WHEN THE FINAL splash was made at the 2011 Scotia Bank Long Course National Swimming Championships in the 50-metre pool, the Aquatic Centre returned to normal.
The final day’s results showed that Amara Gibbs, Deandre Small, Zabrina Holder and Lee-Ann Rose had established a new women’s open record in a time trial in the 400 metres medley relay.
The quartet dismissed the old record of 4:43.80 minutes, established at the Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships (CISC) in 1996, to post a new record in 4:38.28, five seconds lower than the previous mark.
The very popular 50-metre freestyle events saw 8-and-Under Girls Danielle Titus and Nokosi Dunwoody making a clean sweep of the gold medals in this age group.
Chade Nersicio of Curacao pipped Kendi Bynoe once more at the wall to win this event for the 9-10 Girls, while Damon St Prix again outswam his rivals Jack Kirby and Luis Sebastian Weekes to win gold.
Sariyah Sherry, who swam unbeaten in the meet, evaded Hannah Gill to win the 50 free for the 11-12 Girls.
Brandon Thompson added yet another event to his credit for CARIFTA when he swam under the qualifying standard in the 50-metre freestyle event.
Like Brandon, both Zabrina Holder and Christian Selby got the better of their competition and held on to the gold medal.
Siona Huxley of St Lucia won the 50-metre freestyle in the Girls’ 15-17 event over Rose, who made a strong bid but ended in second place.
Joshua Runako Daniel, also of St Lucia, emerged winner in the Boys’ 15-17 event along with compatriot Jean Luc Augier in the 18-24 age group and Nathalie Petersen of Curacao.
Kyle Dougan of St Vincent and the Grenadines did it for the Masters when he swam ahead of Geoffrey King of Flying Fish Masters of Barbados.
The 200-metre backstroke events were won by Sherry and Alex Sobers in the 11-12 age group; Gibbs and Selby in the 13-14 age group and Rose, Russell Oliver and Nathalie Petersen in the 15-and-over age group.
In the 100-metre breaststroke, Nersicio was again the winner over Bynoe but St Prix held on to the top spot despite the battle with Weekes ended with .80 splits between them.
Kai Proverbs was the breaststroke queen in the 100-metre event, defeating Hannah Gill and Ahlea Williams.
Alex Sobers stole the show from Brandon Thompson with a 0.24 split seconds in hand and Deandre Small made it to the wall ahead of Kimberley Willoughby. Selby, Crystal Jordan Browne, Gabriel Gunby, Raymond Edwards and Nathalie Petersen were the other breaststroke winners. (PR/EZS)
