[dropcap]S[/dropcap]t Lucia’s OECS Swim Team placed third at this year’s OECS Swimming Championships held over the weekend in Grenada behind eventual winners Grenada and Antigua which finished third.
Noting the absenteeism of a few of St Lucia’s strongest swimmers from the competition, the selected 34 swimmers walked away with 70 individual and nine relay medals (30 gold, 23 silver, 26 bronze).
In placing first Grenada accumulated 1485 points followed by second place Antigua (1325) third place St Lucia had (1167) and fourth place St Vincent and the Grenadines (955).
Though Team St. Lucia was not victorious, team members were successful in slaughtering nine OECS records. Tristan Dorville broke the 9 – 10, 400 Meter Freestyle; Antoine Destang 9 – 10, 50 Meter Butterfly and 100 Meter IM; Karic Charles 9 – 10, 50 Meter Breaststroke; D’ Andre Blanchard 11 – 12, 50 Breaststroke; Jayhan Odlum Smith 15 – 17, 100 Meter Butterfly and 50 Backstroke; Runako Daniel 18 and over, 50 Meter Butterfly; and 10 and Under Relay Team (Antoine Destang, Therron Herelle, Karic Charles and Tristan Dorville).
Twenty age groups records were broken by seven swimmers to include Fayth Jeffrey in the eight and under, 100 Meter IM; Tristan Dorville 9 – 10, 50 and 400 Meter Free and 50 Meter Back; Antoine Destang in the 9 – 10, 100 and 200 Meter Freestyle, 50 meter Butterfly and 100 Meter IM; Karic Charles 9 – 10, 50 Meter Breast; D’ Andre Blanchard 11 – 12, 50 and 100 Meter Free, 50 Meter Breast, 50 and 100 Meter Butterfly; Jayhan Odlum Smith in 15 -17, 50 Meter Back, 50 and 100 Meter Butterfly; and Runako Daniel 18 and over, 50 Meter Butterfly.
Three National Records were slashed by Jayhan Odlum Smith in 400 Meter Freestyle and 100 Butterfly and Runako Daniel 50 Meter Fly.
Winning overall individual high point placement in the Eight and Under Age group was Fayth Jeffery with 59 points, 9 – 10 Antoine Destang contributing 58.50 and 11 – 12 D’Andre Blanchard the biggest point earner from team St Lucia with 91 points.
St Lucia Amateur Swimming Association (SLASA) President, President Eddie Hazell pointed out that though the team may
be disappointed, he is extremely proud for the efforts of the coaches, team management and most importantly the swimmers who continue put in all the effort to dig deep.
The SLASA will now go back to the drawing board and work on its plan for upcoming meets.
