De Shong gives SVG 10th straight Carifta Swim medal

Kione De Shong pouched a bronze in the 11-12 Boys 100m Breaststroke on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at the XXXVII Carifta Aquatic Championships, at the Betty Kelly Kenning Aquatic Centre, Bahamas.

Swimming in lane six, De Shong stopped the clock at 1:22.79, to place third behind Ethan Mc Millan-Cole of Trinidad and Tobago and Christon Joseph of the Bahamas.

For De Shong, it was more than a medal, as he stretched the Vincentian success rate, making it the tenth consecutive time that St Vincent and the Grenadines was attaining at least one medal at consecutive Carifta Swim Championships.

Apart from De Shong, Belle Adams and Caghry Williams were the other 11-12 age group competitors, with the 13-14 age group represented by Eltonique Leonard, Tayeah St Hillaire, and Hazen Dabriel; while in the 15-17 category, there were Abigail De Shong, Kevern Da Silva, Kennice Greene, Matthew Ballah, Brandon George and Eltonte Leonard.

All gave good account of themselves as they attained their personal bests, despite not finishing on the podium.

St Vincent and the Grenadines medal count began in 2013, when Shne Joachim secured a bronze in the 11-12 Girls 50m Breaststroke, when the championships were staged in Jamaica that year.

She followed that up with consecutive medals in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, leaving the championships with a tally of seven medals.

Among other Vincentian swimmers to have medalled at Carifta (Swimming ) Championships are Alex Joachim, Shane Cadogan, Kennice Greene, Zariel Nelson, Brandon George, Tayeah St Hillaire, along with relay medallists Jamie Joachim and Kevern Da Silva.