been learning from the top swimmers in the World. This is my first meet outside of the Caribbean regional meets and some the United States (mainland) meets I .It is really motivating me to learn from them and be the best I can be.”
Jared Fitzgerald 100 metre freestyle finish Photo courtesy of Rochelle Bastian and Bahamas Swimming
Fitzgerald who recently committed to the University of Indiana (https://swimswam.com/bahamas-national-teamer-jared-fitzgerald-commits-indiana-2017) and is the reigning 15-17 CARIFTA champion continued his quest for his first sub 24 seconds performance. After taking the CARIFTA title in Martinique in 24.00, he would log 24.06 for 4th at the Caribbean Islands Swimming championships CISC. In the heats he would post 24.02. The B final saw him placing 8th in 24.05.
Izaak Bastian who is the 2016 13-14 boys CARIFTA champion in the event equalled his Gold medal winning time and personal best time of 24.25 to place 24th .
The 15-17 Silver medallist N’nhyn Fernander was 25th in 24.27.
Bastian would just miss a second swim in the 200 metre breaststroke when he placed 17th in 2:26.08 (split time 1:09.59).
The quartet would combine their efforts for 7th in the 400 metre medley relay. The splits for each leg were Greene backstroke 1:05.17, Bastian breaststroke 1:06.82, Fernander butterfly 55.89 and Fitzgerald freestyle 52.49 for a total time of 4:00.17. The day before in the 400 metre freestyle relay they were also 7th. In relay order the splits were Fitzgerald 52.19, Fernander 52.64, Bastian 54.79 and Greene 53.44 for a final time of 3:33.06.
Madelyn Moore and Jesse Washington Photo courtesy of islandstats.com
Top Bermudan age group swimmers Jesse Washington and Madelyn Moore completed their participation at the 2016 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii on Saturday August 27.
Jesse Washington Photo courtesy of bermudasun.bm
Competing in the 50 metre freestyle Washington ended his season with a time of 24.32. That performance was just off his season and personal best of 24.19 done at the Caribbean Island Swimming championships in July when he placed 5th in the 15-17 boys final. A day earlier he raced in the heats of the 100 metre butterfly where he stopped the clock in a time of 59.57 (split time 27.64) for 28th overall. Jesse said of the overall meet
“The Pan Pacifics have been great”
Madelyn Moore Photo courtesy of islandstats.com
Madelyn Moore has dominated the 15-17 girls age group regionally in the 50 metre freestyle event. This is evidenced by her winning both the CARIFTA and CISC titles for the 2016-2017 season. In Hawaii she finished 18th in time of 27.08. Earlier in the meet she was 24th in the 200 metre backstroke in a time of 2:37.58 (split time 1:14.01). Madelyn had the following thoughts about the competition
“Junior Pan Pacs has been a great experience .I have been racing a lot faster swimmers but it has been fun”
N’Nhyn Fernander Photo courtesy of Rochelle Bastian and Bahamas Swimming
The third day of swimming action of the Junior Pan Pacific Swimming championships on Friday August 26 saw N’nhyn Fernander earning a second swim in the 100 metre butterfly.
N’nhyn Fernander Photo courtesy of Bahamas Swimming
Fernander who is the reigning CARIFTA 15-17 100 metre butterfly champion with a Gold medal winning time of 56.36 qualified for the B final of the event in Hawaii with a new personal best time .N’nhyn had splits of 26.25 and 29.78 for a total time of 56.03 for 15th place. He lowered his personal standard of 56.27 set at the Bahamian Nationals in June. In the B final he clocked the 3rd fastest time of his career when he placed 7th in a time of 56.31. His splits this time were 26.06 and 30.25. Fernander had the following thoughts on the competition.
Overall the meet has been really great. It is good to socialize and get out and experience new things and experience a new place and a different time zone. Being a swim meet like this it allows you to realize that soon it may be possible to achieve greater things. These kids are really fast so it gives you great competition and push. This swim meet I have dropped a bit of time and I am really happy with that .I am really happy that I got to race before I go to Ohio State to train. Although we got to socialize and go to the pool every day and be in a new place, itis always good to be with people you want to be close with for the rest of your life and hang out with people that really matter to you and basically be a team and that’s what Team Bahamas is all about.
Izaak Bastian Photo courtesy of Rochelle Bastian and Bahamas Swimming
Teammate Izaak Bastian set yet another age group record this season when he placed 28th in a time of 59.13. That broke the nearly 2 decades old standard of 59.23 by Olympian Nicholas Rees set at the CCCAN Championships on July 5, 1997. Rees attended Ohio State University from 2000 to2003 .With that record performance Bastian now holds national marks in the 13-14 age group in the 50 metre freestyle, 50 ,100 and 200 metre breaststroke and 50 metre butterfly.
Jared Fitzgerald 100 metre freestyle finish Photo courtesy of Rochelle Bastian and Bahamas Swimming
Day 2 of the Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii of Friday August 25 saw the region’s male swimmers in action in the 100 metre freestyle and 100 metre breaststroke.
Jared Fitzgerald start of 100 metre freestyle Photo courtesy of Rochelle Bastian and Bahamas Swimming
Jared Fitzgerald of The Bahamas qualified for a lane in the afternoon in the 100 metre freestyle event when he posted a time of 52.13 (split time 24.96). Fitzgerald’s earlier efforts in the season saw him winning Silver medals in the 15-17 boys category both at CARIFTA and CISC (Caribbean Islands Swimming championships). He was also a member of a record setting Peddie School’s 200 yard freestyle relay team that broke a standard that lasted over a decade. In the evening’s B final he had 50 metre splits of 25.01 and 27.21 to place 7th in a time of 52.06. That barely missed his lifetime best of 52.05 set at CISC. After the swim he had the following words
“Overall I am happy with my results so far.I am really enjoying the experience I am getting here. I am enjoying racing against the top swimmers who are my age.This is really motivating me to get back in the pool and train harder for next season.”
Izaak Bastian Photo courtesy of Rochelle Bastian and Bahamas Swimming
Teammate Izaak Bastian has been in great form in the boys 13-14 100 metre breaststroke for the year 2016 .At CARIFTA he captured Gold in a championship record time of 1:07.24. At his national championships he took the Gold again in a new meet record of 1:07.22. AT CISC he raised the bar for 13-14 boys when he became the first swimmer to go under 1:07.00. In the process he also lowered the Bahamian record of 1:07.22 by 2016 Olympian Dustin Tynes. In Hawaii the regional standard was set even higher. Competing in the heats he posted a time of 1:05.86 (split time 30.95 and 34.91) to finish 21st in yet another English speaking CARIFTA region best. He had the following thoughts
“ I have been having a good meet so far. It is good exposure for me. It is my first big international meet. I have been having a good time swimming against the top juniors in the world and it has been great to have this experience.
N’nhyn Fernander Photo courtesy of Bahamas Swimming
Also in action in the 100 metre freestyle at the high quality junior meet on Friday August 25 were Bahamians N’nhyn Fernander, Gershwin Greene and Bermudan rising star Jesse Washington. Fernander took almost a second off his lifetime best when he clocked 53.01 (split time 25.43) to place 33rd. Greene was just off his personal best of 53.28 when he clocked 53.41 (split time 25.78) for37th overall. Washington finished just behind Greene when he registered a time of 53.65 (split time 25.54).
Margaret and Lilly Higgs Photo courtesy of Rochelle Bastian and Bahmas Swimming
Bahamian sisters Margaret and Lilly Higgs were the first swimmers to earn a second swim at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships on Friday August 25th in Hawaii. The sisters who have dominated the 100 breaststroke event regionally in the 15-17 category by sweeping Gold and Silver both at CARIFTA in Martinique and CISC (Caribbean Islands Swimming championships) in their home country. Lilly booked her spot with a 1:13.08 effort (split time 34.69) for 13th overall. Older sister Margaret qualified for another swim with a time of 1:13.79 (split time 34.70) .She placed 15th overall.
Margaret Higgs Photo courtesy of Rochelle Bastian and Bahamas Swimming
In the B final later that day Margaret would place 4th in a time of 1:13.65 (split time 34.83). She had this to say after her swim
“It is always an honour to represent the Bahamas, but this trip is really special since it’s the first time the Bahamas has sent a team to Junior Pan Pacs. It is a great feeling making history. My first event was the 100 breast, and although I didn’t go a best time, I came 4th in the B final swimming alongside my sister. I’m looking forward to my next two events on Saturday”
Lilly Higgs Photo courtesy of Rochelle Bastian and Bahamas Swimming
Her sister Lilly had splits of 35.22 and 38.91 to finish 6th in a time of 1:14.13. Speaking after that swim she said
I am proud to have had the opportunity to be on the first Bahamian team taken to Jr Pan Pacific Championships. Before my first event, the 200 free, I had a technical difficulty but still performed as well as I could. The 100 breaststroke was my second event. In the prelims I went one of the fastest times I’ve swam this season, enabling me to swim in the B final and place 6th.
Bermudan standout Madelyn Moore was 44th in the 100 metre freestyle in a time of 1:01.57.
