[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Saint Lucia Amateur Swimming Association hosted its Independence Swim Challenge on Sunday at the Rodney Heights Aquatic Centre. The meet commenced at 10:00 am and proved to be full day of competition in 34 events and medal presentations.
The competition began with a march pass and remarks from President Eddie Hazell. He welcomed the swimmers back to the home of swimming, after an interruption for just over one month of regular training and competitive swimming due to pool repairs.
Once the swimmers of the Sharks Swim Club, Sports Academy, RR Swim Club, Lightning Aquatics, Southern Flying Fish and the Seajays Swim Club made their first dive they were ready to give their best!
Some of the highlights of the day were swims from six year old Zaina Brathwaite from the Sharks Swim Club, swimming her personal best of 24.98 in the 25meter butterfly; Eight year old Kaitlyn Holder of Southern Flying Fish swimming a personal best time of 2:11.77 in the 100 meter breaststroke; and 10 year old Malik Peter of the Seajays Swim Club swimming his best time of 1:50.12 in the 100 meter breaststroke.
Other highlights of the day came from 14 year old Marisa Louisy of the Seajays Swim Club swimming a personal best time of 1:12.98 in the 100 meter backstroke; Eight year old Jayson Felix of Lightning Aquatics swimming his personal best of 24.40 in the 25 metre backstroke; and 10 year old Isabelle Esper from the Sharks Swim Club swimming her personal best time of 51.83 in the 50 metre breaststroke.
Several swimmers from RR Aquatic made their debut in the world of competitive swimming.
The Carifta swimmers took to the water and swam hard with personal best times coming from Naima Hazell swimming 1:05.49 in 100 meter freestyle. She broke the only record at the meet clocking 28.23 in the 50 freestyle. Naekeisha Louis swam her personal best in the 50 freestyle with a 29.73. D’Andre Blanchard also swam a personal best time of 1:00.12 in the 100 freestyle and 27.47 in 50 freestyle. Jayhan Odlum Smith swam a personal best of 55.29 in 100 meter freestyle. Their coaches will be working very closely with the Carifta Team in the upcoming days in an attempt to improve on weak areas such as starts and turns.
At the conclusion of the meet, Seajays Swim Club emerged victorious, winning the 2018 Independence Swim Challenge with combined scores of 809 points. Second place overall team scores went to the Sharks Swim Club (563 points), third place Lightning Aquatics (354 points), fourth place Place RR Aquatics (205 points), followed by Southern Flying Fish (182 points) and The Sports Academy (39 points).
The Saint Lucia Amateur Swimming Association (SLASA) is grateful for the assistance from the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports and other contributors including Blue Waters and Windjammer Landing.
The Association is extremely grateful to the swimmers for their patience throughout the past month and look forward to creating a forum for increased competitive swimming throughout 2018.
