Twelve records fall at National Swimming Championships

TWELVE RECORDS FELL when the St Vincent and the Grenadines Swimming Federation(SVGSF), hosted the 2026 SVG Gallagher National Championships from August 27 to 30, at the Shrewsbury Aquatic Centre, Ratho Mill.

Leading the count was Kione De Shong who was remarkable in the 13- 14 male age group.

A multiple Carifta medallist, De Shong erased marks in the 100 meters Breaststroke from 1:08.03 set in 2019 by Bryson George to 1:06.81, as well as the Alex Joachim’s 200-m Breaststroke feat of 2:33.14 of 2018, lowering it to 2:30.63.

Also on De Shong’s take were the 100-m Butterfly and the 200-m Individual Medley (IM).

In the 100-m Butterfly, De Shong timed 1:01.39 eclipsing Eltonte Leonard’s 1:01.69, accomplished in 2021; and in the 200-m IM, De Shong stopped the clock at 2:16.89, down from Alex Joachim’s 2018 mark of 2:19.53.

Joining De Shong in record- breaking form was Hazen Dabriel who swam in the male 15 to 16 age group.

Dabriel outdid Joachim’s 2019 record of 4:17.07 in the 400-m Freestyle, by clocking 4:16.96; as well as Joachim’s 200-m Freestyle mark of 2:00.30, taking it down to 1:59.95.

Likewise, Dabriel became the custodian of the 50-m Butterfly, by swimming 26.01, taking off 0.13 seconds from Leonard’s 2023 mark of 26.14-s.

Meanwhile,Tyler Robinson had three records to his name as he too competed in the male 15 to 16 age group.

Robinson left Matthew Ballah’s 2025 record in the 100-IM of 1:01.03, by establishing a new mark of 1:00.84.

The 200-m Breaststroke record is now owned by Robinson, whose 2:28.08 wiped Joachim’s 2: 30.25, swam in 2020.

Similarly, Robinson now owns the 100-m Breaststroke record having blotted out Shane Cadogan’s 1:06.78 swam in 2018, by timing 1:05.08.

And, Sarai Williams ensured that a female was also in the record mix as she established two in the 8 and Under age category.

Williams took the 25-m Backstroke from Eltonique Leonard’s 19.80 done in 2019, by clocking 19.49-s and in the 50-m Breaststroke, she got rid of Zariel Nelson’s 2017 mark of 45.97, setting a new record of 45.25-s.