THE annual Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad & Tobago (ASATT) Invitational Age Group Championship was held in Trinidad from Thursday, December 14 to Sunday, December 17. Many swimmers experienced for the first time competition in a 50-metre pool.
The Championship was conducted under the rules of FINA 2013-2017, which was enforced by the Meet Referee.
A total of 30 clubs from throughout the region competed, with 3 from Saint Lucia, namely Seajays Swim Club (who walked away with 195 points, placing 9th), Sharks Swim Club (with 177 points, placing 10th) and Lightning Swim Club (with 124 points, placing 13th).
On conclusion of the Championship, 45 swimmers from Saint Lucia representing their clubs returned home with 35 individual and 4 relay medals.
At the end the championship, Antoine Destang from Sharks Swim Club was the outstanding first place winner in the 8-and-under boys age group and JayhanOdlum-Smith from the Seajays Swim Club captured third place in the 13-14 boys overall age group scores.
Outstanding individual performances rose from the Seajays Swim Club with Marisa Louisy capturing two bronze medals. Terrel Monplaisir snatched one gold, four silver and two bronze medals and broke three age group records in 100-metres backstroke, 100-metres breaststroke and 200-metres individual medley. JayhanOdlum-Smith walked away with two gold, four silver and one bronze medals and broke five age group records in 100-metres and 200-metres freestyle, 50-metres backstroke, and 50-metres and 100-metres butterfly.
Jonus Sylvester, also from Seajays Swim Club, broke the 100-metres breaststroke age group record.
Sharks Swim Club made their mark with Antoine Destang attaining three gold, two silver and 1 bronze medals and breaking six age group records in 50-metres and 100-metres freestyle, 50-metres backstroke, 50-metres breaststroke, 50-metres butterfly and 200-metres individual medley. Ziv Reynolds earned three bronze medals and Mikaili Charlemagne secured two gold and three silver medals, breaking two age group records in 50-metres and 200-metres freestyle and one national record in 50-metres freestyle.
Lightning Swim Club contributed to the medal count with Karic Charles capturing one gold medal, breaking the 50 metres-breaststroke age group record and Naima Hazel obtaining one gold, three silver and one bronze medals.
More medals were credited to relay swims with the Lightning girls 11-12 — Naekeisha Louis, Britney Edwin, Angelique Gaillard and Naima Hazel — receiving a bronze medal in the 400-metres medley relay and 200-metres freestyle relay.
Seajays Boys 9-10, Anthony Alexander, Jonas Sylvester, Tristan Dorville and Malik Peter, snatched the bronze medal for the 200-metres medley relay and Sharks Girls 11-12 — Anya Hilaire, Kiana Casimir, Tammy Pultie and Allysia Alfred — won the bronze medal in the 200-metres medley relay.
With this being the last swim championship for 2017, SLASA Technical Committee will review the swimmers’ performances and will name representations for the UANA Swim Championship scheduled for Coral Springs in January and qualifiers for the 2018 Carifta Swim Championship scheduled for April 2018 in Jamaica.