THIRTY Saint Lucian swimmers (14 girls and 16 boys) represented their clubs at the 26th edition of the Aquatic Centre International Long Course Championship of the Barbados Amateur Swimming Association (BASA) last week.
In the individual events, Saint Lucia won twelve gold medals, nine silver medals and eleven bronze. The most outstanding swimmer was Antoine Destang (8), who won every race he entered: 50-metres freestyle, back, fly and breast, 100-metres and 200-metres freestyle, as well as the 200-metre individual medley (IM). In the 50-metre fly, he set a new record: 35:28 seconds.
Among the girls, two swimmers clearly stood out. Mikaili Charlemagne (13) came home with two gold medals in 50-metres freestyle and 50-metres backstroke, three silver medals in 100- metres fly, 100-metres free, and 200-metres IM, as well as a bronze in 50-metres fly. Naima Hazell (11) won two gold medals: 50-metres and 100-metres breast, a silver medal in 50-metres back, and bronze in 50-metres free as well as 200-metres breast. The latter was an “open” event without age classes and she was beaten by a 14- and a 16-year old.
Other medalists in individual events were: Naekeisha Louis (11) won silver in 50-metres breast, who was beaten by her club-mate Naima; Yolande Ambrose (15) won silver in 50-metres back and 100-metres breaststroke; Marisa Louisy (13) won bronze in 200-metres backstroke; Natalya Guillaume (13) won bronze in 50-metres breast; Allysia Alfred (11) came 3rd in 100- metres breaststroke and Chloe Thomas (15) in 100-m backstroke.
Among the boys, Allandre Cross (13) won silver in the 50-metres fly and bronze in the 50-metres free and 100-metre fly. Theron Herelle (9) came first in 50-metres back, second in 50- metres fly, and third in 200-metres IM. Ziv Reynolds placed third in 50-metres and 100-metres breast.
Saint Lucia’s relay teams were also very successful. The girls (11-12) won gold in the 4 x 100- metres freestyle with Naekeisha Louis, Naima Hazell, Angelique Gaillard and Gabrielle Soomer on the team; silver in the 4 x 100-metres freestyle with Naima, Naekeisha, Angelique and Britney Edwin and silver in the 4 x 100-metres medley with Naima, Naekeisha, Angelique and Courtney Paul.
An exhibition relay team of boys aged 8 to 10 years swam the fastest time in the race for 9-10 year-olds. These remarkable young swimmers were Antoine Destang, Theron Herelle, Ethan Hazell, and Karic Charles.
Overall, Sharks Swim Club and Lightning Aquatics tied for fifth place out of a total of 19 clubs.