NATIONAL swimmer Fayth Jeffrey, who resides in Barbados with her parents, swam her way to four Gold and six Silver medals at the first meet of the Barbados Swimming Association earlier this month.
Jeffrey also recorded 100% improvement across all of the 14 events she participated in.
The meet was a relief for the swimmers after a long period of COVID 19 lock down and the cancellation of the CARIFTA Swim Championship that was scheduled for April. Also playing a part in the swimmers inability to get into the pool were volcanic ash from the La Soufriere Volcano in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Hurricane Elsa.
Jeffrey represented Pirates Swim Club, recording an outstanding performance overall finishing in 2nd place in the Age Group (11-12) with 93 points.
When it all ended Jeffrey had a total of four Short Course Records (SCR) as follows: 1,500 metre Freestyle – Age Group and National Record in a time of 21 minutes 02.31 seconds (first time in this age group for any Saint Lucian female swimmer at a Long Course event).
800 metre Freestyle – Age Group Record in a time of 11 minutes 16.91 seconds (first time completed in a Long Course event for this age group).
400 metre Individual Medley (IM) – New Age Group Record in a time of 5 minutes 51.68 seconds, the record was previously held by Christane Beaubrun with a time of 6 minutes 36.74 seconds since May 2002.
200 metre Fly – New Age Group Record in a time of 2 minutes 45.44 seconds, this record was previously held by Brittney Eames with a time of 2 minutes 56.38 since April 2003.
It must be noted that last December, in the Girls 9-10 category, Jeffrey smashed eight of Saint Lucia age group records including her own and that of Naima Hazell, Jorja Mederick, Eden Crick and Katelin Samuel, all national swimmers.
Jeffrey’s full schedule of events and placings over the six days of competition – event No.3 Girls 11 and Over, 1500 metre Free Style, she placed 2nd in a time of 21 minutes 02.31 seconds. In event No.9 Girls 11-12, 100 metre Fly, she placed 1st in a time of 1 minute 13.64 seconds; event No. 21 Girls 11 and Over, 200 metres Free Style, she placed 6th place in a time of 2 minutes 28.82 seconds. In event No.23 Girls 11 and Over 400 metres she placed 2nd in a time of 5 minutes 51.68 seconds and in event No.29 Girls 11-12, 100 Free Style, placed 4th in a time of 1 minute 06.83 seconds.
Event No.41 Girls 11-12 50 metres Back, 4th place in a time of 37.90 seconds, event No.61 Girls 11 and Over 200 metres Fly, 1st place in a time of 2 minutes 45.44 seconds; event No 63 Girls 11 -12 50 metres Breast, 1st place in a time of 39.83 seconds, event No. 77 Girls 11 and Over 200 metres Breast, 1st place in a time of 3 minutes 09.23 seconds; event No.93 Girls 200 metres IM, 2nd place in a time of 2 minutes 47.26 seconds.
Event No.95 Girls 11-12 50 metre Fly 2nd place in a time of 33.36 seconds; event No. 105 Girls 11 and Over 800 metres Free 2nd place in a time of 11 minutes 16.91 seconds; event No.111 Girls 11-12 100 metres Breast 2 place in a time of 1 minute 26.79 seconds; event No.125 Girls 11-12 50 metre Free 7th place in a time of 31.35 seconds.
According to her mother Donna Kaidou – Jeffrey, who spoke to this reporter via telephone following the championship at the weekend, her daughter is happy, the family is happy with her performance. “It’s been a tough start to the year, so this is very commendable,” she said.
“Fayth is looking forward to the rest of the year. Hopefully BASA will host the Aquatic Centre Meet in October and the Short Course National (SCN) in December,” Kaidou – Jeffrey said.
Jeffrey represented Saint Lucia at the 29th edition of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) swimming championship in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 2019, finishing third overall in her age group, capturing silver in the 400 metres and bronze in the 100 metres Individual Medley (IM) setting an age group record along the way.
