Barbadian swimmers Jaiya Simmons, Tariq Greenidge and Victor Ashby enjoyed dream starts to their Carifta careers as they emerged as two of the host nation’s strongest chances for early medals at the conclusion of the opening session this morning at the 35th CARIFTA Swimming Championships at the Aquatic Centre.
There was no rival for Simmons in the 11-12 girls’ 100m butterfly and she dominated her heat in a time of 1:09.5 minutes.
The 12-year-old Harrison College student also advanced to the final of the 11-12 girls’ 50m backstroke with the second fastest time of 33.55 seconds which she set en route to winning the second qualifying heat.
Heidi Stoute advanced with the sixth fastest time of 34.74 seconds as did Amiya Harrison in a time of 34.87 seconds after a swim off with Eva Oldfield of the Cayman Islands.
Harrison will compete for a podium place in the final of the 200m breaststroke as she advanced with the third fastest time of 3:07.96 minutes. Toria Alleyne registered the seventh fastest time of 3:17.13 minutes to also ensure her place in the final.
Greenidge set the standard in the 11-12 boys 50m backstroke with his time of 32 seconds. Fellow first timer Zachary Burke was third fastest overall with his time of 32.57 seconds, while Nikolai Sisnett increased Barbados’ chance of a medal as he qualified fifth fastest in 33.27 seconds.
Ashby entered the final of the 11-12 boys’ 100m butterfly with the fastest time of 1:07.12 minutes from his captivating win in the second heat.
Barbados’ girls’ captain Keilani Talma will compete in the final of the 15-17 girls’ 100m butterfly after her 1:06.38 minutes performance in heat one which qualified her as fifth fastest.
Omari Sealy, Kai Trotman, Storme Collymore and boys’ captain Christopher Pollard will contest the final of the 15-17 boys’ 4x100m freestyle relay after completing their heat in 3:49.65 minutes.
Collymore also has a chance at an individual medal in the 200m breaststroke and enters the final with the seventh fastest time of 2:40.83 minutes. (NM)
