Barbados’ swimming contingent wrapped up the 2025 CARIFTA Aquatic Championships in Couva, Trinidad and Tobago, with an impressive haul of 32 medals.
And team manager Kay Chandler couldn’t be happier, declaring the campaign a resounding success.
“I think the team’s overall performance over the last four days was fantastic,” Chandler said. “They worked incredibly hard. We encountered a few setbacks with minor injuries and mishaps, but the team showed great resilience – pushing forward, supporting one another, and making this one of the best CARIFTA experiences I’ve had since becoming manager.”
She praised their unity and determination, singling out standout performers including Kaija Eastmond, who captured the FINA High Point Award in the Girls’ 11-12 category with a commanding 641 points.
“I was especially impressed by their teamwork and spirit. Kaija was outstanding as a second-year swimmer in her age group. Mihiel Sobers also had some excellent swims, and I was very pleased with his performances – alongside Heidi Stoute, who was remarkable.”
Team captains Joshua Ross and Heidi Stoute led by example.
“Both had exceptional swims. Zachary Ladipo was another consistent performer,” Chandler noted.
She also highlighted the contributions of the younger athletes.
“For me, the 11-12 age group really stood out. They’re the youngest on the team – many of them first-years – but they were superb, especially given their results at last year’s Goodwill Games.”
Stoute shines brightest
Heidi Stoute delivered the standout performance of the final day, striking gold in the Girls’ 15-17 400 metre freestyle with a commanding time of 4:29.10. She added a bronze in the 50m freestyle (26.48), before anchoring the Girls’ 15-17 200m freestyle relay team – alongside Jaiya Simmons, Toria Alleyne, and Ayoka Martin – to silver in 1:49.61.
There was much to celebrate among the younger athletes as well. Mihiel Sobers (13-14) and Theo Narain (11-12) each claimed silver in the 200m backstroke – Sobers in 2:21.13, and Narain in 2:31.86. Sobers returned to earn bronze in the 13-17 800m freestyle (9:14.88), while Narain shared the 200m backstroke podium with teammate Zachary Ladipo, who clocked 2:33.65 for bronze.
Joshua Ross added another medal to his tally with a bronze in the Boys’ 15-17 100m breaststroke (1:06.55).
The Girls’ 11-12 200m freestyle relay quartet of Taija Hall, Jayla-Marie Blunte, Gabriella Babb and Kaija Eastmond powered to bronze in 1:59.85. Eastmond also secured individual bronze in the 50m freestyle (28.42), and Babb added another with a 5:02.31 finish in the 400m freestyle.
Not every effort resulted in a medal, but the team’s fighting spirit was unmistakable.
Gabriella Babb narrowly missed the podium in the 200m backstroke (2:42.22), while Allysa Rocheford placed sixth in the 15-17 100m breaststroke (1:21.61).
The Boys’ 11-12 200m freestyle relay team – Amir Gittens, Theo Narain, Keniel Ledgister II, and Ladipo – finished just shy of the medals in fourth (1:57.36). The Girls’ 13-14 and Boys’ 13-14 relay teams placed fifth (1:57.47) and seventh (1:48.96), respectively.
Finalists also included Zachary Burke (8th in Boys’ 13-14 100m breaststroke – 1:15.05) and Amir Gittens (7th in Boys’ 11-12 400m freestyle – 4:59.62).
Top ten performers
Several swimmers stood out in the rankings. Kaija Eastmond was second overall in the Girls’ 11-12 division with 62 points, winning nine medals: four golds (50m backstroke, 50m butterfly, 100m butterfly, 200m IM), two silvers (100m backstroke, 200m butterfly), and three bronzes (50m freestyle, 400m IM, and a relay medal).
In the same division, 11-year-old Gabriella Babb finished sixth with 29 points, earning silver in the 400m IM and bronze in the 400m freestyle, along with two fourth-place finishes in the 200m backstroke and 200m butterfly.
Theo Narain also excelled in the Boys’ 11-12 category, finishing sixth overall with 35 points, following a gold in the 100m backstroke, silver in the 200m backstroke, bronze in the 200m IM, and fourth in both the 200m and 400m IM.
Thirteen-year-old Mihiel Sobers placed eighth among Boys 13-14, collecting silver in the 200m backstroke and bronzes in the 200m freestyle, 800m freestyle, and 100m backstroke.
In the 15-17 category, Heidi Stoute claimed second place with 51 points, having secured five golds (100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m freestyle) and a silver in the 50m freestyle. (JC)
