CLASSIFIED as one of the premiere swim meets in the Eastern Caribbean and generating a big splash for swimmers in Saint Lucia, the Rodney Height Aquatic Centre will come alive from this evening with the staging of the 19th edition of the RHAC Invitational Swim Meet.
According to the organizers, close to 330 swimmers representing a combined 22 clubs from Martinique, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Antigua, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and host Saint Lucia, will be in action.
For the last three years, the meet has gained prominence for its excellent level of competition, efficient organization and the usual large crowd of supporters from overseas — and by all indications this year is no exception, as some of the region’s leading swimmers will be competing.
This meet has been the stepping stone for many regional swimmers who have moved on to represent their countries at the CARIFTA Swim Championships and higher level meets.
The various clubs coming over to compete use this meet to develop their swimmers and are most often the first travel meet for the younger swimmers.
Members of the current Saint Lucia CARIFTA swim team will also be in action – Naima Hazell (Sharks) and D’Andre Blanchard will be coming ablaze following their combined 5 medals at the games in Jamaica. While, Naekeisha Louis (Lightning Aquatic), Mikaili Charlemagne, Allandre Cross (Sharks), JayhanOdlum – Smith, Jamaar Archibald, TerrelMonplaisir, Devin Boodha and Veronica Brown (Seajays) will leave no stone unturned as they all will be looking to lead from the front for their respective clubs.
Also in the thick of things – Maya Hilaire, Anyka Holder, Jasmine Steide, Marisa Louis, Chloe Thomas, Tammy Pultie, Antoine Destang, Karic Charles, Theron HerelleAkim Earnest, Ziv Reynolds, Omar Alexander and Cavaari Taylor just to name a few who will be in action.
A Technical Meeting will be held today from 3p.m., followed by session one warm-up at 4p.m., while the first event is scheduled for 5:30p.m.
Tomorrow’s session-two warm-up starts at 7a.m. followed by day-two events at 8:45a.m. session three warm-up starts at 4p.m.
The official opening ceremony is carded for 5:40p.m. while session-three of the championship resumes at 6p.m.
On Saturday, April 7th session four warm-up starts at 7a.m., while session four events will move into full swing at 8:45a.m.
The championship will take a break and resumes with session five warm-up at 4pm, while session five action in the pool will be at 5:45p.m.
On Sunday 8th session six warm-up will be at 7:00 a.m. while Session 6 Championship action begins at 8:45a.m.
The Sprint Challenge will immediately follow event No. 164.
The official awards and closing ceremony is scheduled 30 minutes after the sprint challenge.
The final event, the open water event, will take place in Rodney Bay outside the Saint Lucia Yacht Club from 7:30a.m.
