The trio of Gabriel Bynoe, Kyle Leera and Harmoni Nelson won two events each on the opening night of competition at the Amateur Swimming Association of T&T (ASATT) Age-Group Long Course Championship at the National Aquatic Centre in Balmain, Couva on Thursday night.
The meet which concludes on Sunday is the first in over 12 months being held locally due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which put a halt to all sporting activities locally in early March 2020.
Due to the ongoing fight against the pandemic, the meet is being held without spectators under the strictest of health protocols and is FINA sanctioned providing the competitors with the chance to qualify for the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games and the Junior Pan American Championships carded for Colombia, later this year as well.
The 19-year-old Bynoe of Marlins swam to the top spot in the Boys’ 11 and Over 200 metres breaststroke in two minutes and 28.71 seconds, ahead of Kyle West (2:38.46) and Riquelio Joseph (2:39.16).
And his other win came in the 18 and Over 50m butterfly in 25.11 with Christian Awah, second in 25.49 followed by Derell Augustine who clocked 27.56.
Leera emerged winner of the 9-10 Boys 100m butterfly in 1:22.18 with Aaron Siewlal (1:37.64) and Shian Griffith (1:48.18) a distant, second and third respectively.
Leera, nine, also won the 200m freestyle in 2:46.08 seconds with Aidan Mayers second in 3:04.14, and Jeremiah Mahabir, third in 3:05.78.
The ten-year-old Nelson touched the wall with the best time in the 9-10 Girls’ 100m butterfly in 1:21.39, followed by Gianna Pichery (1:31.70), and Taylor Marchan (1:33.08).
Nelson then won the 200m freestyle in 2:35.58 seconds, whipping Pichery (2:46.21) and Marchan (2:49.63) into second and third, respectively.
In the Girls’ 11 and Over 200m backstroke, Ileana Bocage, 20, won in 3:01.54 , well ahead of 18-year-old Gabriella Acosta (3:03.93) and 15-year-old Zoe Anthony (3:08.56).
Keryn Burke won the 11-12 Girls 50m butterfly in 31.94 with Siena Jagdeo (32.23) in second spot and Netania Edwards, third in 32.84.
Liam Carrington won the 11-12 Boys’ 50m butterfly with a time of 30.90 closely trailed by Jordan Khan (31.12) and Ampherne Bernard (31.16).
Amari Ash topped the 13-14 Girls 50m butterfly field in 29.78 with Joy Blackett second in 30.24 and Amelia Rajack, third in 30.83.
And in the 13-14 Boys 50m butterfly, Giovanni Rivas won in 27.96, with Ibrahima Diouf (28.04) and Shaelen Reece 29.35 completing the top-three finishers.
DeNicha Lewis was a comfortable winner in the 15-17 Girls’ 50m butterfly in 29.49 to beat Caitlyn Look Fong (30.54) and Savannah Chee-Wah (31.11) home.
Like Lewis, Malik Nelson also showed his class in the 15-17 Boys’ 50m butterfly to take top spot in 26.14 with Aaron Stuart, second in 26.46 and Johann-Matthew Matamoro (26.58), third.
Johnnya Ferdinand outclassed her rivals in the 18 and Over Girls’ 50m butterfly in 29.63 in a close contest with Jahmia Harley (29.76) and Analee Maharaj (33.25).
Among the longer contested distances on the night, national duo, Jada Chatoor and Nikoli Blackman won easily.
Chatoor dominated the 11 and Over Girls 400m freestyle in 4:41.35 to beat Rajack (4:50.90) and Anthony (5:10.09) home while Blackman won the boys’ equivalent in 4:18.55.
Josiah Changar took second in 4:29.17, and Stachys Harley, third in 4:31.66. The competition continues on Saturday morning from 9 am.