SHIRLEY GETS CLOSER TO HER FIRST 25 SECONDS PERFORMANCE IN THE 50 FREESTYLE!CHRISTANYA WINS CARIFTA BRONZE IN PB OF 26.56!

At the 2024 CARIFTA Championships in the Bahamas last month Christanya Shirley again proved that at regional championships when Jamaica needs speed you look to her.

Christanya Shirley with her 50 metre freestyle Bronze medal. Photo courtesy of the Aquatics Sports Association of Jamaica

The Immaculate Conception star was again firing on all cylinders in her signature event, the 50 metre freestyle on the final day of pool swimming. In the 15-17 age group heats she lowered her season best of 26.80 set at this year’s Walter Rogers Age Group Championships in February. That put her as the second seed for the medal race.

In the final she as she did on the last previous three editions of the CARIFTA Championships she stroked her way to another medal.Shirley has improved her time every time she has hit the water for Jamaica at the competition.

SHIRLEY’S CARIFTA SPRINT PROGRESSION

Christanya dropped a tenth of a second to record a new PB of 26.56 and earn the Bronze. The performance makes her the second fastest Jamaican girl ever at the regional showpiece.

Zaneta Alvaranga,
Photo courtesy of Cheser Adams

Another Immaculate Conception star Zaneta Alvaranga is the only girl that has been faster at the meet . In 2022 she won the 15-17 Silver . Shirley is now the sixth fastest performer in Jamaican history.

ALL TIME TOP TEN JAMAICAN SPRINTERS

Natasha Moodie . Photo courtesy of the University of Michigan swimming and diving

Christanya can now aim for lowering the longstanding 15-17 age group record of 25.95 set by Natasha Moodie at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Silver was won by hometown star and Texas Christian University freshman Rhanishka Gibbs in 26.22. Gold was won by Cayman Islands Olympian and the region’s fastest junior of all time Jillian Crooks in 26.20.

There would be more fireworks from Shirley in the 4 x 50 metre freestyle relay . With Team Jamaica in fourth position she provided a game changing leg as she produced a blazing leg of 26.08. No other anchor was that swift . She caught almost all the teams in front of her . The Cayman Islands would withstand her speed to take the Gold in a Championship record and the fastest regional junior time ever of 1:47.93. Team Jamaica would earn the Silver in a new age group record and third fastest junior performance of all time of 1:48.20. The new record holders are Carolyn Levy Powell, Leah Chin, Leanna Wainwright and Shirley.

CARIFTA 2024 15-17 4 x50 metre freestyle Silver medallists and new NAGR at 1:48.20 from left to right Carolyn Levy Powell, Christanya Shirley, Leah Chin and Leanna Wainwright. Photo courtesy of the Aquatic Sports Association of Jamaica

The old national record was 1:48.42 set by the 2018 CARIFTA team

CARIFTA 2018 15-17 4 x50 metre freestyle relay Gold medallists ina NAGR of 1:48.42 from left to right Eaton ,Johnson, Banks and Anderson Photo courtesy of Mike C Lyn

Team Antigua and Barbuda won the Bronze in 1:49.36.

Christanya Shirley

With CARIFTA marking the beginning of the Championship season Shirley has put the nation on national age group record watch for the 50 metre freestyle.

TRISTAN’S TRIUMPH!DORVILLE BECOMES THE FIRST EASTERN CARIBBEAN SWIMMER TO MEDAL AT CARIFTA IN THE 15-17 50 FREESTYLE WITH A BRONZE IN 23.70!

Before the 2024 CARIFTA Championships got underway no EC (Eastern Caribbean) swimmer had ever been on the podium for the 15-17 50 metre freestyle .

Jordan Augier .Photo courtesy of theakimernst

The closest that the sub region has been through the efforts of the Saint Lucian duo of Olympian Jordan Augier (Rio 2016) and Runako Daniel . In 2012 in the The Bahamas Augier had placed fourth in a time of 24.33. A year later in Jamaica Daniel also placed fourth in 24.63.

Tristan Dorville .Photo courtesy of the Bolles School

That barrier has been broken by another Saint Lucian Tristan Dorville. The rising star who is training at the world renowned Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida got his 50 freestyle sprint campaign underway in style. He qualified for the final with a time of 23.84. That had him third heading into the night’s final. It was another milestone as it was the first time an EC swimmer had recorded a sub 24 seconds performance in the race.

Stefano Michell. Photo courtesy of Azura Florida Aquatics

The previous standard had been set by Antigua and Barbuda Olympian Stefano Mitchell. He had swum 24.05 at the 2017 Championships.

There would be more to come from Dorville in the final as he equalled his own 15-17 age group record of 23.70 to take the historic Bronze medal. The Silver was won by the Cayman Islands James Allison in a Pb of 23.50. The Gold was won Bahamian Marvin Johnson Jr in a season best of 22.96.

Tristan Dorville with his historic 15-17 50 metre freestyle Bronze medal. Photo courtesy of the Saint Lucia Aquatics federation

Dorville not only holds the fastest junior time in Saint Lucia but for the entire EC. He first earned the title of the EC’s fastest junior at the 2023 World Junior Championships in Israel when he clocked 23.76 . That lowered Mitchell’s junior best of 23.81.Stefano set that mark earning CCCAN 15-17 Bronze in Trinidad and Tobago. Tristan first swam 23.70 representing his nation at this year’s World Aquatic Championship in Doha.

With that accolade on his CV he can now look to becoming the fast man from his nation. He will have to challenge the 23 seconds barrier as aforementioned Augier has the national standard at 23.08 from 2015. With that important step taken look for Dorville to be among the EC stars striving for excellence this season and beyond.

SENIOR SPRINT BACKSTROKE TITLES REMAIN IN THE REPUBLIC!LIAM CARRINGTON WINS 15-17 GOLD IN PBs OF 26.59 AND 57.07 RESPECTIVELY!

It is normal for swimmers to have difficulty in the first year of an age group but that has not been the case for Trinidad and Tobago’s rising star Liam Carrington. In 2023 in he won the 13-14 Gold in the 50 and 100 metre backstroke in Curaçao in times of 27.34 and 59.66. He would complete the regional Golden Double for both events at the CCCAN Championships with winning times of 26.98 and 59.21. Now being conditioned at the world famous Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida he came to The Bahamas with a lot of confidence. It has certainly showed over the first two days of competition.

15-17 50 metre backstroke medal podium from left to right Johnson Jr, Carrington and McKenzie Photo courtesy of Dinnora Gil Anthony

The 50 metre backstroke saw him as the only swimmer under the 27 seconds mark with a time of 26.82. That would be lowered again in the final as he took the Gold decisively with another personal record time of 26.59 . Silver went Marvin Johnson Jr in a PB of 27.04 ,dropping more than half a second Jamaican Malcom McKenzie won his first international medal in 27.33. He also dropped more than half a second to earn the Bronze.

In the final of 15-17 100 metre backstroke he got to work early in the race. he separated himself early with a split of 27.43 . You can see the improvement as his winning 13-14 50 backstroke time just .09 faster. He was the only swimmer under the 28 seconds barrier. Carrington also out split the field as well on the last 50 with a time of 29.64 .No other swimmer swam under 31 seconds. His final time was huge PB of 57.07. His previous personal record was 57.60 in November. Then he went out in 28.21. Silver went to Elijah Daley of Bermuda in 1:00.18. The Bronze medal was earned by the Cayman Islands Will Sellars in a PB of 1:00.27.

Christian Homer Photo courtesy of floridagators.com

Carrington’s career has been impacted by phenomenal coaches from Trinidad and Tobago to include Anil Roberts, Maurice Faria and Christian Homer. Liam has followed in Homer’s footsteps as Christian was the first swimmer from the Republic to win the sprint double in his first year of the 15-17 age group. In 2005 he won in times of 27.65 and 59.52. He would never lose those races at CARIFTA as he would take the sprint double again in 2006 of 27.58 and 59.33. Homer closed out his CARIFTA career with times of 26.70 and 58.79.

Zarek Wilson.Photo courtesy Alabama swimming and diving

Liam ensured that Trinidad and Tobago retained the sprint backstroke titles .Last year countryman Zarek Wilson won the titles in times of 26.81 and 58.40. The Republic has dominated in terms of sprint doubles as David McLeod took the sprint double in 2014 in 26.31 and 58.72.

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

Liam’s 50 backstroke time is the third fastest winning time in CARIFTA history .The record is held by Jack Kirby of Barbados in 26.27. For the 100 metre event he has the second fastest winning time as only Kirby who completed a record double in Jamaica in 2018 with his Championship record.

Liam Carrington .Photo courtesy of Dinnora Gil Anthony

As we saw last year Carrington only gets faster during Championship season so look for the Republic to continue their backstroke reign with a developing Carrington

JORDAN CROOKS SETS YET ANOTHER REGIONAL AND SCHOOL BEST !BECOMES THE FASTEST EVER CARIFTA REGION SWIMMER IN THE 200 YARD FREESTYLE WITH A SWIM OF 1:30.41!

The Cayman Islands Jordan Crooks continues to raise the bar for the University of Tennessee and the CARIFTA , Caribbean and CCCAN regions. Crooks , a junior for the Volunteers is the best ever for the school and from the region in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle events and the 100 yard butterfly . Yesterday at the 2024 NCAA Division I Championships at IUPUI Natatorium, Indianapolis, Indiana he added the 200 yard freestyle to his impressive list of accolades.

Jordan Crooks 200 yard freestyle Tennessee and regional record breaker. Photo courtesy of Tennessee swimming and diving

At the beginning of the season his PB was was 1:32.07. That was broken twice at the 2024 SEC Championships first to 1:31.45, then a Bronze medal winning effort of 1:31.17. In the heats of the event he unleashed the fastest time ever done by a Volunteer of 1:30.41. That bettered the regional mark of 1:30.95 set by Trinidad and Tobago legend Dylan Carter. He recorded that time leading off the University of Southern California Trojans at the 2017 NCAA . That team placed fifth in a time of 6:10.97. The new top three reads Crooks 1:30.41, Carter 1:30.95 and Aruban star Mikel Schreuders 1:31.27. Mikel set that mark winning the 2019 SEC Championships.

Dylan Carter Texas Invite Photo courtesy of Walt Middleton/usctrojans.com

ANALYSIS OF THE REGION’S FASTEST PERFORMERS

Mikel Schreuders

That earned him a place in the final. It also saw a return by the region to the medal race. Schreuders had placed eighth in 1:32.75 after posting 1:32.15 in the heats.Crooks produced the best Volunteer finish since 1990 and the best for the region since 2011 with a sixth place performance of 1:31.03. That is also the best time by a regional swimmer in the 200 yard freestyle final,.

Cayman Islands Swimming legends Shaune and Brett Fraser Photo courtesy of Cayman Compass

CAYMAN ISLANDS EXCELLENCE

The Cayman Islands can again boast about their swimmers performance in this race at the NCAA Division I Championships. They now have three men who have made the finals ,the Fraser siblings and Crooks. In 2009 Shaune won the 2009 crown in a University of Florida and regional standard setting time of 1:31.70. His brother Brett took the 2011 crown in a time of 1:32.21 . Again the Cayman Islands have the fastest swimmer in the region thanks to Crooks.

Crooks raising his hand in victory and to be counted of the CARIFTA region’s all time greats Photo courtesy of Tennessee Swimming and Diving

Jordan in his last CARIFTA in 2019 in Barbados he won the 15-17 title in a then PB of 1:57.20 (split 57.20).Jordan again serves as an inspiration for the regional swimmers in what can be achieved through hard work

FERGUSON FINISHES WITH A FLOURISH IN FORT PIERCE!TOM RECORDS FASTEST RELAY SPLIT OF 43.61 TO ENSURE PIONEER FREESTYLE RELAY SWEEP!RECORD PBs IN BRONZE MEDAL WINNING EFFORTS IN 500 FREE (4:34.97) AND 100 FREE (44.12)!

Indian River State’s Caymanian freshman Tom Ferguson again put up medal winning performances on the final two days of the 2024 National Junior College Athletic Association swimming championships. His final medal tally for the competition saw him winning Six medals, Three Gold, Two Bronze and a Silver medal.

Tom Ferguson. Photo courtesy of CBAC

In the meet’s final race, the 400 yard freestyle relay Tom put up his hand to show that he will be a force to be reckoned with for the Pioneers and the Cayman Islands. On the third leg he produced the fastest split of all the 32 competitors. He was timed at 43.61. That helped the Pioneers to another decisive win in the event. It ensured they swept all the freestyle relays. The team of South African Joshua Parry 44.11,American Owen Mclaughlin 43.86 and anchor Italian Riccardo Pandin 44.07 took the crown in 2:55.65. Silver went to Iowa Central Community College in 3:01.08 .The Bronze was earned by Southwestern Oregon Community College in 3:02.01.

That swim is the third fastest winning time in Championships history. Only the 2008 team featuring Venezuelan World Championship representative Roberto Gomez and Olympians from Puerto Rico and South Africa Raul Martinez and Gideon Louw and the 2012 team with another Puerto Rican World Championship representative Luis Flores and South African Brad Tandy have been faster.

TOP THREE ALL TIME RELAY TEAMS AT THE NJCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Earlier in the meet he would be on the medal podium in individual events. In the 100 yard freestyle he battled his way to the Bronze . His splits were 21.17 and 22.95 for a new PB and Bronze medal of 44.12. His old personal standard was 44.56 from November of last year. Silver went to Brazilian Luis de Oliveira of Iowa Central in 43.96. The Gold went to Pandin in 43.17.

In the 500 yard freestyle he started the competition with a PB of 4:35.97. That was lowered to 4:35.69 in the heats . And again again bettered in an extremely close final with the top three all being Pioneers in clocking personal best time. Gold went to Matthew Mclean in 4:34.40, Silver to Mikael Soederberg in 4:34.54 and Ferguson the Bronze in 4:34.97.

Indian River State College celebrates 50 consecutive men’s titles. Photo courtesy of NJCAA

Tom with all personal best times at the Championships helped Jamaican Olympian head coach Sion Brinn secure 50 consecutive wins for the school. Tom has also shown the speed he has and what more will come for 2024. The Cayman Islands with names such as Jordan Crooks, James Allison and now Ferguson this season are laying the groundwork for what can be very impressive 4x 100 freestyle and 4 x200 freestyle teams.

FERGUSON FAST IN FLORIDA!PROVIDES SIZZLING ANCHOR OF 19.99 TO HELP PIONEERS TO 200 FREE RELAY GOLD!WINS SILVER IN 200 YARD FREE IN PB OF 1:39.02!

The Cayman Islands Tom Ferguson continued his good form on the second day of the 2024 NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association). Competing at his home pool in Fort Pierce, Florida the Indian River State freshman earned two more podium places.

Tom Ferguson and teammate Chase Salling at the 2024 National Junior College Athletic Association
Photo courtesy of Karen Ferguson

The first event for Sion Brinn conditioned athlete was the 200 yard freestyle relay. On November 8 in a meet against Keiser and Florida Institute of Technology he showed a glimpse of what he could do with his split in that relay. He provided a second leg timed at 20.10 . The team won in a time of 1:21.61 then. Yesterday he was given the anchor leg responsibilities. Tom gave his first sub 20 seconds split of 19.99. That was the second fastest leg on the Pioneers team. The squad of Italian Ricardo Pandin 20.07,American Felipe Costa 20.21 and South African Joshua Parry 19.89 ensured that Ferguson could lift his hands in victory with a total team time of 1:20.16. The Silver went to Iowa Central Community College in 1:21.50 . The Bronze was earned by Southwest Oregon Community College.

There would another trip to the medal podium in the 200 yard freestyle. He split 47.11 and 51.88 to record a new PB and the Silver medal in a time of 1:39.02. The time drop was more than half a second from his previous fastest time of 1:39.69 . It is his first individual medal. His two day medal haul now stands at three , two Gold and a Silver. The Gold was won by Parry in a PB of 1:37.44.

Tom Ferguson. Photo courtesy of Kevin Morales/Content Studio

Tom’s success has shown again the quality of the swimming from the Cayman Islands and the potential for head turning relay teams that the nation can produce.

REGIONAL SPRINT BREASTSTROKE KING TO CONTEST WORLD CHAMPS FINAL IN THE 50!ARUBAN MIKEL SCHREUDERS BECOMES THE FIRST MAN FROM THE CARIFTA, CARIBBEAN AND CCCAN REGIONS TO SWIM IN THE MEDAL RACE IN THE 50 BREASTSTROKE!

The fastest man ever in the 50 metre breaststroke in the CARIFTA, Caribbean and CCCAN regions Aruban Olympian Mikel Schreuders created history today at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha,Qatar. He became the first man from any of those regions to make the final in the race at the World Championships in the 50 metre pool.

Mikel Schreuders. Photo courtesy of Mikel Schreuders

It is also a first for Aruba in any event at the World Championships.He proved that his level was above anyone else in the regions when he set a new regional best in the event of 26.98 in December of last year.No one else had ever swum below the 27 seconds barrier in the event.

Darren Mew .Photo courtesy of alchetron

At the World Championships the 50 metre events outside of freestyle were introduced at the 2001 edition in Fukuoka, Japan. in the first ever 50 metre breaststroke final Head Coach of the Seven Mile Swimmers in the Cayman Islands, Darren Mew representing the United Kingdom placed seventh now in 28.05.There have been 12 editions of the meet with no CARIFTA, Caribbean or CCCAN male representatives until now.

In a buildup up to these World Championships the team at draftingthecaribbean noted it took 27.36 to make it to the semi finals in 2023. Mikel conditioned at Club Le Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille in France took the heats in a time of 27.18 to rank 11th. When we looked the time to make the final last year we saw that it took 27.06. In semi final number two, Mikel with the second fastest reaction time of the 16 competitors of 0.61, willed himself to the final with a fifth place swim and eighth overall in a time of 27.05.

Alia Atkinson. Photo courtesy of World Aquatics

So along with the historic feat of making the final he also the leads the region with the most sub 27.50 performances at five. He now joins a swimming legend, Jamaican Olympian Alia Atkinson as a finalist at this global meet. Atkinson , who is in Doha, is the Chairperson of the World Aquatics Athlete Commission

Atkinson placed fourth in 2019 in Gwangju, South Korea in a time of 30.34. In 2015 in Kazan,Russia she won the Silver in 30.11.

The CARIFTA region’s aquatic stars have made us very proud.With Mikel’s countrywoman Krya Hoevertsz placing seventh in the solo free technical in the artistic swimming and Dylan Carter of Trinidad and Tobago earning fifth place in the 50 metre butterfly and now Mikel set to do battle in the 50 metre breaststroke the youngsters can draw inspiration for world class performances and athletes from within their own region.

SCHREUDERS SWEET TOP 16 PROMISE!MIKEL POISED TO MAKE SEMI FINALS AND BEYOND AT WORLDS WITH 2023 BREAKTHROUGH SWIMS IN THE 50 FREESTYLE AND BREASTSROKE!

Aruban Mikel Schreuders will be aiming for top 16 and beyond next month at his sixth World Championships in Doha, Qatar . He enhanced his chances with breakthrough swims late last year.

Mikel Schreuders. Photo courtesy of Mikel Schreuders

In the 50 metre freestyle he joined the very best in the region with a sub 22 seconds swim. Schreuders won Bronze at the 2023 US Open in a time of 21.93. With 22 seconds the barometer used to define elite sprinters Mikel has shown his hand and what would be possible this in Doha.

His World Championships history saw him diving into the event for the first time in 2015 in Russia. Then he recorded a then PB of 23.89. Seven years later in Hungary he would have a moved up dramatically up the rankings to post a time of 22.44 to place 24th. That was an Aruban best performance and placing at the global Championships. Last year there would be more success as in CARIFTA region showdown in a 17th place swim off he was the victor . He touched ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Dylan Carter 22.10 to 22.14.

George Bovell III
Photo courtesy of guardian.co.tt

The Club Le Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille conditioned athlete also has the chance to join the best ever performers from the region at this international Championships to make the medal race. That list includes Puerto Rican Ricardo Busquets (1998), Julien Sicot Martinique/France (2003) and George Bovell III of Team Trinidad and Tobago(2009,2011 and 2013) Jordan Crooks of the Cayman Islands (2023) , Malia Metella of French Guiana/France 2007 and Bahamian Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace ( 2011 and 2015).

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

It took 21.94 to make the semi finals last year and 21.85 for a Championship berth so keep on eye to make that World Championships ranking progression.

Mikel Schreuders. Photo courtesy of Roldy Cueto

In the 50 metre breaststroke Schreuders , a University of Missouri graduate has become the regional standard in the race. In December he became the fastest swimmer ever from the CARIFTA and CCCAN regions with a sizzling time of 26.98.

His World Championships record has seen him placing 13th in 2022 with a time of 27.52. Last year he just missed the semi finals with a time of 27.47 to rank 18th . With his two entries at the World Champs being in the the top 20 a semi final berth should be on the cards. It took 27.36 to make the semi finals in Japan last year and 27.06 to make the medal race. He will also be looking to keep his title as the breaststroke sprint King of the CARIFTA, Caribbean and CCCAN regions.

KITO CAMPBELL RECORDS NINTH COLLEGIATE WIN WITH VICTORY IN THE 50 YARD BREAST IN 25.37!D’ANDRE BLANCHARD AND TOM FERGUSON RECORD PB’S IN INDIAN RIVER VICTORY!

Head coach of Indian River State college Jamaican Olympian Sion Brinn’s team recorded victories over Nova Southern Eastern and West Chester with scores of 169.5 to 92.5 and 185 -77 on January 12. Contributing to the victories were his CARIFTA region athletes Jamaican Kito Campbell, Saint Lucian D’andre Blanchard and Cayman Islands representative Tom Ferguson.

Kito Campbell . Photo courtesy of irsc.prestosports.com/

Campbell recorded his ninth collegiate victory when he won the 50 yard breaststroke in in 25.37. The margin of victory was almost half a second. In the 100 yard race it was Nova Southeastern’s Spanish swimmer Inigo Marina that took the victory in 55.08 . It was the River Rats freshman Campbell who tool the Silver in 55.57. In the 200 yard medley relay Campbell had the second fastest breaststroke split of 25.26. His A team was second in 1:31.25. Marina had the best split for his third place Nova team 1:32.59 with his time of 24.77. In the 400 yard freestyle relay Campbell’s led off the River Rats D team in a season best of 49.44. The total team time was 3:17.03.

D’andre Blanchard. Photo courtesy of irsc.prestosports.com/

Saint Lucian D’andre Blanchard had a major time drop in the 50 yard butterfly. In his last outing he swam to a PB on Jan 3 in 23.83 on Friday Jan 12 he clocked 22.81 for fifth place. In the 200 yard medley relay his butterfly split was 22.28. That C team placed fifth in 1:33.49. In the 50 yard breaststroke he registered a time of 26.60 for fourth place. In the 400 yard freestyle relay he led off the C team in 46.08. That team placed fifth in 3:08.27.

Tom Ferguson. Photo courtesy of irsc.prestosports.com/

Cayman Islands swimmer Tom Ferguson recorded a PB of 20.62 in the 50 yard freestyle. He dropped from 20.64 from the Florida Tech Panther Invitational. That earned him his highest collegiate position in the event so far. In the 50 yard butterfly he was second in a time of 22.17. His teammate Felipe Costa got the win in a time of 21.92. In the 400 yard freestyle relay Ferguson was a part of the winning Indian River Rats unit that took the victory in a time of 3:00.41. Tom had the fastest split of the meet recording a third leg time of 44.28 . Ferguson is ranked seventh and fourth in the National Junior college rankings in the 50 and 100 freestyle events.

Brinn’s outfit will next be in action against the University of Tampa on Friday Jan 26.

DYLAN CARTER CREATES HISTORY BY BECOMING THE FIRST SWIMMER TO RECORD MULTIPLE SUB 22 SECONDS SWIMS THE 50 LCM FREESTYLE IN A CARIFTA TERRITORY WITH TIMES OF 21.99, 21.84 AND 21.69!

At the year ending ASATT (Aquatics Sports Association of Trinidad and Tobago Invitational) at the National Aquatics Centre fans were treated to historic swims by Dylan Carter. The Dexter Browne conditioned athlete would treat the spectators to outstanding world class speed in the 50 LCM freestyle.

Dyan Carter and members of Team VISA for Paris 2024.Photo courtesy of VISA

The swimming star is also standing out as a member of Team Visa. The only swimmer selected from the Central American and Caribbean region he was selected by the financial group for selected based on his athletic achievements, community involvement, and alignment with Visa’s core values of equality, access, and inclusion.

Coach Dexter Browne and Dylan Carter. Photo courtesy of Dexter Browne

In his opening salvo in the 50 LCM freestyle last year he did a time trial in the event . There the Flying Fish Swim club swimmer blazed his way into the top ten in the world . He rocketed to the ninth fastest time in the world with a time of 21.69!The first time sub 22 had been swum in CARIFTA region territory . Adding to the luster was that it was done a CARIFTA region swimmer, Carter who is trained at home by another son of the soil Dexter Browne.

There would be more elite level speed in the race proper. There, the leading sprinter from the CARIFTA region Carter recorded yet another sub 22 seconds clocking of 21.99. More history as the only swimmer to produced that feat twice in a CARIFTA region territory.

As the saying goes steel sharpens steel. The presence and speed of Dylan helped to propel other top performances. Aqeel Joseph of the Sea Hawks took the Silver in new PB of 23.11 . That lowered his 2022 PB of 23.37 from last year’s competition.

The Eastern Caribbean’s fastest swimmer Stefano Mitchell of Antigua and Barbuda recorded a season best of 23.40 for the Bronze. That was the fourth fastest career performance by the Vipers swim club athlete.

In the last race of the meet the University of Southern California graduate was the lead swimmer in the 4 x50 metre freestyle relay. The first leg saw the hat trick of sub 22 seconds completed. Dylan sped to a time of 21.84. His teammates Christian Awah 23.65,Jaden Chin Hong 27.39 and Josiah Ramdeen 25.24 put up the second fastest total time of 1:38.12. The Marlins were fastest on the day in 1:37.21.

What is the impact of those performances?

For the first time in career Dylan has posted multiple sub 22 swims in a competition.

Jordan Crooks
Photo courtesy of Tennessee Swimming and Diving

He is tied with Cayman Islands Jordan Crooks to have three swims in a competition. Crooks completed his trifecta at this year’s World Championship. The record for sub 22 seconds swims in a meet is held by George Bovell III with his four at the 2009 World Champs.

MOST SUB 22 SECONDS PERFORMANCES BY A CARIFTA SWIMMER IN A COMPETITION

Kenzo Simons .Photo courtesy of Kenzo Simons

Carter is tied with Kenzo Simons of Suriname now representing the Netherlands for the most sub 22 seconds swims for the year 2023 with five. That is also a record for the CARIFTA region

Dylan’s swim has returned the CARIFTA and CCCAN to their highest 50 freestyle ranking since 2013 when Bovell was ranked fourth. The twin island Republic has dominated the top sprint position in the regions due to the efforts of Bovell and Carter.

George Bovell III Photo courtesy of theunbreakablebody.com

CARIFTA AND CCCAN RANKINGS FOR THE 50 LCM FREESTYLE IN THE AMERCIAN

It was Dylan that first broke the sub 21 seconds drought at the 2022 World Championships with his swim of 21.91 in a swim off.

Dylan Carter at the start before his historic 21.69 time trial. Photo courtesy of Dinnora Gil Anthony

He will be looking for another breakthrough at this year’s Olympic Games as he goes for a Powerful Paris Performance to get the Gold medal.