National swimmers, Dylan Carter and Caryle Blondell established new 50 metres freestyle records when the 23rd Amateur Swimming Association of T&T December Invitational ended on Sunday. Both swimmers had also set new national records at the meet on Friday night at Marlins Pool, Morne Coco Road, Westmoorings. Competing in the in the 11-12 Boys' 50 metres freestyle, Carter of Marlins' splashed to the wall in 25.58 seconds to lower the old mark of 25.94 which was held by his current coach Franz Huggins since 1992. Carter, who on Friday set a new 50 metres butterfly mark (27.34 secs) also won the 200 metres IM (2:32.63 mins) and 100 metres backstroke (1:06.47 mins) for three victories on the night to help he club to the team title with 1,189.5 points well of second placed Alpha (839 points).
Blondell, meanwhile shattered the 15 and Over Boys' event in 23.55 seconds to better the previous record of Cadell Lyons, done in July at the CCCAN Championships in Venezuela. On Friday, Blondell had lowered the 100 metres freestyle mark to 51.82 secs. Despite not being among the records on Sunday, Blue Dolphins' Kimberlee John-Williams ended with a whopping 11 gold medals, the most by any swimmer thanks to a hat-trick of wins in the 13-14 Girls' 800 metres freestyle (9:39.22), 100 metres backstroke (1:07.68 mins) and 50 metres freestyle (28.56 secs). John-Williams feat also helped her attain the most points among High Point Age-Group winners, 99.
The local trio of Joshua Romany, US-based Tyla Martin, England-based Christian Homer won two gold medals apiece while Jewel Mulrain, Jennique Duval, Keegan Boisson-Yates, Aaron Acres, Cherelle Thompson, Jeron O'Brien, Jessica Stephenson, Jonathan Ramkissoon, Stefan Sharpe, Rejan Chin and Dean Miko Cruz had one win each. Romay won gold in the 13-14 Boys' 200 metres individual medley (2:21.85 mins) and 50 metres freestyle (25.52 secs); Martin outclassed her opponents in the 11-12 Girls' 200 metres IM (2:30.57 mins) and 100 metres backstroke (1:10.56 mins), and Homer, the 15 & Over Boys' 200 metres IM (2:16.65 mins) and 100 metres backstroke (1:00.12 mins).
Barbadians, Zabrina Holder, Shannon Smith, Sariyah Sherry, Lani Cabrera, Damon St Prix, Alex Sobers, Marsha Watson and Deandre Small and Jamaica's Sidrell Williams also won a gold medal each. St Lucian, Siona Huxley, who qualified for the Youth Olympics in Singapore on Friday night bagged gold in the 15 & Over 100 metres backstroke (1:07.73 mins). In the 200 metres freestyle relay events, host club, Marlins' dominated with wins in the Boys' 9-10 (2:13.95 mins), 11-12 (1:49.14 mins), and 13-14 (1:42.33 mins) races as well as the Girls' 13-14 age-group in 2:01.64 mins while Alpha swim club Eight and Under, 9-10 and 11-12 Girls' 200 metres freestyle relay teams also won gold. Tidal Wave Aquatics topped the Eight and Under Boys' relay in 2:36.84 mins while Blue Dolphins (girls') and UTT (boys') won the 15 and Over events.
Final Team standings:
1. Marlins - 1, 189.50 pts
2. Alpha (Barbados) - 839
3. Blue Dolphins - 611.5
4. Tidal Wave Aquatics - 350
5. Sea Hawks - 337
6. University of T&T - 256
7. Stingray - 251
8. Grenfin (Grenada) - 248.5
9. Pirates (Barbados) - 208
10. Tsunami - 160.5
11. Atlantis - 152
12. Sharks (St Lucia) - 108
13. Torpedoes - 105
14. Dolphins (Barbados) - 89
High Point winners:
Girls Eight and Under:
1. Shannon Smith (Dolphins' B'dos) - 45 pts
2. Kendi Bynoe (Alpha B'dos) - 29
3. Reanna James (Alpha B'dos) - 20
Girls 9-10:
1. Sariyah Sherry (Alpha B'dos) - 52
2. Jewel Mulrain (Tsunami) - 50
3. Alhea Williams (Alpha B'dos)
Girls 11-12:
1. Zabrina Holder (Alpha B'dos) - 80
2. Tyla Martin (unattached) - 74
3. Syriah David (Tidal Wave) - 59
Girls 13-14:
1. Kimberlee John-Williams (Blue Dolphins) - 99
2. Ayesha Noel (Grenfin Grenada) - 65
3. Jenique Duval (Marlins) - 57
Girls 15 & Over:
1. Marsha Watson (Alpha B'dos) - 52.50
2. Raenelle Carrillo (UTT) - 44
3. Cherelle Thompson (Blue Dolphins) - 40.5
Boys Eight and Under
1. Damon St Prix (Alpha B'dos) - 43 pts
2. Kael Yorke (Tidal Wave) - 27.5
3. Luis-Sabastian Weekes (Pirates B'dos) - 27.
Boys 9-10:
1. Aaron Acres (Sea Hawks) - 47
2. Joshua Gonzales (Marlins) - 37
3. Alex Sobers (Alpha B'dos) - 32
Boys 11-12:
1. Dylan Carter (Marlins) - 81
2. Sidrell Williams (Marlins' Jamaica) - 76
3. Christian Selby (Pirates B'dos) - 66
Boys 13-14:
1. Joshua Romany (Marlins) - 84
2. Keegan Boisson-Yates (Marlins) - 66.5
3. Blaine Sobrian (Marlins) - 58
Boys 15 & Over:
1. Christian Homer (Blue Dolphins) - 58
2. Joel Sankar (Marlins) - 51
3. Cadell Lyons (Petrotrin) - 44
