RECORD BREAKING SUNDAY NATHANIEL THOMAS AND THE GOLDEN GIRLS OF THE MARLINS SWIM CLUB GIANI FRANCIS, KOKOLO FOSTER, SAIDAH BROWN AND CHRISTANYA SHIRLEY SET NEW NATIONAL MARKS

Sunday December 17 will be known as record breaking Sunday as the nation’s youngsters continued to excel in their last competitions for 2017 as they have done all throughout the year. Competitions in two different meets in two different islands yielded national age group records . In Jamaica at the ASAJ Christmas Open and Christmas Breezer Nathaniel Thomas of the Tornadoes swim club lowered his national mark in the 11-12 boys 50 metre butterfly twice in the morning heats and final . While the Golden Girls from the Marlins Swim Club Giani Francis, Kokolo Foster, Saidah Brown and Christanya Shirley continued their awesome record breaking run in the 9-10 200 metre freestyle relay at the Republic Bank Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad and Tobago Invitational.

At his first CARIFTA in The Bahamas in April Nathaniel was 5^th    in the 11-12 50 butterfly  in 29.22 .

Nathaniel Thomas Photo courtesy of Cheser Adams

Later in May in Jamaica Nathaniel would lower the 11-12 50 butterfly to 28.32. That just edged the old standard of 28.33 set by Olympian Timothy Wynter (Rio 2016) when he won the Silver medal at the 2009 CARIFTA Championships held in Aruba. At the CCCAN competition in Trinidad and Tobago in July he would top the region taking the Gold in 28.53. He would join the elites among the region when he became the first Jamaican  11-12 boy to break the 28 seconds barrier.

Nathaniel Thomas Photo courtesy of Lynval Lowe

In the morning he was fantastic in breaking the meet record also set by Wynter in 2009 of 29.39 and lowering the national mark to 27.95. He would continue his record breaking feats in the final as he dropped time again to set a standard of 27.86.

Head Coach of the Tornadoes Swim Club and her record breaking swimmer Nathaniel Thomas Photo courtesy of Lynval Lowe

He now joins the likes of Evante Gibson of the Bahamas 27.77, Aruban Jordy Groters 27.85 as regional standouts under the 28 seconds barrier in the 11-12 age group.

President of the Aquatics Sports Association of Jamaica Martin Lyn congratulating Nathaniel on his record breaking exploits Photo courtesy of Lynval Lowe

 

On the day he would also set new meet record in winning the 200 metre freestyle with a personal best of 2:12.77 and taking the Gold with the Tornadoes A team in the 400 metre medley relay.

The Golden Girls of the Marlins Swim club Gianna Francis, Kokolo Foster, Saidah Brown and Christanya Shirley have dominated the sprint freestyle relay this season and their last meet in Trinidad and Tobago would be no different.

Marlins Girls 9-10 team at the Neville Alexander meet from left to right Giani Francis,Kokolo Foster,Saidah Brown and Christanya Shirley Photo courtesy of Cheser Adams

At the Neville Alexander meet they set a new national mark of 2:14.66 .That lowered the national record of 2:15.37 set way back on Aug 1, 1988. That mark was set by the national team of Kezia Stewart, Kerone Peat, Joanna Lee and Nicole Lowe at the Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships held in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic when 9 and 10 year olds were allowed to participate.

National record holders in the 9-10 girls freestyle relay from left to right Back row Kokolo Foster,Gianna Francis Front row Saidah Brown ,Christanya Shirley

At the Dean Martin Memorial Meeting in October they crushed that mark with a swim of 2:10.52. In the twin Island Republic they would be even that much faster with a time of 2:05.52 .That performance takes almost ten seconds off from the 1988 record. That swim is among one of the fastest ever done by an English Speaking Caribbean team in that age group.

Marlins 9-10 Golden Girls from left to right Giani Francis, Saidah Brown, Kokolo Foster and Christanya Shirley Photo courtesy of Suzette Whyte

 

Three of the young ladies Francis, Foster will be pushing to make their first CARIFTA team in Kingston next year while Shirley has one more year in the 9-10 age group.

In 2017 at the CARIFTA Championships in the Bahamas the Jamaican ladies won the swept the 200 metre freestyle relays taking wins in the 11-12, 13-14 and 15-17 age groups

 

2017 CARIFTA Gold medallists 11-12 200 metre freestyle relay from left to right Paig’e Lewis,Sabrina Lyn , Isabella Sierra and Zaneta Alvaranga Photo courtesy of Michael C Lyn

CARIFTA 2017 13-14 200 metre freestyle relay Gold medallists from left to right Gabrianna Banks,Simone Vale, Brianna Anderson and Emily MacDonald Photo courtesy of Michael C Lyn

CARIFTA 2017 15-17 200 metre freestyle relay Gold medallists from left to right Angara Sinclair, Bryanna Renuart , Shaun Johnson and Anjuii Barrett Photo courtesy of Michael C Lyn

DAY 3 OF 2017 SPEEDO WINTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS EAST BLACK WIN 200 FREE RELAY BRONZE, BASTIAN AND KIRBY MAKE CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS IN BREASTSTROKE AND BACKSTROKE, PERSONAL BESTS RECORDED BY AIMABLE , WEEKES ,GROTERS AND HOOST

 

The third day of the 2017 Speedo Winter Junior Championships East on Friday Dec 8 saw the CARIFTA region picking up yet another medal. This time it was Jamaican Joseph Black as a member of the Peddie team that won Bronze in the 200 yard freestyle relay.

Bronze medal winning team from Peddie from left to right front row Nathan Stern,Joseph Black Back row Michael Blank and Troy Ike Photo courtesy of Peddie swimming

The team of Nathan Stern 20.55, Michael Blank 20.47, Trey Ike 20.45 and Black 20.24 clocked 1:21.71 to for their medal winning performance.  That bettered their 2017 Gold medal winning time at the Eastern Championships of 1:21.99 which is also the Championship, school and New Jersey State record.

At that competition Black, a Kenyon commit had anchored the team in a time of 20.31.  Silver at the Winter championships went to Dayton Raiders in 1:20.58 and the Gold to Allegheny North in 1:19.83. When the times are combined with the competition in the West the boys from Peddie retained their third place position from a combined 89 competing teams in the event.

Izaak Bastian Photo courtesy of carifta2016mque

Izaak Bastian of The Bahamas, who is representing Saint Andrew’s made the championship final in the 100 yard breaststroke. Izaak had recorded a personal best in the event winning the Florida High school 1A title in 54.54 (split time 25.80). He would lower that mark with a time of 54.48 (split 25.54). That  time placed him 5^th in the East and 8^th with the combined results.Bastian is the reigning CARIFTA 15-17 100 metre breaststroke champion. He took Gold in a time of 1:04.68.He will join a number of the region’s best in Kingston Jamaica in 2018 seeking to lower the Championship record of 1:04.25 held by Aruban Jordy Groters.

Jacky Kirby in action in the backstroke at the 2017 Tennessee State Championships Photo courtesy of Baylor Swimming

After lowering his personal best in the 100 yard backstroke Jack Kirby of Barbados and Baylor Swim club was at it again with another new personal standard. After qualifying for the Championship with a time of 48.97 he lowered his all-time best to 48.67 (split time 23.51) to place 6^th overall. His previous best was 48.79 (split time 23.72).Kirby who won the Silver medal at CARIFTA in the 100 metre backstroke in the 15-17 backstroke in The Bahamas will be seeking to lower the Championship record in 2018 in Jamaica. That mark was set this year by Aruban Patrick Groters at 57.17. Kirby has a personal best of 57.01 set at this summer’s Commonwealth Youth Games.

Steve Aimable and Azura Florida coach GianLuca Alberani

Also bettering his personal best on the day was French Guiana’s Steven Aimable representing Azura Florida Aquatics. Competing in the 100 yard butterfly Steve lowered his personal best of 50.73 to 49.57(split time 22.87) to place 25^th .Aimable  was the  15-17  Bronze medallist in the 100 metre butterfly in his final year at the CARIFTA Championships in a time of 57.22.

 

Suriname’s Irvin Hoost representing Metro Aquatics also bettered his personal best in the event. He went from an all-time best of 50.49 in 2016 to 50.17 (split time 23.11) for 54^th spot. Hoost also competed in his last CARIFTA Games this year and placed 5^th in the 100 metre butterfly in a time of 57.97.

Patrick Groters on podium Photo courtesy of Michael C Lyn

Aruban Patrick Groters who represents the Pine Crest Swim club who had phenomenal final CARIFTA Championship bettered his 400 yard individual medley time of 3:58.74 set in 2015 with a 3:58.12 performance of 3:58.12.

Bradley Ally Photo courtesy of panamerican world

 

In the Bahamas this year he won the 400 metre individual medley in 4:27.69 breaking the 2004 meet record of 4:31.95 Olympian Barbadian Bradley Ally.

Luis Sebastian Weekes Photo courtesy of Baylor Swimming

Baylor’s Barbadian breaststroker Luis Sebastian Weekes continued the trend of bettering personal records with his efforts in the 100 yard breaststroke. Weekes lowered his personal best to 56.90 (split time 26.90) to place 35^th overall. His previous record was 57.56 (split 26.68). He registered that time in a 6^th place performance at the 2017 Tennessee State Champs.At CARIFTA this year he was mere 9 hundredths outside of podium place when he swam 1:06.66. He will be seeking to top the field in that race next year in Jamaica .

Other individual performances on the day were

Name	Country	Club	Event	Time	Placing
Daniel Jacobs	Aruba	Pine Crest	200 yard freestyle	1:42.97	89th
Patrick Groters	Aruba	Pine Crest	100 yard backstroke	50.67	63rd
Steven Aimable	French Guinana	Azura	100 yard backstroke	51.58	103rd

In the 200 yard freestyle relay the Baylor team of Piotr Kurleto 20.82,Kirby 21.05, Zachariah Althoff 20.82 and  Robert Freeman 19.77 recorded the 5^th best time of the meet of 1:22.32. It was also the 5^th best time of the 89 competing team in both the East and West.

Christian Selby Photo courtesy of http://www.olympic.org.bb

 

They also just missed the 2013 school record of 1:22.23 by the team of Luke Kaliszak, Sam McHugh,Chandler Hinson and Barbadian Christian Selby.

Irvin Hoost Photo courtesy of Saint Brendan High school

Hoost and his Metro Aquatics team were 10^th in a time of 1:23.06. Of the 356 swimmers who swam that event Irvin had the 6^th fastest leg with his anchor leg split of 20.02.

DAY 2 OF 2017 SPEEDO WINTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS HOOST OF RECORDS PERSONAL BEST TO MAKE 50 YARD FREESTYLE C FINAL, PERSONAL STANDARDS SET BY BAJAN DUO KIRBY IN BACKSTROKE AND MEDLEY AND WEEKES IN MEDLEY

Day 2 of the 2017 Speedo Winter Junior Championships East saw the boys of the CARIFTA region turning out strong performances. Leading the charge on December 7 at the Allan Jones Aquatic Center in Knoxville Tennessee was Florida High school 2A State Champion Irvin Hoost of Suriname.

2 50 yard freestyle medal podium from left to right Silver medallist Andrew Garcia Mourning, Gold Medallist Irvin Hoost,Bronze medallist Chris Jennings Photo courtesy of Kenneth MacDonald

Hoost, who is representing the Metro Aquatics Club lowered his 2016 personal best of 20.72 when he clocked 20.55 in the morning heats to earn a berth in the C final. He would record the 2^nd fastest time of his career when he touched in 20.60 for 6^th place.

Jack Kirby Photo courtesy of Bahamas Commonwealth Youth Games 2017

Also bettering his personal best was Jack Kirby of Barbados representing Baylor Swim club. He crushed his 200 yard individual medley best of  1:54.48 (split time 52.84) that he recorded at the 2017 Tennessee State championships with a time of 1:51.16(split time 51.15). That performance placed the 2017 CARIFTA 15-17 Bronze medallist in the 200 metre IM 34^th overall.

Weekes competing in the heats of the 200 individual medley at the 2017 CARIFTA championships Photo courtesy of Micheal C Lyn

 

Also lowering his personal best was countryman and club mate and 2017 CARIFTA Silver medallist Luis Sebastian Weekes and . Luis lowered his personal standard of 1:52.17 (split time 53.91) a 4^th place performance at the 2017 Tennessee State Championships to 1:51.36 (split time 52.72). That swim ranked him 39^th overall.

Groters with 200 IM Gold at the 2017 CARIFTA Championships in The Bahamas Photo courtesy of Michael C Lyn

The top regional performance was recorded by the 15-17 2017 CARIFTA Champion and record holder in the 200 metre individual medley Aruban Patrick Groters representing the Pine Crest Swim club. He was timed at 1:50.91 (split time 50.22) to finish 30^th overall.

Kirby would continue to lower his personal bests when he recorded 48.79 (split time 23.72) leading off the Baylor 400 yard medley relay team. That represented a significant time drop for the 2017 15-17 CARIFTA Silver medallist in the 100 metre backstroke. His personal best of 50.14 (split time 24.48) recorded at the State Championships when he placed 4^th. The Baylor team finished 6^th in 3:18.55.

Aruban Daniel Jacobs who stated that he will be going after the CARIFTA 15-17 400 metre freestyle record of 3:59.79 at his last CARIFTA 2018 clocked 4:36.15 in the 500 yard freestyle to place 74^th. At the 2017 CCCAN Championships in Trinidad and Tobago the Georgia Tech commit won the 400 metre freestyle title in 4:01.85.

In the 50 yard freestyle Izaak Bastian (The Bahamas/Saint Andrew’s) ,Groters, Steve Aimable (French Guiana/Azura Florida Aquatics) and Joseph Black(Jamaica/Peddle Aquatics) turned out good performances not far off from their personal bests.

Name	Country	Club	Event	Time	Placing
Izaak Bastian	The Bahamas	Saint Andrew’s	50 yard freestyle	20.90	55th
Patrick Groters	Aruba	Pine Crest	50 yard freestyle	20.97	61st
Steven Aimable	French Guiana	Azura	50 yard freestyle	21.03	66th
Joseph Black	Jamaica	Peddie Association	50 yard freestyle	21.27	93rd

The 400 yard medley relay saw Hoost of Metro Aquatics putting in a 44.63 freestyle split to help them to 9^th overall in a time of 3:18.99. Black of Jamaica had a 56.79 to help Peddie to 20^th in 3:21.67

LILLY HIGGS PUTS THE CARIFTA REGION ON THE MEDAL PODIUM AGAIN ON DAY 2 OF WINTER CHAMPS WITH RELAY BRONZE, NERCISIO WINS C FINAL IN 50 YARD FREESTYLE

 

Lilly Higgs of The Bahamas representing SwimMac Carolina got yet another medal for the CARIFTA region on Thursday December 7, Day 2 of the 2017 Speedo Winter Junior Championships East .Swimming the breaststroke leg of the 400 yard medley relay at the Allan Jones Aquatic Center in Knoxville Tennessee the ladies of SwimMac Carolina won Bronze. The team of Julia Menkhaus backstroke 54.21, Higgs 1:01.14, Sophie Lindner butterfly 53.89 Olywin Bartis freestyle 49.31 had total time of 3:38.55.

Lilly en route to the 50 metre breaststroke Gold medal at the 2017 CARIFTA Championships in The Bahamas Photo courtesy of Micheal C Lyn

When the results are combined with the competition being held in the West Higgs, who is the reigning 15-17 100 metre breaststroke champions had the 7^th fastest overall breaststroke split of the 107 competing teams. The Gold medal in the East went to Nashville Aquatics in 3:36.88 and the Silver to Cardinal Aquatics in 3:37.39.

Chade Nercisio Photo courtesy of Michael C Lyn

Chade Nercisio of Curacao who represents East Coast Aquatics earned a second swim in the 50 yard freestyle  qualifying for the C final .In that night’s final she topped the field with a time of 22.97 just of her personal best of 22.93.

Lauren Hewe Photo courtesy of caymansportsbuzz.com

The Cayman Islands Lauren Hew representing Saint Andrews recorded the 3^rd fastest time of her career in the 50 yard freestyle when she stopped the clock in 23.44 to finish 32^nd . Higgs recorded the 2^nd fastest time of her career when she stopped the clock in 24.15 to place 125^th .

In the 200 yard individual medley Higgs recorded her 3^rd fastest time ever when she hit the wall in 2:03.06 to place 33^rd.

In the 400 yard medley relay Nersicio put in another strong performance to help her East Coast Aquatics team to 25^th overall. She split 50.25 on the freestyle leg  to help the team to 3:49.15

KIRBY AND HIGGS PUT CARIFTA REGION ON THE MEDAL PODIUM BY WINNING BRONZE MEDALS ON DAY ONE OF 2017 SPEEDO WINTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – EAST

On the first day of the 2017 SPEEDO Winter Junior Championships – East at the Allan Jones Aquatic Center in Knoxville Tennessee on Dec 6 the CARIFTA region had reason to celebrate through the medal winning performances of regional standouts Lilly Higgs of The Bahamas representing SwimMac Carolina and Jack Kirby of Barbados representing Baylor Swim Club.

Higgs , a University of North Carolina commit, swimming as a member of the 200 yard medley relay A team won the Bronze medal. The squad of Julia Menkhaus backstroke 25.05, Higgs breaststroke 28.07, Sophie Lindner butterfly 23.96 and Olywyn Bartis 22.64 recorded a total time of 1:39.07. Being held simultaneously in University of Iowa Recreation Center in Iowa City Iowa is the competition for the West. When the results from meets in both the East and West are combined the SwimMac time was the 4^th fastest of the 104 competing teams. Lilly also recorded the 8^th fastest breaststroke split overall.

Lilly Higgs looks back at the clock after capturing the 15-17 100 metre breaststroke title at the 2016 CARIFTA Championships

She is also the reigning 15-17 CARIFTA champion in the 50 metre breaststroke and has been unbeaten in the sprint breaststroke events  for the last three years.

Kirby would win the same colour medal as his regional counterpart as his Baylor team won the Bronze in the 200 yard medley relay as well. With the combined results the team was also the 5^th fastest overall.

Jacky Kirby in action in the backstroke  Photo courtesy of Baylor Swimming

Jack crushed his previous personal best of 23.70 in the 50 yard backstroke with a lead off swim of 23.03.His teammates Piotr Kurleto breaststroke 25.28, Zachariah Althoff butterfly 22.32 and Robert Freeman freestyle 19.92 finished in a time of 1:30.55.

Jack Kirby Photo courtesy of Tastey Blackman

Kirby, who is the reigning CARIFTA Silver medallist in the 15-17 50 metre backstroke had the 18^th fastest backstroke split of 101 competing teams.

Kirby with members of his Baylor relay team Photo courtesy of Baylor swimming

There would be more success for Kirby as his 800 yard freestyle relay team the held the 800 yard freestyle championship record briefly before their time was bettered by two other teams to finish with the Bronze medal. The same team from the medley relay team Althoff 1:39.20,Kirby 1:39.17,Kurleto 1:37.84 and Freeman 1:34.44 stopped the clock in 6:30.65. That bettered the 2016 Scottsdale Aquatics meet record 6:31.93. Silver went Mason Manta Rays in 6:28.95 and Gold to the Carmel Swim Club in 6:28.25.

Chadé Nercisio  Photo courtesy of Michael Lyn

Others in action from the region on the day was Curaçao’s star sprinter Chadé Nercisio who anchored her East Coast Aquatics Swim club to 29^th spot in the East Championships with a quick split of 22.92. The 20 fastest overall anchor from both meets. The final team time was 1:45.52.At her last CARIFTA Championship in 2016 she won the 13-14 50 metre freestyle.

Irvin Hoost Photo courtesy of Rafael Van Leeuwaarde

Irvin Hoost of Suriname provided the 7^th fastest freestyle anchor split of both meets with his time of 20.01 .That powered his Metro Aquatics Swim club to 10^th in the East with a time of 1:31.55.Hoost recently won the Florida 2A State Championship in the 50 yard freestyle and was 6th in the 50 metre freestyle at his last CARIFTA Championships.

Joseph Black .Photo courtesy of Michael C Lyn

In the 800 yard freestyle relay Jamaican Joseph Black gave his Peddie Aquatics team a second leg of 1:42.84 to help to 6:51.92 and 27^th overall in the East. Black was a member of the 800 metre freestyle team that won Jamaica’s first Gold medal in the 15-17 age group.

 

IZAAK BASTIAN OF THE BAHAMAS WINS 100 YARD BREASTSTROKE TITLE AT 1A STATE CHAMPS, SETS SCHOOL RECORDS IN 50 FREE , FREESTYLE AND MEDLEY RELAYS

Izaak Bastian of The Bahamas captured the 100 yard breaststroke title at the Florida at his final high school meet on November 4 at the 1A State championships in Stuart Florida.

Saint Andrews coaches Sid and Quinn Cassidy and Jamaican Ramon Walton cheering on their young charges at Regionals Photo courtesy of Saint Andrew’s Aquatics

The road to Gold had been a four year road under the tutelage of his coaches at Saint Andrew’s in Boca Raton.

In his first individual Championship final in 2014 competing in the 100 yard breaststroke ,which would be the source of his greatest  individual high school  triumph he placed 8^th in the B final in a time of 1:00.83 (split time 28.94).The next year would see a turnaround in fortunes as he would earn a place on the medal podium taking the Bronze in 57.19 (split time 27.06).

Izaak Bastian Photo courtesy of swimswam

Bastian, a Florida State commit would drop two seconds but he maintained his medal position taking the Bronze again in 55.68 (split time 26.46)

Izaak on his way to 100 metre breaststroke Gold at the 2017 CARIFTA Championships Photo courtesy of Michael C Lyn

Then came 2017 at  the CARIFTA Championships in The Bahamas he extended his Gold medal winning streak in the 100 metre breaststroke with a near record performance .

History makers for the The Bahamas at the Commonwealth Youth Games Medallists Bastian and Lilly Higgs Photo courtesy of Shelly Bastian

 

Later in the year he would create history he would become the only Bahamian male medallist in the 100 metre breaststroke at the Commonwealth Games when he won the Bronze at the Youth Games in his home country. In his final long course meet for the year he recorded the best time and placing for a Bahamian at the World Junior championships.

It was that form that he brought to his last high school season. It would be an unbeaten run leading up the to the state Championships. He would take the Palm Beach County title in 56.27. At that competition he would also be named outstanding male performer. He added the District title in a time of 57.73 breaking his year old record of 58.25. A week later at the Regional meet on October 27 he would win in 56.43.

On the day of reckoning he eased into the final with 55.67 (split time 26.18) performance. That just lowered his 2016 school record of 55.68 when he won the Bronze medal. In the final it was 2016 Silver Medallist Paul DeGrado of the Bolles school and Izaak that separated themselves from the field with 50  splits of 25.99 and 25.80 respectively. There would be no denying Bastian as he split 28.71 on to take the Gold in 54.54 in a personal best, school record and the second fastest time in Florida high school history . The state record stands at 54.33 set by  James Daugherty of the Bolles School.DeGrado repeated as the Silver medallist with a time of 54.90.

Year	Time	Placing
2017	54.54	Gold
2016	55.68	Bronze
2015	57.19	Bronze
2014	1:00.83	8th B final

Bastian’s name will join the names such Olympian Bradly Ally of Barbados and Ansel Tjin-A-Tam who be crowned state Champions in the 100 yard breaststroke.

Past Regional 100 yard breaststroke champions from left to right Jordy Groters,Wayne Denswil ,Diguan Pigot Photos courtesy of floridaswimnetwork,tampaspartans.com and uconnhuskies.com

Past regional 100 yard breaststroke champions from left to right Bradley Ally and Ansel Tjin-A-Tam Photos courtesy of panamericaworld and linkedin

 

There would be more records and medals earned on the day for Izaak. In the 200 yard medley relay Izaak along with Jamaican Jesse Marsh continued the Scots CARIFTA region medal winning streak for the consecutive year. The Boca Raton based school won their third Silver medal in the event in a school record time of 1:31.86.

Saint Andrews 200 yard medley relay Caribbean Connection from left to right Marsh and Bastian Photo courtesy of Saint Andrew’s Aquatics

All three teams that won medals had Bastian on breaststroke duties and Marsh handling the butterfly leg. This year’s team lowered the 2016 Silver medal winning record time of 1:33.21.

Bastian en route to the fastest 50 split in Florida high school history Photo courtesy of Shelly Bastian

 

 

Bastian created history when he recorded the fastest breaststroke split in the history of the Championships of 24.48. That bettered the time of 24.49 done by Daugherty in 2016.

Izaak Bastian with Silver medal Photo courtesy of Shelly Bastian

The third school record in the 50 yard freestyle of 20.86 would fall in the Championship final of the event. Izaak would clock 20.53 to win the Silver . The Gold went to Cole Crane of Episcopal in 20.40.

 

The fourth Scots record would fall in the 200 yard freestyle relay . The team which included Bahamian countryman Samuel Gibson set a new mark of 1:24.73 to win the Silver .Trinity Prep won the Gold in a time of 1:23.64.

For his efforts he would earn the CBS 12 Athlete of the week honours

http://cbs12.com/sports/athlete-of-the-week/athlete-of-the-week-saint-andrews-izaak-bastian

 Bastian and Gibson holding the trophy for placing 2nd overall in the boys competition

The boys from Saint Andrew’s would place 2^nd overall with 202 points.

ARUBA’S PATRICK GROTERS ENDS HIGH SCHOOL CAREER WITH 2ND CONSECUTIVE 100 BACKSTROKE GOLD AT FLORIDA STATE 1A CHAMPS

Patrick Groters warming up at the Woodson Invitational in Sep Photo courtesy of Michael C Lyn

The year 2017 will remain in Aruban Patrick Groters mind as one of his best at the age group level with top performances at the CARIFTA Championships in The Bahamas and a strong showing at the World Junior Championships. The run of good performances would continue in his final year of high school in Florida where he would repeat as the 100 yard backstroke champion in the 1A State Championships on November.

In 2016  he ended a more than decade long drought for the CARIFTA region when he took the victory in the event.

George Bovell III Photo courtesy of theunbreakablebody.com

The last swimmer to win the event was the legendary Olympian George Bovell III of Trinidad and Tobago when he won the title for the Bolles School in 2000.

It would be a Golden path to double success in the event for the University school student at the State Championships in Stuart Florida. He would take the race on September 23 at the Woodson Invitational easily in a time of 51.77 (split time 25.80).

Top male and female performer at the 2017 Woodson Invitational Groters of the University School and Jessica Nava of Westminster Academy Photo courtesy of Michael C Lyn

He would also earn the accolade of top male performer of the meet for winning the 200 yard individual medley as well.

Top male performer at the 2017 CARIFTA Championships in The Bahamas from left to right Algernon Cargill President of The Bahamas Swimming Federation presenting the award to Patrick Photo courtesy of Michael C Lyn

Receiving the top performer award is not a new experience for Patrick who earned that honour as well at CARIFTA 2017.

 

He would take the district title on October 20 in 52.86 (split time 26.54) and a week later the regional title in 50.80 (split time 24.93).

In the Championship final held at the Sailfish Splashpark Aquatic Athletics Center Patrick lay in 3^rd place at the 50 yard mark with a split of 24.58.

The University of Denver commit then turned out a back half of 25.65 to which the field could not respond and he took the title again in 50.23.

The 200 yard individual medley saw him earning the Silver in a time of 1:49.02 (split time 49.56).That performance made it three consecutive medal winning performance for Groters after winning the title in 2015 and 2016.

 

University School top performers Arubans Daniel Jacobs and Patrick Groters Photo courtesy of Michael C Lyn

In the relays it was the powerful combination of Groters and countryman Daniel Jacobs that aided the team to strong positions. In the 200 yard freestyle relay Patrick had the fastest opening leg split of both the preliminaries and finals of 20.51. The unit of Groters and Jacobs had the 2^nd fastest 100 yards of the competition and that propelled their school to 3^rd in the  B final in a total time of 1:29.42.It would be that same Aruban one –two punch at the front half of the 400 yard freestyle that pushed the University school to 6^th in the Championship final in a time of 3:15.38. Patrick’s first leg split was timed at 45.97 (split time 22.28).

The University School boys finished 6^th overall with 108 points.

WILLIAMS SIGNALS RETURN TO FORM WITH TWO SCHOOL RECORDS FOR HOWARD AND ALL PERSONAL BESTS AT YELLOW JACKET INVITATIONAL

At the two day Yellow Jacket Invitational which ran from Dec 1-2 Jamaica’s Sidrell Williams put up his hand up to get attention of  the selection panel for overseas international competition with a strong return to form setting two school records for Howard and recording personal bests in all his events.

 

Sidrell Wiliams Photo courtesy of hubison.com/Lawrence Johnson

The meet which was contested in a 25 yard pool at the Randolph-Macon College in Chesterfield Virginia saw Sidrell on the medal podium 7 times and breaking the school record in the 100 yard freestyle and as a member of the 400 yard medley relay team.

Kazan 2015 World championship representatives from left to right Williams, member of Russian organizing committee Axinya Melekhova, Olympian Timothy Wynter Photo courtesy of Axinya Melekhova

In the 100 yard freestyle, Sidrell a 2015 World Championships representative bested the field by over a second to win the event in a time of 45.22 (split time 21.82). That crushed his personal best of 46.43 and lowered the Bison school record of 45.31 set by Jared Miller when he placed 3^rd in the B final at the 2017 CCSA (Coastal College Sports Association Championships).

Williams, a graduate of the Wolmer’s Boys’ School would combine with Don Brazelton backstroke 53.21, William Smith breaststroke 58.19 and Alex Barnes butterfly 50.89 to place 2^nd in the 400 yard medley relay in a time of 3:27.38. Sidrell provided the fastest anchor freestyle leg of 45.09. That downed the old school record of 3:27.84.

Xavier Philips Photo courtesy of hubison.com

The old record stood at 3:27.84 set the 2017 CCSA and included on breaststroke leg duties Wolmer’s alumnus Xavier Phillips. In 2016 Williams was member of the CISC ( Caribbean Islands Swimming championships) team in the 18 and over category that set new national record in the 400 metre (50 metre pool )  medley relay of 3:58.77.

The freestyle sprint double would be completed when he took the win in the 50 in time of 20.79. It would be his first time under the 21 seconds barrier and just off the 1989 school record of 20.79 set by Chris Gayle. His previous personal standard stood at 21.33.

His Bison A team would place second in the 200 yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:26.01. It is the 3^rd fastest time in school history .

200 metre freestyle relay record holders from left to right Wynter, Jason -Craig Burnett, Cameron Chow and Williams

In 2013 Williams was a member of the CARIFTA team that set the 200 metre freestyle relay national record of 1:39.21.

His A team would post another top ten school time in the 400 yard freestyle relay. The team stopped the clock in 3:10.09 with Sidrell anchoring the team with the fastest time of the relays of 45.09.It would earn the Bison squad the runner up spot and the 3^rd falsest time in programme history. In 2016 the 6’3 sophomore was member of the national record breaking team in the 400 metre freestyle relay that set the standard of 3:30.61.

Another 2^nd place position would be earned in the 100 yard butterfly when he stopped the clock in a personal best of 50.47 (split time 23.60). He is now within sight of the school record of 49.80 set by Miller at the 2017 CCSA.

The 800 yard freestyle relay saw Williams recording the fastest opening leg and personal best of 1:44.21. That places him the 5^th fastest Bison swimmer in the 200 yard freestyle of all time.

Nicholas Haughton courtesy of Howard University Swimming and Diving

The team which included Jamaican Nicholas Haughton on second leg duties has total time of 7:06.57 that placed them 3^rd and 4^th overall in school history.

For his great performances in the pool Sidrell was named CCSA athlete of the week

http://www.theccsa.com/sports/mswimdive/2017-18/releases/20171205dipmsb

 

Howard University Head Coach Nic Askew Photo courtesy of hubison.com

Coach Nic Askew’s men topped the competition with 1333.5 points just edging out Washington College. The Bison ladies placed 5^th overall.  Askew’s team which includes Caribbean student athletes Xavier Phillips, Orane Garrick, Keith –Jordan Wilkinson , Nicholas Haughton, Leanne Mc Master from Jamaica, Kegan Ford from Trinidad and Tobago, Farion Cooper and Andreas Weech from the Bahamas set 5 school records,12 overall personal bests, 91 season bests and one meet record.

 

 

 

RAMKISSOON CAPTURES FIVE GOLD MEDALS AT 2017 deBRAY DIVISIONAL CHAMPS, SETS MEET RECORD IN 50 METRE BREASTSTROKE

The flag of the twin island republic of Trinidad and Tobago was proudly flown by yet another swimmer in a different part of the globe. This time the swimmer raising the swimming stocks of his country and the CARIFTA region was Jonathan Ramkissoon. While competing for the University of Waterloo at the 2017 deBray Divisional Championships he captured 6 medals, 5 of which were Gold .Included in those wins was a meet record in the 50 metre breaststroke.

The meet which was contested in a 25 metre pool was hosted by Brock University from November 25 to 26. In his 5 Gold medal rush Ramkissoon, a Mathematics student swept the breaststroke events. He won the 50 metre event in a time of 28.37 beating the competition by more than a second and lowering his 2016 meet record of 28.68. The performance also ranks him 5^th in the Canadian collegiate system.

Jonathan Ramkissoon Photo courtesy of varsity.uwaterloo.ca

The 100 metre breaststroke saw him crushing the field by more 3 seconds as he took the victory in 1:01.77(split time 28.98). Such was his dominance in the race his midway split in the 100 would have won the silver in the 50 metre event. He now ranks 8^th in Canada with that swim.

The longest breaststroke on offer, the 200 metre event saw him producing a last 100 metres of 1:12.95 to which the field could not find an answer to. The 5’11 Ramkissoon took the event in a time of 2:23.15 with another 3 seconds plus victory margin.

Jonathan Ramkissoon Photo courtesy of Jon Halpenny and Waterloo Warriors Athletics

In the 200 medley relay Jonathan as expected produced the best breaststroke split of 28.05.His teammates Leon Ouyang backstroke 27.54, Alex Lojko butterfly 25.41 and Danyon Chu freestyle 23.47 contributed to total winning effort of 1:44.47, the 9^th fastest time in Canada so far and the 4^th fastest in school history.

The 400 metre freestyle relay saw Chu 52.06, Lojko 52.83, Ramkissoon 52.23 and Hohyun Ryu 52.06 tallying a time of 3:29.18 for a close Warriors victory over Laurentian. The Voyageurs touched in 3:29.55 for the Silver. The relay win was the 3^rd fastest in Warrior school history.

The 200 metre freestyle relay saw Jonathan providing a 3^rd leg of 23.65 to help the Warriors to Silver in 1:34.17 and the 10^th fastest Canadian collegiate of the year.

The Warriors took the men’s title with a score of 936 points.

Swimmers of the week Ramkissoon and Jocelyn Van Leeuwen Photo courtesy of Waterloo Athletics

For his efforts Jonathan was awarded Waterloo Athlete of the Week Honours along with teammate Jocelyn Van Leeuwen.

ARUBAN PRESCENCE FELT AT MISSOURI INVITE SCHREUDERS SETS SCHOOL RECORD

Mikel Schreuders Photo courtesy of sportskidsaruba

The nation of Aruba continues to make a statement at the NCAA Division I level as national record holder and Olympian Mikel Schreuders (Rio 2016) posted strong performances at the 2017 Mizzou Invitational held from November 16- 18 at the Mizzou Aquatic Center.

Mikel Schreuders Photo courtesy of mutigers.com

Schreuders made a statement in the 200 yard freestyle when he set a new personal best and school record with a winning  time of 1:33.24 (split time 45.74) topping the field by more than a second. That lowered the 2016 mark of US national team member Michael Chadwick when he recorded 1:33.64 leading of the Tigers 800 yard freestyle relay to 11^th place at the 2016 NCAA championships. It was his second consecutive win at the meet and the 2^nd fastest performance in Division I so far this season . Mikel is also a full second faster than where he was last season as well as just being outside the NCAA automatic cut of 1:32.54.His old personal best was recorded leading off the Tigers 800 yard freestyle relay team to 4^th place at the 2017 SEC championships.

Date	Time	Split	place
Nov 2017	1:33.24	45.74	1st
Nov 2016	1:34.67	46.56	1st

Schreuders would also taste victory in the 100 yard freestyle recording his second sub 43 seconds clocking with a time 42.86 (split time 20.86). His winning margin was more than half a second and seats him 9^th in Division I. He bettered his number 2 all-time standing for the school and narrows the gap to the automatic cut of 42.11.In the heats he recorded an initial personal record of 42.98 (split time 20.70).

 

The efforts of the Tigers in the 200 yard freestyle relay would result in yet more Gold. The team of Luke Mankus 19.66,Schreuders 19.06,Sam Coffman 19.58 and Caleb Hicks 19.64 to record the 5^th fastest time Division I so far. Mikel 2^nd leg which was the fastest of the meet boosted the team performance to get close to the automatic cut of 1:17.62. The winning margin was almost two seconds.

In the 400 yard freestyle relay it would be yet another Golden affair where the team dominated the competition winning by more than 5 seconds and recorded the 4^th fastest time in school history. With Giovanni Lima coming for Hicks the splits for the team were Mankus 43.67, Schreuders 42.46, Coffman 42.81 and Lima anchoring with a 42.92. Mikel was again the fastest swimmer in the relays. It bettered the NCAA A time of 2:52.10 and is the 5^th fastest time for the season

The 400 yard medley relay saw the junior posting the fastest freestyle split of the meet when he blazed to a 41.71. That swim combined with the efforts of Daniel Hein backstroke 46.41, Hicks breaststroke 52.76, and Micah Slaton butterfly 45.28 recorded a winning total time of 3:06.16. That team performance is the 8^th fastest in school history. It ranks as the 2^nd fastest in the nation and was yet another automatic qualifying performance.

Mikel Schreuders Photo courtesy of mutigers

The 50 yard freestyle saw his only non-podium finish. Despite that the Oranjestad native recorded personal bests in both the morning heats and Championship final . He lowered his 50 free standard of 20.13 to 19.65 in the preliminaries. He would be even quicker in the evening with a 19.55 to place 4^th overall. It was also the 4^th fastest time in school history and tied for the 9^th fastest so far in  Division I.

The Tigers tallied 1,411 points topped the men’s competition. The other scores were Drury 683.5, Wyoming 671.50, Oklahoma Baptist 419, South Dakota State 352 and Cincinnati 67.