None of the international swimmers met the Olympic “A” qualifying standards as Alpha Sharks of Barbados won their 11th successive title last weekend at the 21st Powerade Aquatic Centre International.
However, they combined with local swimmers to set almost 20 records at the Aquatic Centre.
Chasing 25.27 seconds in the 50m free time trial, Vanessa Garcia, of Puerto Rico, was first in 25.78 seconds. St Lucia’s Ally Ponson, who was targeting the International Swimming Association’s “B” standard of 26.15, was second overall in 27.06.
In the final, Garcia broke Leah Martindale’s standard of 26.81, which stood since 1996, with a new record of 25.87.
Erika Torrellas, of Venezuela, won the 15 and over 100m freestyle in 57.88 seconds, down from Martindale’s 58.64. She also won the 100m fly in 1:01.85, lowering Paige Miller’s mark of 1:05.19, set in 2010.
Venezuela’s Luis Rojas broke Nicky Neckles’ 100m backstroke record of 56.82 seconds, clocking 56.76.
Victoria Danielle, of Venezuela, broke 1992 multiple Olympic medallist American Anita Nall’s 12-year mark of 2:41.13 with 2:35.51 in the 200m breast and Mercedes Toledo, also of Venezuela, was also under record pace in 2:36.11.
Destiny Harding, of Alpha Sharks, also set two individual records with 32.25 and 29.96, respectively, in the 50m fly and 50m free.
Meanwhile, Alpha Sharks amassed 1 594 points. It was a straight tussle with Pirates of Barbados who were second with 785. They were followed by Grenfins of Grenada (379), Wadadli Aquatic (309) of Antigua and Blue Dolphins of Trinidad and Tobago with 265.
Alpha had 56 gold, 42 silver and 49 bronze medals to finish with 147 medals. Pirates were a distant second with 20-23-23 (66) and the Venezuela Sports Federation third 10-3-2 (15).
Grenfins were fourth with 24 medals (8-7-9) and Wadadli Aquatic rounded out the top five with 19 (6-7-6).
Sariyah Sherry, of Alpha, was the best individual scorer among the girls with 88 points in the 13 to 14 age group. She started with wins in the 400m freestyle in 4 minutes, 42.40 seconds and the 50m back in 33.90.
She rebounded from disqualification in the 200 individual medley to win the 100m free in 1:02.73; the 200m free in 2:17.26; the 100m back in 1:14.57 in the 100m fly in 1:14.78.
On Sunday, Sherry hit the water fresh to win the 800m free in 9 minutes, 45.64 seconds, the 200m back in 2:35.19 and the 50m free in 29.16.
She also won gold with the Alpha 400m medley and 400m freestyle relays and was runner-up in the 50m fly in 32.90 seconds behind Oreoluwa Cherebin of Grenfins (31.75).
With 118 points, Christian Selby, of Pirates was without equal among the boys, dominating the 13 to 14 age group. (SAT)
