Vincentian swimmers maintain medals at Carifta Championships

St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG)has again medalled at the eighth consecutive hosting of the Carifta Swimming Championships and in the process broke nine national records.

Brandon George

When the curtains came down on the XXXV edition of the championships on Tuesday, April 19, SVG’s swimmers had pouched three medals.

The medals were secured in the pool at the Barbados Aquatic Centre where the Vincentians gained one silver and two bronze. Securing the silver medal in the Girls 13 to 14 Freestyle was the combination of Kennice Greene, Kevern Da Silva, Zariel Nelson and Jamie Joachim. The quartet was however, pipped for the gold by the Jamaicans. Other than their silver medal, the Vincentian quartet proved good at combining their talents as they placed fourth in the 4 x 100m Freestyle and fifth in the 4 x 100m medley event.

The other two medals came from the efforts of Greene and Brandon George. Greene took bronze in the 50m Freestyle, while George gained his bronze medal in the Boys 13 to 14 Backstroke.

Apart from gaining individual medals, Greene and George qualified for five and four finals respectively. They were among 10 swimmers who gained places in finals of the championships.

Meanwhile, the championships had other achievements for the Vincentian team as nine national records were broken.

Greene rewrote the times in the 100m Freestyle, the 100m Backstroke and the 200m Individual Medley.

The 100m Backstroke remains in the grasp of Jamie Joachim who lowered the time she did in March this year at the same venue.

Also reset were the 50m Boys 13 to 14 Backstroke, with Brandon George being the new record holder. George also reset the times for the 100m Backstroke as well as his own 200m Backstroke.

Joining in the record -breaking exercise was Kenale Alleyne who is the new holder of the Boys 15 to 17 Freestyle at the 200m and the 400m.

Completing the St Vincent and the Grenadines team were Matthew Ballah, Eltonique Leonard, Bryson George, Eltonte Leonard and Tia Gun-munro.

Nelson, Ballah and the Leonard siblings, were the Vincentian debutants at the Carifta Swimming Championships.

The St Vincent and the Grenadines Swimming Federation said it is grateful for the assistance of the National Lotteries Authority and the SVG Olympic Committee for the financial input in realising the swimmers’ participation in the championships.

This year’s championships returned after a two -year absence because of the coronavirus pandemic.