LIGHTNING JACK STRIKES !KIRBY LOWERS BARBADOS NATIONAL 50 METRE FREESTYLE RECORD TO 22.68!

Most regional fans know Barbadian standout Jack Kirby for his exploits in the backstroke events. Those accolades include setting still standing 15-17 CARIFTA records in the 50, 26.27 and 100, 56.59, being the first CARIFTA Junior PAN American Bronze medallist in the 100 metre backstroke in 56.19 and being the national record holder in the those events with performances of 26.07 and 55.42.

Jack Kirby

But the Baylor School graduate also has speed in the freestyle evidenced by his 15-17 national age group records in the 50 and 100 of 23.46 and 50.97 .

At the recently concluded TYR Pro Swim Series San Antonio he established himself as the fastest ever swimmer from Barbados. The University of Southern California graduate came to Texas with a PB of 23.35. He set that personal standard in a Championship final performance at the last year’s Central American and Caribbean Games in El Salvador . That was an improvement from the 2018 Games in Colombia where he placed 18th in 23.46. It had him ranked third in the all time Barbados 50 metre freestyle rankings. Second was Olympian Martyn Forde with his 2008 Beijing swim of 23.08. The fastest time was held by another Olympian Terence Haynes with his 2009 Rome World Championships swim of 22.70.

The Bajan Sprint Sensations Martyn Forde and Terrence Haynes. Photo courtesy of Toronto Varsity Blues

Jamaican fans will recognize Haynes for qualifying for the 2004 Athens Games when he won the 18 and over Silver medal in the event at the now defunct Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships.Then he stopped the clock in 23.58. Terence was also an outstanding sprinter for the University of Toronto along with Forde.

Coach Terrence Haynes and the Seaside Aquatics group. Photo courtesy of the Barbados Children Directory.

He returned to the island in December 2023 as the head coach for the Seaside Aquatics team. As at April 12,2024 Haynes was the only sub 23 seconds performer for his country.

It would be a new day of sprinting on the 13th. Competing in heat 7 lane 5 The Irvine Novaquatics swimmer would be in sizzling form to record a massive PB and NR of 22.68.mThat earned him a spot in the C final. There he placed sixth in another sub 23 seconds clocking of 22.84. He is now the only swimmer from his country to have beaten the 23 seconds barrier more than once.

It was close to a sprint freestyle record double dash. He moved from fourth on his nation’s all time list in the 100 metre freestyle to second and challenging for the number one spot. He had a best time of 50.95 from the 2021 Bahamas Nationals. He crushed that to record a new PB of 50.14.

Alex Sobers

That is not far from the national record set by Alex Sobers also in 2021 at the ISCA International Senior Cup. A much more aggressive first 50 metres helped in setting the new PB. In future meets a second 50 metres holding under 26 will be the key to becoming the second swimmer from Barbados to break the 50 seconds barrier . Sobers had the back end speed with his background as a distance swimmer and national record over the 200 and 400 metre freestyle events.

COMPARISON OF THE THE THREE FASTEST 100 METRE FREESTYLE PERFORMANCES IN BARBADOS HISTORY

Jack Kirby

In the 100 metre backstroke Kirby would threaten yet another national record. In the heats he swam 56.02 to make the B final. In that evening’s final he would return to the 55 second territory and put his national standard on notice. He would place sixth in a time of 55.89. That was his first 55 since 2021 and his fifth overall. He now regains the chase to be the next Caribbean swimmer under the 55 seconds barrier.

The Championship season looks very exciting as Kirby pushes for faster time standards for his nation.

THE MAX FACTOR!USVI’S WILSON LOWERS SEMINOLE AND REGIONAL 100 YARD BACKSTROKE MARK TO 45.24!ALSO HELPS FSU TO PROGRAMME RECORD IN THE 400 YARD MEDLEY RELAY OF 3:03.82!

The US Virgin Islands and the CARIFTA region have felt very proud of Max Wilson and continue to do so with his performances for Florida State University . The sophomore is the all time leader for the school and the region in the 100 yard backstroke . At the NCAA Division I Championships at IUPUI Natatorium, Indianapolis, Indiana he got his name on the school record board again as a member of the standard setting 400 yard medley relay team.

At the James E Martin Invitational earlier this year he lowered his own regional 100 yard backstroke standard of 45.32. Wilson brought the region that much closer to seeing the first sub 45 seconds with a swim of 45.24. He would get the school record . The school mark of 45.31set by Belarusian Olympian Pavel Sankovich from the 2014 ACC Champs. Sankovich had the lead leg that helped them take the ACC title in a programme record of 3:04.47.

Max Wilson Seminole and CARIFTA region standard bearer in the 100 yard backstroke.Photo courtesy of seminoles.com

ANALYSIS OF WILSON’S REGIONAL STANDARD SETTING SWIMS

That helped Max punch his ticket to his first NCAA Division I Championships. There he came close to lowering his record swim. He placed 23rd in a time of 45.44 (split time 21.90) . It took 45.20 to earn a second swim.

Record setting FSU medley relay . Photo courtesy of seminoles.com

He would not be finished as he helped in taking the Seminoles under the 3:04 mark in the 400 yard medley relay. Last night the team of Wilson 45.57, Italian Tommaso Baravelli on breaststroke duties 51.67, German on the butterfly leg 45.30 and countryman Peter Varjasi on anchor with a a freestyle split of 41.28 propelled the team to 12th in 3:03.82.

Head Coach Neal Studd Photo courtesy of Florida State Swimming And Diving

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

Wilson is not only the fastest CARIFTA region has ever seen in the event the weight of his sub 46 speaks to his quality. That 400 medley relay leg was his 11 th time under that barrier. Head Coach Neal Studd has again conditioned another CARIFTA region age group champion to be the best for their school and the among the best in the region. Just a few of the names that Coach Studd has prepared for greatness include Bahamian Izaak Bastian, Suriname’s Evita Leter, Lani Cabrera of Barbados, Saint Lucian Danielle Beaubrun.

Max Wilson .Photo courtesy seminoles.com

Wilson is a special talent and proved that at the CARIFTA level. He won Gold at every age group in the 100 metre backstroke.In 2017 he captured the 11-12 Gold in 1:08.63. In 2019 he won the 13-14 crown in 1:00.35. Wilson concluded his CARIFTA career with a podium topping performance of 57.99. Max continues to prove what quality he and the region has on the elite level.

KITO WINS JUNIOR COLLEGIATE TITLE IN THE 50 YARD BREASTSTROKE IN A JAMAICA BEST OF 24.78! JOINS ELITE CLASS OF ATKINSON AND BRINN TO HAVE WON US COLLEGIATE CROWNS!

Indian River State’s Jamaican freshman Kito Campbell continues to build his own swimming legacy when he won his first collegiate title yesterday. He won a decisive victory in the 50 yard breaststroke. Competing at Anne Wilder Aquatic Complex at his home pool in Fort Pierce , Florida he also again set the Jamaica best in the event.

Kito Campbell with teammate at the 2024 NJCAA Championships. Photo courtesy of Kito Campbell

Campbell came to the 2024 National Junior College Athletic Association swimming championships with the leading time in the nation of 25.14, the Jamaica best mark. In the heats yesterday the Calabar high school graduate underscored his top billing with the fastest heats time of 25.33. With lane four secured in the final it would be a chance to make history . Jamaica’s fastest breaststroke swimmer would not disappoint . The athlete conditioned by the legendary Jamaican Olympian Sion Brinn took the Gold in a new PB and Jamaica best of 24.78.

Scoreboard at NJCAA Champs. Photo courtesy of Duwayne Campbell

That broke new ground for his nation as he became the first sub 25 seconds breaststroke performer. It also ends the Gold medal drought for the Pioneers . The last victory for the Brinn led team was in 2019 when Eric Veit won in 25.30. The podium was dominated by the Pioneers as the Silver medal was won by Italian Riccardo Pandin ina PB of 25.25. The Bronze was earned by Australian Louis Ainley in 25.37 of Barton Community College .

Alia on her way to 50 metre Gold in Berlin Photo courtesy of World Aquatics

This is the first major individual collegiate title for Jamaica since another legend Alia Atkinson won the NCAA Division I title in 2010. Competing for Texas A&M she won the 200 yard breaststroke crown in a time of 2:07.38 .

Sion Brinn Photo courtesy of http://indianriverstateathletics.com

The last Jamaican man to win a title was none other than his coach Brinn for the Pioneers . In 1993 Brinn took the freestyle treble as he took the 50 in 20.58, 100 in 49.90 and the 200 in 1:39.49. That made it four career titles for Brinn as he had won the 50 a year earlier in 20.74.

Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace Photo courtesy of pinterest

Campbell also joins the elite CARIFTA region team of individual title winners that include Trinidad and Tobago’s George Bovell III (Auburn) , Bahamians Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace (Auburn) , Lamar Taylor (Henderson State NCAA Division II) , from the Cayman Islands the Fraser brother Shaune and Brett (Florida), Barbados Bradley Ally (Florida) and Alex Sobers (Emmanuel College NCAA Division II), Surinamese icon Anthony Nesty ( Florida) and from Curaçao Hilton Woods (Oakland University NCAA Division II) and Perry Lindo (St Thomas University NAIA).Brinn coached Lindo at his time with the Pioneers and Nesty was instrumental in the title success of the Frasers and Ally.

Kito Campbell

Campbell continues to lower his Jamaican standards in yards and LCM. His nationals marks are 24.78 and 28.36. The nation will look forward to see what he can do in SCM . Those World Championships will run from December 10-15, 2024 inside the Duna Arena, the same facility that played host to the 2017 and 2022 Long Course World Championships.

STODDARD SHINES AT CONFERENCE CHAMPS WITH SCHOOL RECORD IN THE 200 YARD BREASTSTROKEOF 2:16.97!ADARA IS NOW THE FASTEST BARBADIAN WOMAN IN THE 200 BREASTSTROKE IN YARDS , LCM AND SCM!

University of Arkansas-Little Rock ‘s Barbadian freshman Adara Stoddard wrote her name in the record books at the four day Missouri Valley Conference Championships. Adara lowered the school record in the 200 yard breaststroke at the  Deaconess Aquatic Center in Evansville Indiana. It is not only a school record but the fastest time ever done by woman from Barbados in the event.

Before the Championships got underway on February 21 Stoddard had boasted a personal best of 2:22.04 (split time 1:07.90) from the House of Champions Invitational in November last year. That mark was erased from the heats. Stoddard was out in 1:06.78 , well ahead of personal record pace. That propelled her to new best mark of 2:18.71.

Adara stretching before the final . Photo courtesy of lrtrojans.com

No woman from Barbados had ever swum under 2:20 in the race. She also made the Championship final in the event. It was the first medal race appearance for the Trojans in the event since South African Imre Van Huysteen made the final in 2019. Imre also held the programme record from 2017 when she won the B final that year in 2:17.95.

Adara pushing for the school record. Photo courtesy of lrtrojans.com

That would fall to Stoddard in the final. In 2017 went out in 1:06.29 en route to her record. Adara split was 1:05.87 . She would remain on course for the record and touched in seventh in a new PB, Barbadian best and school record of 2:16.97.

Deandre Small Photo courtesy of wbuathletics.com

There was also success in other events. In the 100 yard breaststroke Adara became her nation’s standard bearer in the event from the aforementioned House of Champions meet. She swam to a PB of 1:06.41 (split 31.11). That bettered her nation’s previous best mark of 1:06.47 (split 31.01) held by Deandre Small at the 2016 NAIA Championships. That time was crushed in the heats with a swim of 1:04.36 (split 30.44). It also earned her a second swim in the B final. There would be new ground broken in that race as she swam to a third with yet another PB and Barbados best of 1:03.52 (split 29.83). She was the top Trojan finisher at the meet . Adara is now the second fastest performer in school history. The 2021 record of 1:03.48 by Israeli Annya Grom is now within her reach.

Titus getting ready to create history for Tulane. Photo courtesy of Tulane swimming and diving

In the 200 yard individual medley she lowered her personal best to 2:09.43. The nation’s best female mark is held by Olympian Danielle Titus at 2:03.14 when she represented Tulane University in 2022.

Celebrating the record swim with Head Coach Nathan Townsend. Photo courtesy of lrtojans.com

Stoddard gave her thoughts on her accomplishments to us shortly after the competition

Adara reacts to setting a new school mark.Photo courtesy oflrtrojans.com

“I was nervous for conference. After not having such a good meet before, I thought I was going to do worse but I eventually put that past meet behind me, as conference drew nearer .I swam a good 200IM but what really built my confidence was the 50m breast in the medley relay. After that I thought that my breaststroke events would be interesting and they were when the day of 100m breaststroke was approaching. I talked to my coach and we came up with a race strategy and I did exactly what we talked about. I had gotten into the 100m breaststroke B final and I thought I could go out faster and that is exactly what I did and obtained a time I never expected to achieve .The 200m breaststroke was the next day and I was excited and again I spoke to my coach and he told me that he thinks I can do well in it and we planned once again for the 200m race strategy. Little did I know that race strategy would have put me into the A final and get me close to the school record. Before the A final I was so nervous I barely spoke to anyone but everyone was talking to me and encouraged me and told me I could do it. My coach even practiced starts with me for the beginning of the 200m breaststroke. When it was time for the race I focused on the water and did exactly what I had to do and came out even more successful than I thought, not only did I break the school record but I am the first Little Rock girl to ever go under 2:17.00”.

Adara made her debut for at last year’s Central American and Caribbean Games in El Salvador . She made the final in the 200 long course metres breaststroke event placing seventh in a time 2;45.10 . In the heats she recorded a time of 2:43.98. Stoddard has the best marks for her nation in the 200 breaststroke in yards 2:16.97 , LCM 2:42.59 and SCM 2:38.72. The region will be looking to lower that even further this year.

HIGGO WRAPS UP WINTER JUNIOR NATIONALS WITH A BANG!SETS BOLLES 15-16 RECORDS IN THE 100 BACK 53.22 AND 100 FREE 49.25 AND WINS SILVER IN THE 200 FREE RELAY IN 1:29.95!

As she has done all year the Bolles Sharks Cayman Islands rising star Lila Higgo produced more record setting performances to close a competition.

Competing at the Ohio State pool she had threatened her own 15-16 100 yard backstroke record of 53.76 in the 400 yard medley relay .On Thursday Dec 7 she lead off the Sharks with a time of 53.87 (split 26.47). In the heats of the individual event she lowered the mark. The University of Michigan bound swimmer lowered that to 53.36 (split time 26.02). That earned her second consecutive Championship final in the event. There would more Bolles history in the final on Friday Dec 8. She went out in 25.80 , her first time under the 26 seconds barrier for the 100 to come home in 53.22 to place fifth.

What is the impact of the swim?

It is the best finish for the Bolles Sharks in over a decade. Last year Higgo placed eighth in 54.32. Not only is Higgo the fastest 15-16 girl in Bolles history she is also the fastest ever 18 and under Bolles Shark as the 17-18 record is held by Aubrey Peacock of 53.82 in 2009.Aubrey went on to compete for Auburn University. The CARIFTA region through the Cayman Islands representative had a heavy presence in the final as Jillian Crooks of TAC Titans won the Bronze in regional junior best of 51.54.

Crooks and Higgo. Photo courtesy of Andrea Killam-Higgo

The Cayman Islands duo had finished the 1-2 at CARIFTA as well with Crooks in 1:03.00 and Higgo 1:03.07. Again showing the quality the region possesses. Both Crooks and Higgo are the fastest junior ladies in CARIFTA regional history for the 100 back both LCM and SCY .

2023 Winter Junior 100 back analysis

At the end of the Florida high school 1A champs Higgo had done a time trial in the 100 yard freestyle. She had a previous best of 50.79 leading off the 2022 Bolles team to Silver in the 4 x100 freestyle relay in 3:26.03. Lila swam to a time on Nov 5 of 49.59. Her splits were 23.86 and 25.73.

What was the impact of the swim?

She broke the 2010 Bolles 15-16 record of 50.29 set by Megan Fonteno. Megan would go on to represent Auburn University.

In Ohio the record continued to be lowered. In the heats of the race she pushed herself to a new mark of 49.29 (split 23.80).It earned her a lane in her first Championship final. The final would be even faster .With a split of 23.77 she placed eighth in 49.25.

What is the impact of her swim?

Higgo 100 yard free analysis

Not only is Higgo the fastest 15-16 girl in Bolles history she is also the fastest 18 and under swimmer in Sharks history. The 2018 17-18 record record belongs to Adair Sand at 49.68. Her countrywoman Jillian Crooks won the race in a CARIFTA regional best of 47.30. That shows the potency of the Cayman Islands in the 4 x100 metre freestyle relay for years to come. Higgo is now the dominant CARIFTA region representative on the Bolles 15-16 record board. The other two CARIFTA region names became Olympians for their countries. Jamaican Janelle Atkinson in the 500 yard freestyle and Damian Alleyne of Barbados in the same event.

Bolles 15-16 CARIFTA region SCY record holders

Janelle Atkinson. Photo courtesy of Janelle Atkinson

Damian Alleyne Barbados Olympian (2000,2004) Photo courtesy of Khalil Goodman for Better Health Magazine June 2011

On Friday December 8 Higgo earned her first Winter Junior nationals medal in the 200 yard freestyle relay. The team of Maryn McDade, Simany Lee, Julia Murphy and Higgo pushed hard for the Gold. They won the Silver in 1:29.95 to Carmel Swim Club’s 1:29.39. The Bolles school was the third fastest team when the results from both the East and West are combined. Mission Viejo in the West was the top team in 1:29.37. It is again the best performance by the Bolles school in over a decade.

Bolles Silver medallists from left to right McDade, Higgo, Murphy and Lee .Photo courtesy of Andrea Killam-Higgo

Bolles 200 yard freestyle relay analysis

Looking at the splits Higgo posted a swift anchor leg of 22.22. That was the fastest anchor in the East and third overall when the results are combined. The Cayman Islands again dominate the all time regional fastest performers with 50 yard splits. Crooks is a number 1 with 21.68 from 2022 and Higgo follows with her 2023 Silver medal winning anchor leg.

Higgo closed the meet with a 49.03 anchor in the 4x 100 yard freestyle. That helped the Sharks to fourth overall in 3:19.34.Again it was the best performance by the Bolles team in over a decade.

Lila Higgo .Photo courtesy of Andrea Killam -Higgo

The Bolles Sharks, Cayman Islands and the CARIFTA region will be looking with great anticipation to see even faster performances from Lila in 2024.

CARIFTA QUEEN OF SPEED!! ARIANNA VANDERPOOL-WALLACE’S 50 SCM FREE OF 23.93 RANKED AS 45TH BEST OF ALL TIME

 

Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace Photo courtesy of pinterest

You may know her as Anna ,AV-W ,  G.O.A. T (Greatest of All Time) or just simply Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace from the Bahamas, the fastest woman ever from the CARIFTA region.

As swimmingstats continues its buildup to the short course swimming season it has duly noted the 23.93 set by the Bahamian and CARIFTA region legend as one of the top 50 fastest performances of all time. It ranks the CARIFTA Queen of Speed at number 45. She recorded the Bahamian and CARIFTA and CCCAN region record at the 2014 World Short course swimming championships where she placed fifth.

She is the only CARIFTA or CCCAN region woman ever to have gone under 24 seconds. At the World Championships she belongs to a very small list of swimmers that have made the Championship final.  She is the only medallist having won the Bronze in 2010 in 24.04.That list includes sprint Leah Martindale of Barbados, who made the final twice as well.

Eileen Coparropa.Photo courtesyof Olympedia.co

REGIONAL LADIES OF SPEED

Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace Photo courtesy of theswimpictures.com

UNMATCHED IN THE YARDS POOL

That same swimming season she would take the 2011 NCAA Division I title for Auburn University in the 50 yard freestyle in a swim of 21.38. It was then the fastest winning time at the Championships. Earlier at the SEC Championships she set a then school and SEC record of 21.34.  It still stands as the fastest time ever done by a CARIFTA and CCCAN lady in this format. She is the only woman from the these regions to win the SEC and NCAA titles and only double winner . She repeated her SEC victory in 2012 with  another sizzler of 21.34.

Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace Photo courtesy of swimmingworldmagazine.com

SIZZLING IN THE OLYMPIC SIZED POOL

In terms of speed in the 50 metre pool Arianna is still the number one the CRIFTA and CCCAN regions have produced. Her fourth place swimming at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow has not been bettered.

Malia Metella celebrating Olympic Silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics Photo courtesy of zimbio

Only Malia Metella of French Guiana and France can be seen on the same level as AV-W with her achievement of winning 2004 Olympic Silver. She dominated the region and was the top performer as seen by her record at major competitions. The last time the CARIFTA region had a sub 25 seconds performance came at her last Olympics  at the Rio 2016 Games.

Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace Photo courtesy of fitterandfaster.com

REGIONAL EXCELLENCE

The region can take great pride in the achievements of our “QUEEN OF SPEED” . Her hard work and success can only serve as inspiration to those competing and aiming to be the very best in the sport.

ELAN DALEY CONSOLIDATES HER POSITION AS FASTEST EVER FEMALE CARIFTA REGION AGE GROUP SWIMMER IN THE 100 FREE WITH 55.39 PB

Elan Daley checks her time after yet another record breaking performance Photo courtesy of Bermuda CARIFTA Swim team 2018

On the opening day of the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Swimming championships in Honolulu Hawaii Elan Daly recorded the fastest ever time by an age group girl from the CARIFTA region when she scorched to  2:00.52 . The former Bermuda standout now representing Canada is the only age group girl under 2:01.00 . In case you had missed it at Canadian OlympicTrials in 2021 she became the first 15-17 swimmer from CARIFTA to go under 56 seconds with a swim of 55.93.

The best the region had produced had been 56.03 . That standard was set by 18 year old Leah Stancil then Martindale. Representing Team Barbados she had placed fourth in the B final at the 1996 Olympics Games. Coach Stancil  has been recently appointed as the associate head coach at Louisiana State University.

Leah Stancil .Photo courtesy of LSU Swimming and diving

Link to release

https://lsusports.net/sports/sd/roster/coach/leah-stancil/

She has since lowered that to 55.83. In Hawaii she made yet another A final with a swim of 55.46.That time would be lowered yet again in the Championship final . Elan recorded her best place of the Championships so far with a sizzling 55.39.

Daley now has five of the fastest age group times from the CARIFTA region

11-12 100 metre freestyle podium from left to right Morgan Cogle Jamaica Silver Daley Gold ,Adia Deane Barbados Bronze. Photo courtesy of Bermuda Carifta Swim Team 2018

Elan is one the region had being looking to be a leader. This evidenced by her top performances in the 11-12 age group. She still holds the CARIFTA and CCCAN records for this age category with swims of  1:00.06(2018) and 59.65 (2017) respectively.

Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace Photo courtesy of swimmingworldmagazine.com

The overall best time from the region is 53.73 held by the sprint legend  Olympian Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace  from Team Bahamas . We will look to see if Daley can challenge that standard as the momentum builds towards the 2024 Games in Paris.

EASTERN CARIBBEAN RISING!!JADON SETS NEW 100 BREAST NR AND FASTEST EVER CARIFTA TIME AT THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES

We knew Jadon of Antigua and Barbuda would be one to watch in the sprint breaststroke events at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and he has not disappointed.

Jadon Wuilliez.Photo courtesy of TCU Swimming and diving

He came to England as 2022 CSCAA National Invitational Championship in the 50 yard breaststroke at 24.15 for Texas Christian University and the Caribbean Games Champion with national record times of 28.10 in the 50 metre breaststroke and 1:02.44 in the 100 metre breaststroke.

The time in Guadeloupe would not last the heats of the 100 metre breaststroke. Jadon took it out in 28.99 to propel him to a new NR and Eastern Caribbean best of 1:02.38. It also made him the fastest ever CARIFTA swimmer at the Commonwealth Games. He bettered the 1:03.38 set by Olympian and regional legend Bradley Ally of Team Barbados.

That placed him 15^th overall and earned him a semi finals berth. He would join the best of the CARIFTA region that have made the top 16 when the field was over 20 competitors.

Bradley Ally Photo courtesy of panamerican world

TALE OF THE TAPE

2014	Dustin Tynes	The Bahamas	1:03.39	13th
2014	Julian Fletcher	Bermuda	1:04.48	15th
2006	Bradley Ally	Barbados	1:03.38	10th
2002	Andrei Cross	Barbados	1:06.07	16th
1994	Chris Flook	Bermuda	1:05.09	10th
1982	Paul Newallo	Trinidad and Tobago	1:07.66	13th

In the semi final he again separated himself from the rest of the CARIFTA region at the Commonwealth Games with yet another PB, NR and Eastern Caribbean best of 1:02.23. That time would place him 14^th overall. It was also most the case of one races two records as his opening 50 metres was 28.65.

This is a fantastic improvement for Jadon who was 25^th at the 2018 Gold Coast Games. He gave his thoughts about his performance

“The races went very well and I’m happy to have had all of the support before, during and after. I didn’t quite achieve my goal time, but making the semifinals definitely makes up for it. I couldn’t believe it when I heard I made the night swim, but I knew I needed to swim with my heart and trust my training. I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to race for my beautiful country and I can’t wait for the 50 on Monday”

MAJOR MOVES BY MACKENZIE!!HEADLEY SETS JAMAICAN AGE GROUP RECORDS IN THE 50 FREE 25.62 100 FREE 57.37 AND 50 FLY 27.68

Mackenzie Headley

Mackenzie Headley has proven to be a major revelation for Team Jamaica with her performances this season. She has made a significant impact for Jamaica at the CARIFTA Championships in Barbados and the Caribbean Games in Guadeloupe. Headley prepared for her first senior national assignment at the 2022 Commonwealth Games by becoming the fastest Jamaican female age group swimmer of all time in the 50 and 100 metre freestyle and 50 metre butterfly.

Natasha Moodie Photo courtesy of mgoblue.com

At the CARIFTA Championships she set a then personal best of 26.43 in the heats. In the final she won the Bronze in 26.64. In Guadeloupe she earned the Silver in time of 27.17. Since then she has been crushing the Jamaican records. Competing for Farmington Valley YMCA Tsunami at the Connecticut Long Course Senior Championship from July 7 to 10 she took the Gold in 25.96. How good was that time? It was .01 off the 15-17 age group mark of Natasha Moodie. Natasha set the standard more than a decade ago at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She would become the fastest Jamaican age grouper at the YMCA National Championships in North Carolina from July19-23. In the heats she blazed to 25.77. That would not last the day as she took the Bronze medal in 25.62. Only the legendary Olympian Alia Atkinson has been faster with her senior national standard of 25.47 which won her Bronze at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games in Colombia.

Leah Stancil Photo courtesy of Tulane Swimming and Diving

On the all time 15-17 rankings only another legendary Olympian Leah Martindale now Stancil with her barrier breaking 25.49 has been faster. When Leah swam to that mark she was the first CARIFTA region woman to make the Olympic 50 metre final at the Atlanta 1996 where she placed fifth.

ALL TIME 15-17 CARIFTA RANKINGS

At the 2018 Commonwealth Games it took 25.80 or faster to make the Championship final so Headley is in good stead to push for a medal race berth.

At CARIFTA Headley scorched to the 50 metre butterfly Gold in a new pb and 15-17 CARIFTA and Jamaica record of 27.79.In Guadeloupe she won the Bronze in 28.73.At the YMCA Long Course Championships she took the Silver in another 15-17 Jamaican standard of 27.68. The only other Jamaican woman who has been faster is Alia Atkinson. The senior national standard is owned by Alia at 26.54 during the heats of the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games. She would go on to win the Gold in 26.60.

Naele atop the medal podium after being awarded the Gold medal in 50 metre butterfly for 13-14 girls Photo courtesy of Sports of Jamaica

In the all time 15-17 rankings for this race the only two are ahead of Headley. The leader is Naele Portecop who was at one point the European Junior Championships record holder.

Janelle Atkinson .Photo courtesy of Janelle Atkinson

In the 100 metre freestyle at CARIFTA Mackenzie started off the 400 metre freestyle relay in a then pb of 58.19,The team won in a new CARIFTA and Jamaica 15-17 record of 3:58.87. At the Caribbean Games she won Gold in 58.18, a new Games record.She would go on to take down the 1999 15-17 record of 57.95 of yet another regional legend Janelle Atkinson. At the Connecticut Long Course Senior Championship she went 57.89 (split 27.38) during the heats. There would be more to come at the YMCA Championships. In the heats she put up 57.45 (split 27.60). That swim made her the fastest Jamaican female age group swimmer of all time bettering the 57.54 Janelle did as a 13-14 swimmer. That time would be lowered in the final as she posted 57.37 (split 27.19) to finish fourth.

With Mackenzie in her first year of the 15-17 age group look for the records to continue to tumble as she lifts the standard of Jamaican swimming.

FRESH(MAN)PRINCE NOW BECOMES THE EMPEROR!!JORDAN CROOKS IS NOW THE FASTEST CARIFTA REGION SWIMMER EVER WITH HIS BLAZING 50 YARD FREESTYLE TIME OF 18.53

On the first day of the SEC Championships we were raving about Jordan Crook’s amazing split in the 200 yard freestyle relay of 18.43 . That was the fastest of all time by a CARIFTA region swimmer. And as we keep saying we expected Crooks to be fast but not that this fast. Yesterday February 16 will live on history as the Fresh(man) Prince became the Fresh(man) Emperor

SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE CORONATION OF EMPEROR JORDAN

In November last year Jordan announced himself to the court of great regional sprinters with a time of 19.39 at his school , the University of Tennessee’ Invitational. With that swim he was now number six all time from the CARIFTA region. He also placed himself as the fastest Caribbean swimmer ever at the school bettering the time of 19.45 by Puerto Rican Olympian Ricky Busquets 19.45.

Ricardo-Busquets .Photo courtesy of primerahora

With the SEC Championships at his home pool the Allan Jones Aquatics Center he would defend his territory and enlarge his kingdom by going for the number one title. In his opening salvo in the relay he showed that he was ready for the challenge with a split of 18.43.

In the heats of the 50 yard freestyle he established himself as the greatest of all time . Outside of George Bovell no other CARIFTA region had dipped under the 19 seconds mark. Jordan crossed that barrier and proclaimed himself as the Emperor of the CARIFTA region sprinters with a sizzling 18.84. That set up the freshman as the number one seed. It also made him the fastest swimmer of all time at Tennessee. It bettered the 2019 mark of 18.95 set by Kyle DeCoursey . Kyle set that mark winning the Silver in the event at the Championships. He was also under the NCAA A standard of 18.96.

SEC 200 yard freestyle relay podium . from left to right Tennessee Silver ,Alabama Gold and Missouri Bronze .Photo courtesy of Florida Gators swimming and diving

The 200 yard freestyle relay saw him flexing his powers as the all time leader CARIFTA in the event. He put down another regional marker when he blazed to 18.72. That split helped the Volunteers to a time of 1:16.48 and the Silver medal. That is the second fastest time in school history. The school record stands at 1:16.00 set in the heats of the 2009 NCAA Championships.

SEC 50 freestyle medal podium. from left to right Curry, Crooks and Chaney. Photo courtesy of Florida Gators Swimming and Diving

The final would be the ultimate moment of the coronation of Emperor Jordan. He showed how we do it in the CARIFTA region. He went out in 8.93 and came back in 9.60. No one matched his speed on any of the 25’s. He claimed an emphatic victory in 18.53. That stands as a new PB, SCHOOL , CARIFTA REGION record. It is also currently the fastest time in America.

Silver went American Gold Medallist Brooks Curry of Louisiana State University in 18.67 and the Bronze to Adam Chaney of Florida, the 2021 Champion in 18.81.

IMPACT OF EMPEROR JORDAN’S EVOULTION OF SPEED

Jordan has now carried CARIFTA region swimming to a new level .What was not possible in over decade to break the 19 seconds barrier has happened in one day. Not once but three times

Crooks is not only the fastest swimmer in the America but he is the fastest freshman (now Emperor). And when you see that the list included Caeleb Dressel who displaced as the best of all time the impact is massive

Jordan receiving Gold from Coach Rich Murphy. Photo courtesy of Tennessee swimming and diving

Caeleb Dressel

For the uninitiated Dressel is the reigning Olympic Champion and the fastest man of all time in yards 17.63, the world record holder in the 50 in the 25 metre pool at 20.16 . He is also the third fastest man of all time with his swim of 21.04 in June 2021.

Enrico Linscheer Photo courtesy of http://www.dbnl.org

The SEC Championship title for the second won by the CARIFTA region in the event. The last time was by Surinamese Olympian Enrico Linscheer in 1993. Competing for the Florida Gators he won in 20.14.

It also marks the 12th victory for the Volunteers. The last time was when Busquets won for the second time in 19.76 in 1996. He had won a year earlier in 19.96.

Crooks also brings back the CARIFTA region to the winner’s circle after Aruban Olympian Mikel Schreuders won the 200 yard freestyle title. Mikel took the title in 1:31.96 representing the Missouri Tigers.

Jordan also ensures that the Cayman Islands maintains its dominance with SEC individual titles. They now have six with Shaune Fraser the all time leader with five.

Shaune Fraser

Jordan is now the the fifth fastest swimmer of all time in the event

Jordan continues to show that CARIFTA region is a force to be reckoned with in the NCAA with his outstanding performances.