Rahael, Gillette lift Water Classic titles

National swimmers and Marlins athletes, Samantha Rahael and Jonathan Gillette, emerged victors in 5,000m swim at the Amateur Swimming Association of T&T (ASAT&T) Maracas Open Water Swim Classic at Maracas Bay on Sunday. Based in the USA, Rahael, who returned home to make her debut in the Maracas 5k, topped the women’s field (1:12:32), dethroning last year’s champion, Theana Hay, of Centre of Excellence (COE) Sea Hawks (1:16:04). Rebecca Clarke of Pirates Barbados placed third (1:17:10). Marlins Swim Club swam away with a one-two-three victory in the men’s 5,000m. Gillette improved on his second place finish last year to win the race in 1:11:13. Second and third place were taken by Blaine Sobrian (1:12:30) and Marc Stauble (1:13:33) respectively. In the 2,650m race, Nicholas Mitchell of Stingray improved on his seventh place finish last year to win the one-lap event in 38:13. Marlins athlete Christian Chee Foon clocked in second (39:08) followed by Christopher Greene of Tsunami (39:13) in third.

Notably absent from this year’s race were the Marlins trio of Joshua Romany, Dylan Carter and Jabari Baptiste who finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively last year. Tidal Wave’s Syriah David moved up one notch to claim the 2650m women’s race victory in 40:50. Last year’s champion Sangeeta Maharaj of Stingray placed second in 41:00 with Rochelle Pierre of UTT placing third for the second consecutive year. In the 750m children’s race Shania David of Tidal Wave successfully defended her title to win in 11:38. Christian Marsden of Marlins (11:39) emerged the male victor of this category. Over 325 athletes participated in the three races on Sunday. Among the persons present to witness the race was Olympic Medallist George Bovell III and Chairman of the Sport Company of T&T Sebastien Paddington.

RESULTS

5,000M SENIORS RACE
Women
1st- Samantha Rahael (1:12:32), Marlins Swim Club
2nd- Theana Hay (1:16:04) COE Sea Hawks
3rd- Rebecca Clarke (1:17:10), Pirates Barbados
 
Men
1st- Jonathan Gillette (1:11:13), Marlins Swim Club
2nd- Blaine Sobrian (1:12:30), Marlins Swim Club
3rd- Marc Stauble (1:13:33), Marlins Swim Club
 
2650m SENIORS RACE
Women
1st- Syriah David tidal wave aquatics
2nd- Sangeeta Maharaj stingray
3rd- Rochelle Pierre utt

Men
1st- Nicholas Mitchell stingray
2nd- Christian Chee Foon marlins swim club
3rd- Christopher Greene tsunami
 
750m CHILDREN’S RACE
Women
1st- Shania David Tidal Wave Aquatics
2nd- Alexis Clarke Barbados
3rd- Jewel Mulrain Torpedoes
 
Men
1st- Christian Marsden Marlins Swim Club
2nd- James Gillette Marlins Swim Club
3rd- Kael Yorke Tidal Wave Aquatics