The national team continued to rack up even more medals at the Carifta Games.
The last two days of competition were as fruitful as the first two for Cayman. Three more medals were claimed, giving Cayman a grand total of six: one gold, one silver and four bronze.
The Carifta Games were held in Aruba 27-30 March. Cayman was one of over ten teams from around the region, including areas like the Netherlands and French Antilles.
Seiji Groome continues to produce excellent performances in Aruba. The youngster added two more medals to his collection. This time it was bronze in the 200m Individual Medley (IM) and bronze in the 100m breaststroke (breast).
One of the better young swimmers in Cayman, Groome went on to finish fifth in the 400m Freestyle (free) and have a personal best time in the 200m Butterfly (fly).
Joel Rombough carried his momentum from day two to snag another medal. Rombough had a strong showing in the 200m fly, as he took bronze in the event.
Rombough also did well in his other events. He swam a personal best in the 200m IM and finished 5th plus he finished 8th in the 400m free.
For Rombough, these games are of special significance. The local swimming association recently stated that it would be his last Carifta. Rombough turns 18 this year and thus exceeds the highest Carifta age group which is for swimmers 15-17 years old.
Day two medallist Lara Butler also had good times. She finished fourth in the 200m IM and fourth in the 200m back.
The other significant individual effort came from Geoffrey Butler. Butler finished 8th in the 400m free and made the finals of the 200m back.
The rest of the team also had solid showings. Amber Myrie made the 200m finals and was fourth in the 400m free. Tori Flowers finished 8th in the 400m free. Jackson Messer finished 9th in the 400m free and Joshua Bain reached his first Carifta final in the 200m back.
Furthermore, the team was steady throughout the last two days. Two swimmers swam personal bests in the 200m IM and six did the same in the 50m breast. In addition, a further eleven swimmers had personal bests in the 50m and 100m freestyle (free).
At the end of the competition, Cayman swimmers walked away winners in another regard. Most qualified for the Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships set for July in Kingston, Jamaica.
The qualifiers were Joshua Bain, Geoffrey Butler, Lara Butler, Summer Flowers, Tori Flowers Seiji Groome, Jackson Messer, Amber Myrie, and Peter Stasiuk.
National Coach Dominic Ross was satisfied with the performances his young swimmers gave.
‘CARIFTA 2008 was a growing experience for the team. They started out with only one team member who had previously medalled at the games.
‘Many swimmers advanced to the finals for the first time. Two picked up medals for the first time and a number of them still have another year in the age group in which they competed this time around.’
In spite of the loss of Rombough due to age, Ross along with the other coaches expects the other swimmers to return in even better form next year.
Ross and the rest of the team also wished to thank their managers, supporters, the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sports for their tireless efforts. Without them, they say everything needed would not have been provided.
Special mention goes to Steven Bain, physical therapist Marcy McCaw Penny McDowall and corporate sponsors Cable and Wireless, Cayman Airways, and SPEEDO.
Coach Ross went on to say he thinks next year’s Carifta games will be just as successful.
‘With continued hard work and dedication, along with the exciting new group of younger swimmers coming up next year, we look forward to continued and improved CARIFTA successes.’
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