Marlins Aquatics was crowned overall team champions of the Aquatic Sports Association of T&T (ASATT) National Open Long Course Swimming Championship when they held off a strong challenge from RWB Aquatic Academy (RWBAA) and 13 other clubs at the end of the four-day meet at the National Aquatic Centre in Balmain, Couva on Sunday night (May 17).
The Westmoorings-based Marlins Aquatics finished with 402 points to RWBAA’s 383.50, a margin of just 18.5 points, with Flying Fish taking third on 147.5 to complete the championship podium.
Marlins’ Marena Martinez, 14, was the standout performer of the Competitive Division, leading the Open women’s category with 78 points across nine events with clubmate Zahara Anthony, second with 56.5, and RWBAA’s Toni-Rae Yates, third with 47.
Fellow Marlins’ swimmer Isaiah Alexander, 17, edged a memorable Open men’s battle, finishing on 58 points just one point ahead of RWBAA’s Jadon Ramdeen (57) and eight clear of the University of West Indies’ Khadeem Brathwaite (50).
In the 10 & Under category, Blue Dolphins’ Harvey Gibbins (77) and Marlins’ Chloe-Mari Julien (73) took the boys’ and girls’ titles, respectively, the latter just two points ahead of Epic Sport Vision’s Arsiah Gill (71) in one of the tightest contests of the meet.
Tidal Wave Aquatics’ Liam Ellis and Jakeem James Adams finished joint third in the 10 & Under Boys on 44 points each. On the Masters side, Tobago YMCA Aqua Warriors’ Rochelle Pierre (45) and Blue Lightning Aquatics’ Nicholas Washington (43) led their respective standings.
On Sunday, Gibbing was the outstanding swimmer with four individual wins in the boys’ 10 and Under 200 individual medley (3:00.323 mins); 100m backstroke (1;24.64); 50m butterfly (36.84 secs) and 50m freestyle (32.57) before he combined with Lille-Belle Balkissoon, Bryce Ramirez and Maya Preudhomme to top the mixed 10 and under 200m freestyle relay in 2:17.68.
Martinez dominated the girls 11 and Over 200m butterfly (2:49.53 mins), 200m backstroke (2:40.76) and 400m freestyle (4:49.82) as well as the 11 and over mixed 200m freestyle relay with clubmates Zachary Anthony, his sister Zahara Anthony, and Isaiah Alexander in 1:43.69.
Zachary Anthony was also an individual multi-winner on Sunday with victories in the 11 and over boys 200m butterfly (2:10.79) and 50m freestyle (22.97).
Julien won both the 10 and under girls 200m individual medley in 2:51.24; 100m backstroke (1:21.40) while Arsiah Gill copped top spot in the 10 and under girls 50m butterfly in 34.51, and the 50m freestyle in 31.26, and Jananai Applewhaite, the 11 and over boys 200m backstroke in 2:21.75 and 400m freestyle in 4:37.52.
There were also wins on the closing night for Zara Persico, Zalayhar Lewis, and Riquelio Joseph.
Among the masters, Rochelle Pierre won the 25 and Over women 50m freestyle in 29.97 and the 50m backstroke in 36.27, while Anton Gopaulsigh swam to victory in the 25 and Over men 50m freestyle in 26.61 and the 50m backstroke in 31.44.
Results:
World Aquatics Points High Point Trophy winners
Women
Eight and Under: Kaitlyn Sooknanan (Blue Dolphin) - 100m breaststroke - 146 pts
9-10: Arsiah Gill (Epic Sport Vision) - 50m freestyle - 430
11-12: Zahara Anthony (Marlins Aquatics) - 100m freestyle- 583
13-14: Zara Persico (RWB Aquatic Academy) - 50m free - 613
15-17: Asia-Marie Pouchet (Blue Dolphin) - 100m freestyle - 606
18 & Over: Toni Rae Yates (RWB Aquatic Academy) - 50m freestyle - 607
Men
Eight & Under: Jesse Robertson (Marlins Aquatics) - 200m freestyle - 203
9-10: Harvey Gibbins (Blue Dolphin) - 200m freestyle - 281
11-12: Micah Alexander (RWB Aquatic Academy) - 100m backstroke - 441
13-14: Nikosi Baptiste (Rivas Titans) - 50m freestyle - 526
15-17: Joshua Sambrano (Flying Fish) - 50m breaststroke - 651
18 & Over: Zachary Anthony (Marlins Aquatics) - 100m freestyle - 766
Individual age-group winners
Women
Ten and Under
1. Chloe-Marie Julien (Marlins Aquatics) 73
2. Arsiah Gill (Epic Sports Vision) 71
3. Zaakiyah Ovid (Tidal Wave Aquatics) 36
11 and Over
1. Marena Martinez (Marlins) 78
2. Zahara Anthony (Marlins) 56.5
3. Toni-Rae Yates (RWB Aquatics Academy) 47
Men
Ten and Under
1. Harvey Gibbins (Blue Dolphin) 77
2. Ty Scott (Barrucudas) 62
3. Liam Ellis (Tidal Wave Aquatics) & Jakeem James Adamas (Tidal Wave Aquatics) 44
11 and Over
1. Isaiah Alexander (Marlins) 58
2. Jadon Ramdeen (RWB Aquatics Academy) 57
3. Khadeem Brathwaite (UWI) 50
Masters Division
Over 25 women
1. Rochelle Pierre (Tobago YMCA) 45
2. Mixi Mendoza (T&T Aquatics) 39
3. Arianne Sobrian (Trinbago Masters) 23
Over 25 men
1. Nicholas Washington (Blue Lightning Aquatics) 43
2. John Procope (Tobago YMCA) 26
3. Joseph Ryan (Trinbago Masters) 23
Final Combined Team scores
1. Marlins Aquatics 402
2. Rwb Aquatic Academy 383. 50
3. Flying Fish 147. 50
4. Tidal Wave Aquatics of T&T 65
5. Blue Dolphin 57
6. University of the West Indies 53
7. Bluefins Aquatics 37. 50
8. Atlantis Aquatics 33. 50
9. Point Fortin Riptide 16
10. Tobago YMCA Aqua Warriors 14
11. Barracudas Swim Club 13
12. Point Fortin Aqua Darts 12
13. Wave Swim Team 8
14. Rivas Titans 3
14. Target Aquatics T&T 3
