With the onset of November, Sea Jays swim club has seen their swimmers achieve a variety of success in various meets. With thirteen swimmers selected to the Saint Lucia National Team for the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Swimming Championships held in Antigua from November 8th to 11th, the path was laid for good things to come.
On the first day of the OECS Swim Championships, Tristan Dorville set an age group record in the 9-10 boys 400 Metre Freestyle. In the same event, Jayhan Odlum Smith not only set an age group record for 15-17 boys 400 Metre Freestyle, but set a National Record for St Lucia! These records were just the beginning.
Additional records included: Tristan Dorville 9-10 boys age group records 50 Metre Freestyle and 50 Metre Back; D’Andre Blanchard 11-12 boys age group records 50 Metre Free, 100 Metre Free, 50 Metre Breast, 50 Meter Fly, and 100 Metre Fly; Jayhan Odlum-Smith 15-17 age group records 50 Meter Back, 50 Metre Fly, 100 Metre Fly plus 100 Metre Fly was National Record.
Their success continued throughout the competition. Sea Jays swimmers came home with a total of 14 Gold, 11 Silver, 3 Bronze: Tristan Dorville 3 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze; Therron Herelle 1 Silver; Mila Festina Cromer 1 Gold, 1 Bronze; D Andre Blanchard 7 Gold, 4 Silver; Jayhan Odlum Smith 4 Gold, 4 Silver.
Ethan Dyke-Elliot has been swimming in Toronto, Canada and this weekend, set a new 200 Metre Freestyle Record 1:55.86. It must be noted that earlier in the same day in Antigua, Jayhan Odlum Smith had broken the record which was immediately broken by Dyke-Elliot. That wasn’t it for him this weekend. He further added an age group record for 15-17 boys 100 Metre Freestyle and went on to break the record Jayhan Odlum Smith had set in the 400 Metre Free at OECS.
Sea Jays swimmers didn’t stop with just the pool swims. Nick McLennon took part in The Body Holiday 1-Mile Swim – an open water event held annually. This year Kerri Ann Payne and husband Dave Carrie had Olympian Dan Wallace join them for the event. Nick McLennon finished first, behind Dan Wallace, with a time of 26 minutes 08 seconds. This is the second time McLennon has swam in the 1-Mile swim hosted at Body Holiday and his second win.
Sea Jays executive and coaches are elated with the results. The hard work and preparation of the swimmers has shone throughout the various events.
Up next, Sea Jays will have a team traveling to Trinidad and Tobago for the annual A.S.A.T.T. Invitational Swimming Championship 2018 hosted by Marlins Swim Club, Thursday 13th to Sunday 16th December 2018.
Jayhan Odlum Smith and Jean Luc Zephir will be representing Saint Lucia at the FINA World Swimming Championships 25 metre from Tuesday 11th – Sunday 16th December, 2018 in Hangzhou, China.
Sea Jays Swim club looks for further success during these events.