EMILY MacDONALD LOWERS OLYMPIAN CLAUDIA POLL’S 100 FREESTYLE MEET STANDARD TO RECORD REGIONAL GOLDEN DOUBLE (CARIFTA AND CCCAN TITLES)

Day Four of the CCCAN Swimming championships saw Team Jamaica adding Four more medals to their tally One Gold , One Silver and Two Silver to have Eighteen medals Six Gold ,Four Silver and Eight Bronze medals.

Getting the Gold for the land of wood and water was Emily MacDonald in the girls 13-14 100 metre freestyle. She bounced back from illness on Day Three to win the freestyle title.

13-14 100 metre freestyle medal podium from left to right Watson-Brown Bermuda, MacDonald and Libreros Bolivar Colombia Photo courtesy of Harold Wilson

In the Championship final she recorded the only sub 28 seconds split at the halfway mark and then pulled away from the field to record a new personal best and CCCAN meet record of 57.95. It was also the fastest 100 metre freestyle time recorded by a girl at the Championship.

Claudia Poll Photo courtesy of panamericanworld

That lowered the the more than three decades old standard of 58.34 byCosta Rican Olympic Gold medallist Claudia Poll (1996,2000 and 2004). MacDonald also is closing in on the national age group record of 57.54 held by Olympian Janelle Atkinson (2000,2004). It was Poll who held off Atkinson to win the Bronze in the 400 metre freestyle at the 2000 Sydney Games . That fourth place position at the Olympics is the joint highest placing at the Games along with Alia Atkinson’s fourth place at the 2012 London Games.

 

Winning the Silver was Bermuda’s Logan Watson-Brown in 58.82 and the Bronze to Colombia’s  Manuela Libreros Bolivar 1:01.38.

13-14 100 metre freestyle medallists at CARIFTA 2018 in Kingston from left to right Watson-Brown Bermuda Silver ,MacDonald Gold, Alvaranga Bronze Photo courtesy of Mike C Lyn

 

It also  marked the regional Golden Double as she captured the same title at the CARIFTA Games in her hometown of Kingston in April . It marked the second time she is completing the double after doing so in the 11-12 age group in 2016

Regional record for the 100 metre freestyle

Date	Meet	Medal	Time
March 2016	CARIFTA	Gold	1:02.02 split 29.40
July 2016	CISC	Gold	1:00.26 split 29.18
April 2017	CARIFTA	Silver	59.28 split 28.33
July 2017	CCCAN	Gold	58.83 split 27.89
April 2018	CARIFTA	Gold	57.99 split 28.17
July 2018	CCCAN	Gold	57.95 split 27.79

Emily spoke to draftingthecaribbean about her performance after the race

“Going the 100 I was a bit nervous at first. The meet has  not been great so far .In my 200 metre freestyle I got a cramp in my leg and ended up doing a bad time as I added 5 seconds to my personal best and I did not swim the Championship final of the 50 metre butterfly because of that injury and the 100 metre butterfly was not a good race overall.so going into this race I was very nervous as I did not know how I was going to perform because I had not done well so far but I was just going to try my best. That was my mindset heading into the final.I told myself I prepared for this meet and I have trained so hard for this and it does not make sense not swim my heart out. Going into the heats  said I am going to just try and hopefully come in the top 8 fand hopefully seed first for the final. That is what I did and ended up doing a 58.70 .Going into the final I was going up again Logan Watson-Brown from Bermuda who I know is a great swimmer and I was even more nervous.I knew I wanted to get a Gold medal but was still not sure because of how I was performing. Before I stepped on the blocks I knew I had done all that I can to get this far and I know that I have done all I could possibly do to achieve a best time in this race so I was going to do what my coach told me to do which was best time.As I swam the race I remembered doing the splits in training  and swimming the first 50 in a particular time and pushing hard on the last 25 metres into the wall which I did and recorded a personal best which I am very happy about and I got the Gold medal that I wanted”.

15-17 50 metre breaststroke medal podium from left to right Brown,Cheong and Russell Photo courtesy of CCCAN

In the Boys 15-17 50 metre breaststroke Cameron Brown ended a decade old medal drought for Team Jamaica when he secured the Silver in a new personal best of 30.23. He tied Brandon Cheong for the medal while the Gold was won by The Bahamas Tyler Russell in 30.16. The last time Jamaica got a medal in the 15-17 age group in this event was in 2007 in El Salvador when age group star Brad Hamilton won Silver in 30.59.

Cameron gave his thoughts to draftingthecaribbean about the swim

“I knew it was going to be straight line line heading to the wall.I pushed to the very last second.I was suprised to see a new PB of 30.23 when I looked at the scoreboard”.

11-12 100 metre freestyle medallists from left to right Vickles Silver medallist,Crooks Gold medallist and Cogle Bronze medallist Photo courtesy of Harold Wilson

11-12 dynamo Morgan Cogle secured  more precious metal at the Championship .She lowered her 100 metre freestyle from 1:03.11 to 1:02.59 to secure Bronze.The title went to Jillian Crooks of the Cayman Islands in a time of 1:01.72 and the Silver to Gabrielle Vickles of Trinidad and Tobago in 1:02.33.

11-12 200 IM medallists from left to right Crooks, Anthony and Cogle Photo courtesy of CCCAN

In the 200 metre individual medley she ended a more than decade old drought when she won Bronze in 2:37.44.That medal winning swim puts her within sight of the age group record of 2:36.26 set by Annabella Lyn in 2012. Gold was won by the another 11-12 standout Zoe Anthony of Trinidad and Tobago in 2:32.91 and Silver to Crooks in 2:36.70.

 

Bronze was won by the 15-17 800 metre freestyle relay team of Annabella Lyn ,Gabrianna Banks, Bryanna Renuart and Naomi Eaton who stopped the clock in 9:07.22. Gold went to Aruba in 8:48.55 and the Silver to Honduras in 8:59.65.

The personal best tally moved from 28 to 47 at the end of Day Four

Name	Event	Personal Best	Previous Best
Morgan Cogle	Girls 11-12 200 IM	2:39.42	2:41.26
Morgan Cogle	Girls 11-12 200 IM	2:37.44	2:39.42
Joshua Mair	Boys 11-12 200 IM	2:37.13	2:41.26
Jaedon Lynch	Boys 11-12 200 IM	2:39.06	2:40.93
Sabrina Lyn	Girls 13-14 200 IM	2:37.06	2:44.98
Sabrina Lyn	Girls 13-14 200 IM	2:35.25	2:37.06
Nathaniel Thomas	Boys 13-14 200 IM	2:29.56	2:29.83
Joshua Mair	Boys 11-12 50 metre breaststroke	36.52	37.23
Joshua Mair	Boys 11-12 50 metre breaststroke	36.14	36.52
Jaedon Lynch	Boys 11-12 50 metre breaststroke	36.23	36.45
Sean-Douglas Gooden	Boys 15-17 50 metre breaststroke	31.35	31.43
Cameron Brown	Boys 15-17 50 metre breaststroke	30.23	30.64
Morgan Cogle	Girls 11-12 100 metre freestyle	1:03.10	1:03.11
Morgan Cogle	Girls 11-12 100 metre freestyle	1:02.59	1:03.10
Adrian Balfour	Boys 11-12 100 metre freestyle	1:02.42	1:03.28
Emily MacDonald	Girls 13-14 100 metre freestyle	57.95	57.99
Nathaniel Thomas	Boys 13-14 100 metre freestyle	56.12	56.95
Daniel Mair	Boys 11-12 100 metre freestyle	1:02.60	1:06.15
Jaedon Lynch	Boys 11-12 200 metre butterfly	2:46.50	2:51.11
Jordane Payne	Boys 15-17 200 metre butterfly	2:17.58	2:18.43

 

Advertisements

GIRLS GOLD RUSH SUNDAY MORGAN COGLE WINS 11-12 200 FREE AND ANCHORS RELAY IN NATIONAL RECORD TIME,SABRINA LYN TAKES BUTTERFLY SPRINT DOUBLE AND BRYANNA RENUART TAKES REGIONAL GOLDEN DOUBLE WITH 400 IM WIN

It was the young ladies of Team Jamaica that provided the Gold medals on Day 3 of the 2018 CCCAN Swimming championships on  Sunday July 1. Team Jamaica won Four Gold medals along with One Silver and Two Bronze medals to have a Day Three total of 14 medals Five Gold Three Silver and Six Bronze medals.

MAGNIFICENT MORGAN

Girls 11-12 200 metre freestyle medallists Anthony Silver medallist Trinidad and Tobago, Cogle Gold medallist and Crooks Cayman Islands Bronze medallist Photo courtesy of CCCAN

Leading the way was 11-12 standout Morgan Cogle who started the proceedings in the 200 metre freestyle. She eased in to the finals taking some four seconds off her personal best to be seeded third with a PB of 2:19.47. In the Championship final it was close  until the first 50 metres then Morgan and Trinidad and Tobago age group star Zoe Anthony separated themselves from the field .At the 100 it was Zoe with a slight edge 1:04.58 to Cogle’s 1:04.76. She increased that lead at the 150 metre mark 1:39.76 to 1:40.27. Then came an awesome battle on the last 50 metre Morgan came roaring back with a final 50 of   33.89 to Anthony’s 35.01 to win in a new PB and age group record of 2:14.16 to 2:14.77 for Anthony which was also  a PB. The Bronze went to the Cayman Islands standout Jillian Crooks in 2:16.95. Both Anthony and Crooks are the reigning CARIFTA Silver and Bronze medallists with times of 2:17.64 and 2:19.09 recorded in Kingston earlier this year.

Cogle looking at her time after the heats of the 200 metre freestyle Photo courtesy of CCCAN

Morgan lowered the age group mark of 2:15.29 set by teammate Emily MacDonald at the 2016 Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships (CISC) in the Bahamas and become the first Gold medallist for Jamaica in the event  in over a decade

	Emily 2016	Morgan 2018
First 50	30.48	30.46
Second 50	34.01	34.30
Third 50	35.66	35.51
Fourth 50	35.14	33.89
	2:15.29	2:14.16

Girls 400 metre freestyle relay medallists from left to right Silver medallists Trinidad and Tobago ,gold medallists Jamaica, Bronze medallists Barbados Photo courtesy of Harold Wilson

 

Her record breaking exploits would continue in the 400 metre freestyle relay as she anchored the team of  Safiya Officer ,Isabella Sierra ,Ireland Hunter  to the Gold in a total time of 4:13.74. The Silver went to Trinidad and Tobago in 4:17.32 and the Bronze to Barbados in 4:25.20.

The old record  of 4:18.42 belonged to the 2012 CISC team of Angara Sinclair,Tiara Myrie,Annabella Lyn and Annastazia Chin that competed in Aruba

Jamaica 2012	Splits	Jamaica 2018	Splits
Angara Sinclair	1:04.08	Safiya Officer	1:03.61
Tiara Myrie	1:07.98	Isabella Sierra	1:05.21
Annabella Lyn	1:03.15	Ireland Hunter	1:03.45
Annastazia Chin	1:03.21	Morgan Cogle	1:01.47
Total Time	4:18.42	Total Time	4:13.77

NO LIMITS FOR LYN

Girls 13-14 50 metre butterfly podium from left to right Watson-Brown Bermuda Silver medallist, Lyn Gold, Reyes Briceno, Bronze medallist Colombia Photo courtesy of CCCAN

Sabrina would complete the butterfly sprint double when she won the 13-14 50 metre butterfly. She came to Aruba with a personal standard of 30.43 . Lyn who is normally know for her back end speed is showing versatility by adding the the sprint fly to her better events. She lowered her personal standard in the morning heats with a time of 30.03 to be the fifth seed heading into the Championship final. The first four finishers clocked 29 s. With teammate Emily MacDonald out the final due to illness Jamaica’s hopes lay solely with Lyn to get a medal. The faith put in her was not misplaced as she destroyed her old personal best and turned in the only sub 29 seconds performance of the race to win in 28.66. Silver went to Bermuda’s Logan Watson-Brown in 29.07 and the Bronze to Colombia’s  Laura Catalina Reyes Briceno 29.42

BREAKOUT FOR BRYANNA

Girls 15-17 400 IM medallists from left to right Alondra Ortíáz Costa Rica Silver medallist, Bryanna Renuart Gold medallist and Bronze medallist Ana Pastrana Honduras Photo courtesy of Harold Wilson

The year 2018 will be one to remember for Bryanna Renuart. When the year started she  never won any individual Gold but turned that around at CARIFTA when she took the hardest route to Gold and captured the 15-17 400 individual medley title.

Bryanna Renuart swimming in the heats of the 400 IM Photo courtesy of CCCAN

A two sport standout in both swimming and cross country track she dropped the latter to focus on swimming. That singular focus has continued to reap big dividends as she won her second career Gold in 5:12.42 holding off the challenges from Alondra Ortíáz of Costa Rica 5:13.30 Silver and  Ana  Pastrana Honduras 5:14.38 Bronze.

Draftingthecaribbean spoke to Renuart and asked her about her accomplishments

Bryanna Renuart powering her way to 400 IM Gold Photo courtesy of CCCAN

“I was really excited to get another gold in the 400 IM. I wasn’t tapered for this meet as I have a few more this summer, so I was very proud to have found the strength to win it, especially because it is my longest and hardest event. Even though it wasn’t a best time for me, my consistency in that race gives me a lot of confidence for my future competitions with the Jamaican team.I don’t see myself as a natural distance swimmer because I have done better in sprints in the past. Knowing that I am swimming so well in that event right now makes me confident that my training is working. I’m excited to have more event flexibility in the future”.

 

Boys 15-17 50 metre butterfly medal podium from left to right Payne Curaçao Silver medallist, Yorke Gold medallist ,Vale Bronze medallist Photo courtesy of CCCAN

Nicholas Vale would rattle the 15-17 age group record in the 50 metre butterfly when he won the Bronze in a personal best of 25.59. The national record stands at 25.55 to Olympian Timothy Wynter (Rio 2016) set the 2012 CISC . Gold went Trinidad and Tobago’s Kael Yorke who won in 25.17 and the Silver to Curaçao’s Mauricio Payne in 25.50.

Girls 15-17 400 metre freestyle relay podium from left to right Jamaica Silver medallists,Aruba Gold medallists and Honduras Bronze medallists Photo courtesy of Harold Wilson

Silver was won by the girls 15-17 400 metre freestyle relay team of Annabella Lyn (1:01.28),Bryanna Renuart (1:01.09),Naomi Eaton (1:02.09) and Gabrianna Banks (1:00.95)  in time of of 4:05.37. Gold was won by Aruba in 3:57.72 and the Bronze by Honduras in 4:08.21.

Boys 11-12 400 metre freestyle medallists from left to right Aruba Silver medallists,Trinidad and Tobago Gold medallists and Jamaica Bronze medallists Photo courtesy of Harold Wilson

The 11-12 boys 400 metre freestyle relay won the Bronze in a time of 4:11.59.The team of Daniel Mair (1:02.98),Joshua Mair (1:02,81),Jaedon Lynch 1:03.61 and Adrian Balfour (1:02.19) finished behind Trinidad and Tobago 4:01.48 and Aruba 4:11.56.

The Personal best count went to 27 at the end of of Day Three

Day	Name	Event		Personal Best	Previous Best
Three	Safiya Officer	Girls 11-12 200 metre freestyle		2:27.39	2:28.88
Three	Morgan Cogle	Girls 11-12 200 metre freestyle		2:19.47	2:23.89
Three	Morgan Cogle	Girls 11-12 200 metre freestyle		2:14.16 AGR	2:19.47
Three	Joshua Mair	Boys 11-12 200 metre freestyle		2:20.82	2:22.47
Three	Isabella Sierra	Girls 11-12 50 metre butterfly		31.21	32.32
Three	Aliyah Heaven	Girls 11-12 50 metre butterfly		31.76	32.23
Three	Joshua Mair	Boys 11-12 50 metre butterfly		30.80	33.03
Three	Jaedon Lynch	Boys 11-12 50 metre butterfly		30.82	31.27
Three	Sabrina Lyn	Girls 13-14 50 metre butterfly		28.66	30.43
Three	Nathaniel Thomas	Boys 13-14 50 metre butterfly		26.85	26.91
Three	Nicholas Vale	Boys 15-17 50 metre butterfly		25.59	25.67
Three	Morgan Cogle	Girls 11-12 100 metre backstroke		1:11.72	1:13.55
Three	Safiya Officer	Girls 11-12 100 metre backstroke		1:16.27	1:18.45
Three	Amore Hunter	Girls 13-14 100 metre backstroke		1:15.24	1:16.46
Three	Annabella Lyn	Girls 15-17 100 metre backstroke		1:10.17	1:10.85
				4:13.74	4:18.02

 

 

 

 

TEAM JAMAICA STARTS CCCAN CAMPAIGN WITH NATIONAL RECORD SWIMS IN MIXED RELAYS

The 2018 CCCAN swimming championships in Aruba got off to a great start for Team Jamaica on Friday June 29 with national record swims in the mixed 200 metre freestyle relay team in the 15-17 and 13-14 age groups.

Jamaica’s Bronze medal winning mixed 200 metre freestyle relay team from left to right Vale,Renuart, Marsh and Banks Photo courtesy of Harold Wilson

The 15-17 relay team of Nicholas Vale, Jesse Marsh,Bryanna Renuart and Gabrianna Banks took the Bronze in 1:42.81 in a very close affair where the top four finishers were within a second of each other.

15-17 mixed 200 metre freestyle relay podium from left to right Bermuda Silver,Colombia Gold and Jamaica Bronze Photo courtesy of Harold Wilson

Gold was won by Colombia in 1:42.20 and Silver went to Bermuda in 1:42.52. The old 15-17 record and senior national record stood to the 2018 UANA team of Shaun Johnson,Marsh, Banks and Vale that clocked 1:43.70 in Coral Springs Florida on Jan 21.

13-14 mixed 200 metre freestyle relay podium from left to right The Bahamas Silver, Bermuda Gold and Jamaica Bronze Photo courtesy of Harold Wilson

There would be a new 13-14 mixed 200 freestyle relay record established as the team of Nathaniel Thomas (25.52 ), Rin Gyles 26.35, Sabrina Lyn (28.16) and Emily MacDonald (26.75) had a total time of 1:46.78 to win the Bronze medal. Gold went to Bermuda in 1:45.04 and Silver The Bahamas in 1:45.70.

 

It would be fourth place for the 11-12 mixed 200 metre freestyle relay team of Safiya Officer,Adrian Balfour, Jaedon Lynch and Aliyah Heaven. They stopped the clock in a time of 1:53.95,Splits 28.87,27.61,28.48 and 28.89.

Jordane Payne placed 10th in the 15-17 1500 metre freestyle in a time of 18:42.29.Naomi Eaton placed 8th in the 15-17 800 metre freestyle in a personal best of 10:05.82

SPRINTING IS IN THEIR DNA JAMAICAN GIRLS SWEEP SPRINT FREESTYLE RELAY TITLES AGAIN

As it was in 2017 in The Bahamas, so it was again in 2018 in Kingston as the Jamaican girls swept the sprint freestyle titles on the last day of the CARIFTA Championships on April 3.

11-12 Gold Medallists from left to right Cogle,Heaven,Sierra and Officer Photo courtesy of Mike C Lyn

The 11-12 girls started the Golden streak in record fashion. Starting the relay for Jamaican was Safiya Officer who touched in 29.35 with the chasing pack. First to the wall on the opening leg was Bermuda’s Elan Daley who was in awesome form throughout the competition. That advantage was eaten up by Isabella Sierra, a member of last year’s record setting team who was timed in 29.02.It was the final legs of the relay that changed the structure of the medal podium as Morgan Cogle with a leg of 28.96 and Aliyah Heaven who dropped the hammer with the fastest anchor leg, 28.14 that sealed the victory and record. The total team time was 1:55.47 .

2017 Gold medallists from left to right Lewis,Lyn,Sierra and Alvaranga Photo courtesy of Mike C Lyn

That bettered the  Championship and national age group record of 1:55.77 set by P’aige Lewis, Sierra Sabrina Lyn and Zaneta Alvaranga. Trinidad and Tobago won the Silver in 1:57.37. Martinique earned the Bronze in 1:59.54.

13-14 Gold Medallists from left to right Alvaranga,Hunter,Lyn and MacDonald Photo courtesy of Mike C Lyn

The 13-14 category saw the opening leg contested keenly between the Silver medallist in the flat 50 Naele Portecop of Guadeloupe and Bronze medallist Zaneta Alvaranga of Jamaica . It was the French Speaking territory that held the early advantage, with Portecop timed in 27.06 to Zaneta’s 27.65.Second leg swimmer Amore Hunter regained the advantage with a 28.46 clocking. Sabrina Lyn maintained the  edge with a time of 28.51. Anchor leg and  50 freestyle Gold medallist Emily MacDonald removed all doubts as to who the winners would be with the fastest split of the relay 26.17 to push the team to a time of 1:50.79 just off the 1:50.77 Championship record .

2017 13-14 Gold medallists from left to right Banks,Vale,Anderson and MacDonald Photo courtesy of Mike C Lyn

 

15-17 Gold medallists from left to right Eaton ,Johnson, Banks and Anderson Photo courtesy of Mike C Lyn

In the final category the 15-17 age group Shaun Johnson got the proceedings under way with a 27.51 leg. The early advantage however, was held by the Bermudans who front loaded their relay with Bronze medallist Madelyn Moore who was timed in 26.44. Brianna Anderson took control of the event and took the lead for the Black , Green and Gold with a 27.17 effort. Naomi Eaton 27.58, withstood a charge from the Arubans in the form of Anahi Schreuders 27.17.It was now left to Gabrianna Banks to complete the sweep. She did not disappoint. She recorded the fastest split of the night 26.16 to help the Jamaicans to a Gold medal winning time and new  national age group record of 1:48.42.

2017 Gold medallists from left to right Anjuii Barrett,Johnson, Bryanna Renuart and Angara Sinclair Photo courtesy of Mike C Lyn

The old national age age group and senior national record of 1:49.07 was set last year.Silver went to Aruba in 1:49.68 and the Bronze to Bermuda in 1:51.09

BRITNEY WILLIAMS AND JORDANE PAYNE WIN DISTANCE TITLES ON DAY ONE OF AGE GROUP CHAMPS

 

The first day of the 2018 Walter Rogers Age Group Championships at the National Aquatic Centre  in Jamaica held yesterday Tuesday Feb 13 saw the distance titles being decided.

2018 Walter Rogers Distance Champions Jordane Payne and Britney Williams Photo courtesy of Lynval Lowe

The fastest performers  were Britney Williams of the Swimaz Aquatics Swim club in the 15 and over  800 metre freestyle and Jordane Payne of the Y Speedos Swim Club in 15 and over 1500 metre freestyle.

Britney Williams celebrating yet another 800 metre freestyle victory

Williams extended her unbeaten winning streak in the event to five years when she took the title in a time of 10:04.37.

Top distance swimmers from left to right Naomi Eaton, Britney Williams and Karci Gibson

Williams, who is the fastest ever locally trained middle to local distance freestyle swimmer finished ahead of the  Y Speedos duo of Naomi Eaton 10:18.31 and Karci Gibson 10:43.94. When draftingthecaribbean spoke to Williams she gave her impression of her performance and building up to CARIFTA

“The race was okay .it was better than the Karl Dalhouse race because I did not feel as tired during and after the event so I am really looking forward to CARIFTA and going sub 10 minutes and hopefully getting a medal”.

Britney’s Golden Years at Age Group Champs

Year	Age	Age Group	Time	Place
2018	16	15 and over	10:04.37	Gold
2017	15	15 and over	10:09.85	Gold
2016	14	13-14	10:26.36	Gold
2015	13	13-14	10:36.30	Gold
2014	12	11-12	11:33.68	Gold

Jordane Payne Photo courtesy of Mike C Lyn

 

In the 1500 metre freestyle Payne topped all comers with a time of 18:35.69. He was followed to the wall by teammate Dominic Mullings who punched the clock in 18:48.56.  The Y Speedos trifecta was completed by 13-14 Gold medallist Zachary Johnson who dropped more than 20 seconds to be timed in 19:44.98. Payne spoke to draftingthecaribbean after his win

“The 1500 was a very good race, one of my best in Jamaica. It was a very challenging race and I had to be pacing myself but it has put me in a good position to win the high point trophy at this competition”.

Topping the 800 for 13-14 girls race was Zaneta Alvaranga of the Kaizen Swim club who posted a personal best of 10:44.63. Tornadoes swept the top 11-12 positions for girls and boys with Ireland Hunter touching in 11:37.30 for the 800 and Joshua Mair registering 21.12.51 for the 1500.

NICHOLAS VALE AND EMILY MacDONALD WIN BRONZE MEDALS ON DAY TWO OF UANA JESSE MARSH SWIMS YOUTH OLYMPIC B QUALIFYING TIMES

As the Jamaican contingent warmed to the cold temperatures in Coral Springs on Day Two, the squad also increased their medal count from One to Three medals. Two Bronze medals were won by Emily MacDonald in a new national age group record and Nicholas Vale.  Youth Olympic Olympics B standard times were also achieved by Jesse Marsh.

UANA Cup Bronze medallist in the 13-14 100 metre butterfly and new 13-14 record holder Emily MacDonald

 

MacDonald won the Bronze medal in the 13-14 100 metre butterfly in a new national age group record of 1:05.86. She lowered her own national mark of 1:06.19 that she set last year on March 2 at the National Stadium. She was just off the Youth Olympics B qualifying mark of 1:05.71 and was the fastest CARIFTA region swimmer in the event. She expressed the following thoughts about her swim

“I was very happy when I found that I broke my own national record for the 100 metre butterfly. It was very surprising since I never tapered for this meet and I hope to break it again”.

UANA Cup Bronze medallist in the 15-17 400 IM and Jamaica’s first male medallist at the competition Nicholas Vale

The first medal won on the day was won by Nicholas Vale in the 15-17 400 individual medley. He became the first ever Jamaican boy to win a medal at the competition capturing Bronze in time of 4:56.85.

“It feels very good to win a Bronze medal as the first Jamaican boy at this meet. The race itself was pretty good. The best part of it was the first 100 metres. I went out 1:00 for the butterfly leg. I was really happy with how fast I went out. It was a little rough coming back but I am very happy I was able to secure Bronze for Jamaica”.

Jesse Marsh Photo courtesy of Michael C Lyn

Jesse Marsh competing in the 100 metre butterfly recorded a new personal best of 57.22 (split time 26.78) to place fifth overall. It also brought Marsh under the Youth Olympics Games B standard time of 57.54. That would not be the only Youth Olympics Standard achieved by Jesse as he would compete in a time trial in the 200 metre butterfly and stopped the clock in 2:09.39, yet another personal best. That performance bettered the B time of 2:10.13.

Marsh’s new personal standards carried the total to 10 new personal records for the day and 14 overall.

Name	Event	Age Group	Time
Sabrina Lyn	400 metre IM	13-14	6:08.15
Emily MacDonald	100 metre butterfly	13-14	1:05.86 NAGR
Nathaniel Thomas	100 metre butterfly	13-14	1:02.44
Gabrianna Banks	100 metre butterfly	15-17	1:11.34
Jesse Marsh	100 metre butterfly	15-17	57.22 YOG B
Sabrina Lyn	50 metre breaststroke	13-14	37.83
Naomi Eaton	50 metre breaststroke	15-17	36.44
Nathaniel Thomas	100 metre backstroke	13-14	1:06.61
Nicholas Vale	100 metre backstroke	15-17	1:01.20
Jesse Marsh	200 metre butterfly	15-17	2:09.39 YOG B

SPRINTERS PUT ON A SHOW ON FINAL DAY OF NEVILLE ALEXANDER MARLINS 9-10 GIRLS LOWER FREESTYLE RELAY TEAM LOWER RECORD SET ALMOST THIRTY YEARS AGO

Marlins Girls 9-10 team that set a new national record in the 200 metre freestyle relay from left to right Gianna Francis,Kokolo Foster,Saidah Brown and Christanya Shirley Photo courtesy of Cheser Adams

 

The final day of the Neville Alexander Memorial Swim Meet saw the sprinters putting on a show. There would be yet another national record as the Marlins 9-10 girls added to their tally from Saturday morning. This time they lowered the national standard in the 200 freestyle relay.

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

The young ladies of the Marlins who lowered a record set almost 30 years. The team of Kokolo Foster, Saidah Brown, Giani Francis and Christanya Shirley touched in a time of 2:14.66, more than 10 seconds ahead of the field. 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. Also falling by the wayside was the meet record of 2:18.69 by the 2012 Marlins team of Deandra Reynolds, Karci Gibson, Ahkira Brown and Britney Williams.

 

The 50 metre freestyle meet records fell by the wayside in the following races 8 and under boys, 11-12 girls and boys and the 13 and over boys’ events. That meet record rush continued in the 200 metre freestyle relays 8 and under girls, the 11-12 girls and boys and 13 and over girls events.

Zack-Andre Johnson record breaker in the boys’ 8 and under 50 metre freestyle Photo courtesy of Cheser Adams

The record breaking spree was started in the 8 and under boys’ race by the Y Speedos’   Zack –Andre Johnson. He lowered a more than a decade old record when he touched the wall in 34.13. The old record of 34.21 was held by former Speedos swimmer Robert Marshall. Johnson topped the field by more than 5 seconds.

Zaneta Alvaranga 11-12 50 freestyle record breaker and the fastest girl at the 2017 Neville Alexander Memorial meet Photo courtesy of Cheser Adams

In the 11-12 girls event it was Zaneta Alvaranga of the Y Speedos who recorded the fastest time by a girl at the meet and lowered the meet record with her quick time of 27.68. Her margin of victory was more than 2 seconds. In winning she lowered the 2016 meet record of 28.09 by Swimaz’s Emily MacDonald .Zaneta was just off her Silver medal winning CARIFTA personal best of 27.56.She continues to track the national record of 27.53 of MacDonald when she won Gold at the Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships.The record for the 11-12 girls age group at the upcoming CCCAN championships to be held in Trinidad and Tobago is 27.55 set their Olympian Cerian Gibbes in 1995.

 

Nathaniel Thomas 11-12 50 metre freestyle record breaker Photo courtesy of Cheser Adams

For the boys event it was Nathaniel Thomas of the Tornadoes who again dominated the field. He recorded the only sub 27 seconds time of 26.57. He crushed the meet record of 27.58 by the Y Speedos Alford Green set in 2003.He was more than a second ahead of the field. He was barely off his personal best time of 26.52.  Last year he was In his sights for the rest of the year will be the national record of 26.29 held by another Tornadoes age group standout Brad Hamilton. That mark was set in 2002.

Sidrell Williams 13 and over 50 metre freestyle record breaker

In the boys 13 and over race it was Sidrell Williams of the Y Speedos who recorded the fastest time of the meet and the only sub 25 seconds clocking when he touched the wall in 24.29. That lowered his 2012 meet standard of 24.74.

The 11-12 girls Y Speedos relay team of Paig’e Lewis, Callier Maxwell, Jadean Dixon and Zaneta Alvaranga lowered the meet record of 2:04.24 with a swim of 2:03.82.

The 11-12 Tornadoes boys Jaleel Samms, Zachary Jackson-Blaine, Nikolos Gordon-Somers and Nathaniel Thomas set their meet record with a time of 1:56.25.

The 13 and over girls of Y Speedos team of Leanne McMaster, Naomi Eaton, Paris Clare and Brianna Anderson set a record of 1:57.54.

Brianna Anderson Triple gold medallist in backstroke events Photo courtesy of Yvonne Anderson

Anderson would sweep the backstroke events 50-100-200 when she claimed the open 200 backstroke crown in 2:43.51.She would also add the 13 and over 50 metre freestyle title in 28.08.

Kyle Sinclair Winner of the open 200 metre backstroke Photo courtesy of Cheser Adams

The boys open 200 metre backstroke title went to her teammate Kyle Sinclair in a personal best of 2:20.51.

Christanya Shirley (red swimsuit) and Kokolo Foster (black swimsuit) prepare to race in the girls’ 9-10 50 metre freestyle Photo courtesy of Lynval Lowe

The crowd was treated to good contests between national record breaking teammates Kokolo Foster and Christanya Shirley of the Marlins in the 50 breaststroke and 50 metre freestyle races.

National record breakers and Marlins teammates from left to right Christanya Shirley and Kokolo Foster Photo courtesy of Lynval Lowe

The older Foster edged her younger teammate 40.14 to 40.71 in the breaststroke race and 31.42 to 31.74 in the freestyle event.

David Morris of the Y Speedos won the boys 9-10 50 metre breaststroke in 43.21.Israel Allen who had an outstanding showing at the meet won the 50 metre freestyle in a pb of 31.86.Allen won five of the six 9-10 individual age group events on offer all in personal record times. The 200 metre freestyle relay in this age group was won by the Marlins team of Josh Johnson, Jayden Campbell, Josh Wilkinson and Kajuan Haughton in 2:20.35.

In the 11-12 age group it was the Tornadoes duo of Sabrina Lyn and Nikolos Gordon –Somers who took top honours in the 100 metre breaststroke in 1:27.72 and 1:22.49 respectively.

In the 13 and over age group Naomi Eaton of the Y Speedos in addition to her relay win had victories in the 100 metre breaststroke 1:22.67 and 400 metre freestyle 4:53.09.

Gold and Silver medallists in the boys’ 13 and over 100 metre breaststroke from the Tornadoes Swim Club From Left to right Adrian Grant and Sean-Douglas Gooden Photo courtesy of Cheser Adams

Adrian Grant of the Tornadoes also did the breaststroke/freestyle double for the 13 and over boys. He won the 400 metre event in 4:53.09. In the breaststroke race he held off teammate Sean-Douglas Gooden for the victory 1:11.84 to 1:11.97.

Renae Chung Winner of the 8 and under 50 metre butterfly , 50 metre backstroke,50 metre breaststroke and 50 metre freestyle

In the 8 and under category Renae Chung of the Y Speedos was a double winner for the girls taking the 50 metre breaststroke and freestyle races in personal best times of 52.25 and 36.61. Chung won all the 8 and under individual races on offer at the meet. The boys breaststroke race went to Waldon McIntosh in 49.46.

The masters’ races for the ladies were again dominated by the Tornadoes Swim club. Lisa Griffith won the 50 metre breaststroke in 48.22. Annelies Denny won the 50 metre freestyle in 35.41.Stefan Braeger won the men’s 50 metre breaststroke in 41.78. Rohan Whyte of the Sailfish Swim Academy won the freestyle race in 30.29.

The meet was brought to a conclusion with the boys 13 and over 200 metre freestyle relay by the Tornadoes team of Sean-Douglas Gooden, Joshua Craigie, Adrian Grant and Jordan Hines in 1:43.38