Alex McCallum recently earned fresh kudos in the swimming world.
The 17-year-old veteran won the Butterfield 800 metre sea swim last Saturday. McCallum would post a time of nine minutes, 45 seconds to edge out fellow prodigy Geoffrey Butler, 16, and his mark of 9.46s.
McCallum states the victory was the latest chapter in their rivalry.
“It feels good to win, five times in a row I was second to him,” McCallum said. “In the pool, he kicks me off the podium. Saturday was my lucky day.
“The current was not too difficult, it didn’t feel too different from years past. I did a better route on Saturday and I think that helped me, more than anything, to go faster.”
Interestingly, the top four spots featured loads of sibling rivalry. Third place went to Geoffrey’s brother Simon Butler, the 13-14 age group winner, at 10.14s. He would just edge out Alex’s brother Iain McCallum, also in the 13-14 group, at 10.16s.
Alex states those results will fuel their performances in future competitions.
“With Simon coming third and Iain fourth, I hope my brother can break the voodoo over Simon. In the summer, my brother and I are going to the Fédération Internationale de Natation Open Water Championships in Canada. This meet was a good warm-up for that.”
The McCallums and the Butlers would be followed by an armada of young talents. Andrew Smilley would place fifth at 10.27s, leading a contingent of eight Special Olympians representing Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Jamaica, Curacao, Barbados and Virginia.
Coral Tomascik was the first lady home, in the 13-14 category, in 10.30s. Rounding out the top ten were three swimmers in the 13-14 age group in Cole Morgan at 11.23s, Ashley Theaker in 11.32s, Catriona Macrae in 11.32s and Brandon Williams in 11.33s.
Butterfield employee William McFarland won the 50-59 category in 12.32s; which was also good enough for 16th overall. Swimming legend Frank Flowers placed 33rd overall in 15.01s in his biggest warm-up ahead of the Flowers Sea Swim on 9 June. Interestingly, Flowers was second in the 60-69 age group, behind veteran Victor Thompson (who was 27th overall at 14.23s).
Other notable finishers include real estate agent Kerri Kanuga (28th overall at 14.24s), flag footballer Justin Miller (34th overall at 15.06s) and tennis coach Dale Avery (38th overall at 15.41s).
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