THE Saint Lucia Amateur Swimming Association will stage its annual Independence Swim Meet at the Rodney Height Aquatic Centre from 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.
This event will give some of the island’s leading swimmers the chance to qualify for the CARIFTA Swimming Championships slated for April in the Bahamas.
Over 150 swimmers representing the six swim clubs, namely Southern Flying Fish, Sports Academy, Sharks, Lightning Aquatics, Sea Jays and Romain Roosevelt Aquatics, will seek to capture the prestigious title.
Leading the charge in the boys’ category will be SLASA junior male swimmer of the year, Jayhan Odlum-Smith, Lighting Aquatics male swimmer of the year, Ethan Hazell. Close on their heels will be D’Andre Blanchard and Ziv Reynolds.
In the women’s category, 14-year-old Katie Kyle, who one week ago captured the Junior Sportswoman of the Year title, at the National Sports Awards, will represent Sharks Swimming Alongside her will be Lightning Aquatic swimmers of the year, Naima Hazell and Naekeisha Louis, Lovell Mortley, Joesha Daniel.What makes this event even more important and exciting is the following swimmers will be hoping to better their times in the 200-metres breast stroke in the various age groups. With the upcoming CARIFTA Swimming Championships, all eyes will be on Terell Monplaisir, Devin Boodha, Cavaari Taylor, Kaela George, Shalini Joseph and Chrysa Florius.
“This is our second swim meet for the year and the second annual Independence Swim Meet partially sponsored by the Government of Saint Lucia,” SLASA President, Carol Mangal, told The VOICE. “We expect that six of our seven swimmers who have already qualified for CARIFTA will use this opportunity to enhance their performances by reducing on their times.”
Those swimmers are Jamarr Archibald, Mikaili Charlemagne, Naima Hazell, Katie Kyle, Terell Monplaisir and Jayhan Odlum-Smith.
Jyasi Daniel, currently in the USA, has qualified and will join the team in the Bahamas in April. Mangal said Omar Alexander, Devin Boodha, Mikaela Casimir, Eden Crick and Ziv Reynolds are expected to put in good performances.
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