Racers Swim Club victorious in National Championships

240
Swimmers competing at the Capri Sun Short Course National Championships at Rodney Heights Aquatic Centre.
Swimmers competing at the Capri Sun Short Course National Championships at Rodney Heights Aquatic Centre.

With 199 of St Lucia’s top competitive swimmers in winning mode, the 2013 Capri Sun Short Course National Championships came to a successful climax on Sunday at the Rodney Heights Aquatic Centre.

Boasting the largest ever local swimmer contingent for a meet, local clubs vied for top positions and to earn their swimmers a selection for the 2013 OECS Swim Team scheduled for the OECS Swimming Championships here in November.

The Sea Jays-hosted meet generated fierce competition with the stands filled by swimmers, coaches, family members and supporters in a cacophony of cheering, shouting, whistles and chatter for the full three days.

Friday’s opening ceremony was attended by the Minister for Commerce, Business Development, Investment and Consumer Affairs, Emma Hippolyte, who provided encouraging words to the swimmers.

Also saying a few words was the President of the St Lucia Amateur Swimming Association, Lance Arnold and the CapriSun representative, Taluah Girard – Super J IGA Marketing Officer.

Racers Swim Club were victorious with 1060 points followed by Sharks Swim Club and Sea Jays Swim Club in second and third place respectively.  Following are the overall point standings of the top six teams: Racers Swim Club 1060; Sharks Swim Club 1039; Sea Jays Swim Club 758; Lightning Aquatics Swim Club 521, Southern Flying fish 371, Cobra Adventures Swim Club 128.

The meet also generated seven new national Age Group Records with Ethan “Speedy” Dyke Elliott of Sea Jays  leading the charge shattering five records, followed by club mate Terrell Monplaisir demolishing two records

Sea Jays presented the Karen Beaubrun Swim Medals for dedication and commitment by a swimmer to Eden Crick from Sharks, Ethan Dyke Elliott of Sea Jays and Zane Daniel of Cobras Swim Club.

President of Sea Jays Swim Club, Dr Tessa Peters, was understandably pleased with the Championships outcome and again expressed her gratitude to sponsors Capri Sun (Gold), the St Lucia Amateur Swimming Association, Cox and Company and also to the management of the Rodney Heights Aquatic Center.

Immediately after the meet, the SLASA Technical Committee met to select the OECS Swim Team which will announced shortly.