SVG swimmers wSVG swimmers win 62 medals at OECS Swimming Championshipsin 62 medals at OECS Swimming Championships

The OECS Swimming Championships is an annual event featuring countries from the OECS with competitive swimming programmes. The 27th annual OECS event was held in St Lucia, November 10 to 12, 2017. With financial assistance from the SVG National Lottery, FLOW, Scotiabank, CGM Gallagher and the SVG Olympic Committee, St Vincent and the Grenadines sent a team of 25 swimmers and two coaches to this event.

• SVG swimmers won a total of 62 medals: 27 gold, 16 silver and 19 bronze medals.

• SVG swimmers broke eight OECS records

• Three young swimmers captured the overall championships in their age groups.

• SVG captured four gold medals in the relays.

• Zariel Nelson, swimming in the Girls 8 and Under age group, won six gold medals in her seven races, broke four OECS records and won the overall championship in her age group.

• Caitlin Polius, swimming in the Girls age 9 to 10, won six golds in her eight races, broke three OECS records and won the overall championship in her age group.

• Eltonte Leonard, swimming in the Boys age 9 to 10, won six gold medals in his eight races on his way to the overall championship in his age group.

• The Girls age 10 and Under team won gold in both of their relays. The team members were Kennice Greene, Caitlin Polius, Adiah Phillips, Jamie Joachim and Zariel Nelson.

• The Boys age 15 and Over team won one gold and one silver in their two relay races. Shane Cadogan, Nikolas Sylvester, Dillon Gooding and Cruz Halbich made up the relay team.

• Jayson Sandy broke the Boys 50m breaststroke record and won six medals, including a gold andfinished second to his teammate, Eltonte, in three races.

• Adiah Philips included two gold medals in her four medal performances.

• Shane Cadogan competed in the Boys age 15 to 17 and won five medals, including gold.

• Nikolas Sylvester also swam in the Boys age 15 to 17 category and included one gold among his four medals.

• Seth Byron, in the boys age 8 and Under, won five medals (including two silvers)

• Bryson George, Boys age 11 to 12, won four medals

• Jamie Joachim, swimming in her first year of age 9 to 10, won three silver medals.

• Kenale Alleyne, Boys 11 to 12, won two bronze medals

• Alex Joachim, swimming in his first year of age 13 to 14, won two bronze medals.

• SVG’s national coach Kyle Dougan led by example and swam only the 50 metre Breaststroke race in the Men 18 and over and won the bronze medal.

Coach Dougan expressed his satisfaction when he noted that five years ago SVG had only Shné and Alex Joachim as medal winners. He said, “We have made tremendous progress in the last five years and we are seeing the emergence of some great talented and hard-working kids. It’s very satisfying to see their progress. Swimming continues to demonstrate what true teamwork is. This success we are having is due to the athletes, the parents, the SVG Swimming Federation, as well as the coaching”.