Zahara Anthony, Katelon Leera, and Micah Alexander secured qualification berths for the Carifta Swimming Championships in at least two events during the National Long Course Age Group Championships at the National Aquatic Centre in Balmain, Couva on Friday.
Anthony, contesting the Girls’ 11-12 100-metre freestyle, splashed to a Carifta A qualifying time of 1:01.94 to book her ticket for the Carifta Swimming Championships in Martinique from April 4-10. She was the lone swimmer to secure a place, as Serenity Pantin was way off the required 1:06.47 to achieve even a C qualifying time. Swimmers were required to make an A-time of 1:02.42, a B-time of 1:04.39, or a C-time of 1:06.47 to qualify.
Anthony was far from finished; the Marlins Aquatics swimmer entered the pool a second time and splashed to a Carifta C time in the 100-metre breaststroke in 1:30.22 for the silver medal. The event was won by Leera, who touched the wall in 1:26.10 for a B-standard time, while third-place Sanae Reece stopped the clock at 1:31.49, which also made her Carifta-bound.
Micah Alexander proved to be unstoppable in both the boys’ 50-metre backstroke and the 100-metre breaststroke events, both of which will take him to Martinique in April. First, he topped the field in the 50-metre backstroke for the gold medal and a Carifta B standard, splashing to 32.60 seconds. Eli Edwards was the other Carifta qualifier, as his 33.69 seconds was enough to earn him a C-time.
Alexander was later among seven swimmers from a total of eight whose performances proved good enough for a trip to Martinique. Contesting a competitive field, Alexander raced home in 1:24.76, which was only good enough for a second-place finish and a Carifta B time in the 100-metre swim.
When Alexander touched the wall, the race had already been sewn up by Taylan Diaz in 1:23.91, and a B-Standard time, while Kanden Williams (1:25.00), Khalil Brathwaite (1:25.18), Eli Edwards (1:29.10), Ethan Cash (1:29.63), and Zion George (1:32.32) claimed positions third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh positions respectively with Carifta times.
