Fatima College and T&T swimmer Nikoli Blackman, 17, who will soon be attending the University of Tennessee picked up where he let off the recently concluded Carifta Aquatic Championships in Curacao by swimming to the top spot in the Subway Maracas Open Water Classic hosted by the Aquatic Sports Association of T&T’s Open 5,000m event at Maracas Bay, North Coast on Sunday.
A multiple individual and relay gold medal winner at the Carifta Championship as well as FINA High Point award winner, Blackman of Marlins completed the course in one hour, eight minutes, and 14 seconds to beat clubmates, Zachary Anthony (1:10.46 hours), and Liam Carrington (1:13.43) into the second and third spots respectively.
The fourth-placed went to another Marlins entrant, Asaiah Alexander in 1:14.29 while Adam Scoon was fifth in 1:14.30 followed by Atlantis’ Riquelio Joseph in 1:17.55, and unattached swimmer Isaac Tuberoso (1:18.49) while Marlins’ Zoe Anthony was the eight placed finisher overall in 1:19.31 but first among the women with Aime Le Blanc, second in 1:20.36, and Sydney Look Fong, third in 1:23.41, followed by Shania David (1:27.37), and Jaliyah Celestine (1:34.53).
Blackman also dominated the 1,000m field winning in 45.07 seconds, followed by Tuberoso (49.44), Tiger Sharks’ Aaron Siewlal (49.53), and Blue Dolphins Jaden Wills (52.16) while Marlins’ Taylor Marchan topped the women’s competition in 49.45 seconds, with clubmate Marena Martinez, second in 52.30, and Zara Persico, third in 53.51.
Last year, Blackman, competing in the men’s open 5,000m distance for the first time won in one hour 11 minutes, and 36 seconds (1:11.36).
Among the veterans, Blayne Farinha swam to the top spot in the 35-39 category in 1:03.48 with 868 Triathlon’s Shadrach Granger, second in 1:23.48
In the 45 to 49 age group, Stanley Brooker of Affuhlete won in 54.31, with Ancil Greene a distant second among the men in one hour, 06.55 minutes, while in the 50 to 54, Trin Swim’s Ryan Abraham secured the first place title in 1:01.48, with Dexter Ali, second in 1:27.09.
In the other classes, Glen Thompson of One-A-Week topped the 60-64 age group in 1:26.13, and Tiger Sharks’ Dapiechan Basdeo, the 65-69 age group in 1:28.51, followed by Trinity Masters’ Linden Scott (1:29.34), TT Aquatics’ Keith Daniel (1:29.34), and Not Applicable’s Roger Pantin in 1:30.15.
Carfita team swimmer and medalist Darren Belfon of Point Fortin Aqua Darts was also in winners’ row, swimming to glory in the 13 and Under 1,000m in 17.51 minutes with Shaelen Reece of Red, White, and Black Aqua Darts, in 19.01 and Tidal Wave Aquatic’s Zion Applewhite, third in 19.27, while Blue Dolphin’s Asia-Marie Pouchet topped the girls’ competition in 19.16, followed Madara Edwards of Red, White, and Black in 19.38, and third, Toni Yates of Red, White, and Black Academy in 19.41.
And in the 12 and Under 1,000m, Aiden Nixon of the Tidal Wave Aquatics won the boys’ edition in 20.32 with Micah Alexander (20.45), and Aidan Mayers (22.50), ending in the second, and third spot while among the girls’ Zalayhar Lewis of Marlins swam to victory in 21.53, with Kimari Antoine (22.57), and Leah De Freitas (24.06), second, and third respectively.
