The long-awaited Independence Swim Challenge will finally take place tomorrow (Sunday 18 March). That’s the word from the Saint Lucia Amateur Swimming Association.
The event, which was scheduled for February 24, had to be canceled due to infrastructure damage to the pool at the Rodney Heights Aquatic Centre.
Tomorrow’s Swim Challenge will splash off from 9:00 a.m. and is sanctioned by the Saint Lucia Amateur Swimming Association, in accordance with FINA Rules.
SLASA Communication Officer Sue Monplaisir says close to 150 swimmers from SLASA-affiliated clubs, namely Sharks, Lightning Aquatic, Sea Jays, Racers, RR Swim Club and Southern Flying Fish, will compete.
Meanwhile, all eyes will be glued on Saint Lucia’s contingent for this year’s Carifta Swimming Championship scheduled for Jamaica, as they will have their last major event before departing on Thursday 29 March.
The Saint Lucia squad for the Carifta Swimming Championship debutants D’Andre Blanchard and Naekeisha Louis will be tested, likewise Naima Hazel. Allandre Cross, Mikaili Charlemagne, JayhanOdlum – Smith, Jamaar Archibald, TerrelMonplaisir, Devin Boodha and Veronica Brown, who is expected to turn on the heat at the RHAC against their rivals.
According to SLASA, the following will apply for the one day event:
There is no limit to the number of swimmers a club can enter in an event. However, only the two highest-placed swimmers will score team points. There shall be neither substitutes nor alternatives in individual events. The participating clubs may enter one team per relay event for points. And the swimmers may swim a maximum of three individual and one relay event. There will be no Heats or Preliminaries as all events are Timed Finals and seeded according to entry time.
The many sports enthusiasts coming to take in the excitement and to see Saint Lucia’s aspiring swimmers on show will witness: Events No.1 and 2, 10 and Under 200 freestyle relay, Events No. 3 and 4, 11 and Over 200 metres Freestyle Relay, Events No. 5 and 6, 8 and Under 25 metres Butterfly, as well as Events No. 7 and 8, 7 and Over 50 metres Butterfly, event No. 9 and 10, 7 and Over 100 metres Breaststroke.
Also on show will be Events No. 11 and 12, 7 and Over 100 Backstroke, Events No. 13 and 14, 8 and Under 25 metres Backstroke, Events No.15 and 16, 7 and Over 100 metres freestyle, Events No.17 and 18, 10 and Under 100 metres Individual Medley, Events No 19 and 20, 9 and Over 200 metres IM, Events No. 21 and 22, 7 and Over 50 metres Breaststroke, Events No. 23 and 24 8 and Under 25 metre Breaststroke.
Events No. 25 and 26 will feature 7 and Over 50 Backstroke, Events No. 27 and 28, 9 and Over 100 metres Butterfly, Events No. 29 and 30, 8 and Under 25 metres Freestyle and Events No. 31 and 32, 7 and Over 50 metres Freestyle
Sharks Swim Club, under the watchful eye of Coach David Peterkin, are the Independence Challenge defending champions.
