THE Rodney Heights Aquatic Centre will next Thursday stage its 18th annual RHAC Invitational representing countries eight from the region and one club from New York.
The championship will end on April 10 with the Open Water event at Rodney Bay, just outside the Saint Lucia Yacht Club.
Sanctioned by the Saint Lucia Amateur Swimming Association and hosted under the theme, “Friendship through Competition”, 293 swimmers will represent the following clubs: Abbe Panthers (NY), Bequia United Swim Club, Black Sands Swim Squad, Blue Marlins, Carib Swim Team, High Tide Stingrays, Lightning Aquatics, Marlins Swim Club, Pirates Swim Club of Barbados, Racers, Riptide Swim Team, Aquatic Swim Club, Sea Jays, Sharks (Saint Lucia), Shoelcher Natation 2000, Silver Fins, Southern Flying Fish, Sports Academy, Sharks Swim Team, Tidal Wave Aquatics of Trinidad and Tobago, Torpedoes Competitive Swim Club and Wadadli Aquatics.
Dr. Diane Worrell, Meet Director, said, “The respective swimmers will be working to achieve personal bests and set records in short 25-metre sprints to long distance 1500-metres freestyle.”
Saint Lucia’s seven-member team for the CARIFTA Swimming Championship slated for the Bahamas from April 15-19 will compete in their last local event before the games. The squad reads: Katie Kyle, Mikaili Charlemagne, Naima Hazell (debutante), Jayhan Odlum Smith, Jyasi Daniel, Terrel Monplaisir and Jamarr Archibald.
The top eight swimmers in each age group (8-and-under, 9-12, and 13-and-over) both male and female for the 50 freestyle events will also be invited to take part in the Sprint Challenge the winner of each will receive a special prize.
The RHAC promises to be overflowing with excitement from spectators throughout the 4-day pool event.