Alpha Sharks Swim Club (ASSC) made the strongest statement on the opening day of the 34th annual Sonia O’Neal Memorial Aquatics Centre Invitational, finishing Thursday’s session atop the standings with 204 points at the Barbados Aquatic Centre.
Defending champions Pirates Swim Club Barbados (PSCB), chasing a seventh consecutive title, closed the day in second on 133 points, while Hightide Stingrays (HTSR) sat third with 94 points.
Record-breaking performances headlined the opening night, led by 2025 CARIFTA gold medallist Kaija Eastmond of Pirates. The 13-year-old lowered the Girls’ 13-14 50-metre butterfly meet record to 29.11 seconds to secure gold, erasing the mark of 29.63 set by clubmate Jaiya Simmons in 2024.
Dominant double
Eastmond later completed a dominant double by capturing the Girls’ 13-14 100m freestyle in 1:01.61. Alpha’s Jada Pounder claimed silver in 1:03.20, while Pirates’ Zavia Branch rounded out the podium in 1:05.83.
Simmons ensured Pirates finished the night with a second record when she stopped the clock at 28.66 seconds in the Girls’ 15-and-Over 50m butterfly, eclipsing the long-standing meet record of 28.85 set by Paige Miller in 2010.
In the boys’ division, Alpha’s Mihael Sobers emerged as one of the meet’s standout performers. The CARIFTA representative opened his campaign with victory in the Boys’ 13-14 1 500 freestyle in 18:28.33, before returning to win the 100 freestyle in 55.67. Sobers also contributed to Alpha’s triumph in the mixed 13-14 relay and added a fourth-place finish in the 50m butterfly in 29.52.
His clubmate Christian Vanderpool, the Boys’ 11-12 champion at this year’s CARIFTA Championships, also delivered a strong all-round performance. He captured the 1500m freestyle title in 18:51.60, earned silver in the 100m freestyle in 59.83, and placed fourth in the 50m butterfly in 30.27.
Alpha added another individual title through Keniel Ledgister, who won the Boys’ 11-12 50m butterfly in 29.52, holding off Joshua Parris (NWSS) in 29.85, while Christopher Walter (WAR) finished third in 30.18. The trio, however, had no answer for Pirates’ Zachary Ladipo, who stormed to victory in the Boys’ 11-12 100m freestyle in 59.29.
Black Sands Swim Club’s Kione Deshong showcased great consistency by collecting silver in the Boys’ 13-14 50m butterfly (28.13), 100m freestyle (56.56) and 200m breaststroke (2:43.11).
Alpha’s Joshua Ross also impressed in the senior ranks, winning the Boys’ 15 and Over 100m freestyle in 53.85, the 200m breaststroke in 2:30.71, and helping his club to second place in the mixed 15 and Over relay.
Among the youngest competitors, eight-year-old Sheaylah Burgess of Dolphins Swim Club continued her excellent regional form following her sevenmedal haul at the Rodney Heights Aquatic Club Invitational in St Lucia. She claimed gold in the Girls’ 8-and-Under 50m butterfly in 41.67 and silver in the 100m freestyle in 1:27.68. (JC)
