Many records tumbled at the inaugural Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association National Swimming Championships as CARIFTA hopefuls sprinted to qualifying times.
During the championships, which were held over four days at the Camana Bay Aquatic Centre, 23 association and national records fell to swimmers in age groups from 8 years and under to senior.
“The CIASA national championships were introduced to Cayman’s swim calendar this year and the results speak for themselves,” said technical director Bailey Weathers. “We had 147 swimmers competing in 172 events from three clubs. Unfortunately, the Brac Barracudas did not attend as the championships collided with school athletic events – but we are determined to coordinate schedules earlier next year so that this doesn’t happen again.”
Association president Peter MacKay, in his last official duties before the annual general meeting on March 18, congratulated all the swimmers and recognized the coaches and the technical director for the role they have played in Cayman swimming’s resurgence.
“We have an unbelievably talented group of swim coaches, whose expertise, commitment, dedication and belief in their swimmers has produced some incredible results in the pool,” MacKay said. “Some of the CIASA records which fell during the national championships had been in place since 2000, while others had been set just a few months ago. We started the championships with 16 swimmers qualified for CARIFTA and ended with 26, and we could see still more qualify as both Stingray and CBAC travel to Jamaica for the Walter Rodgers long-course meet.
“Although I am stepping down from the CIASA board at the AGM, I will continue to watch and follow swimming and look forward to seeing our athletes on the podium at CARIFTA in Aruba.”
The meet followed a preliminary heats and finals format, with prelims taking place in the morning sessions and finals in the afternoons – except for the 8 and under swimmers, who only swam on Saturday morning and whose races were timed finals.
A number of Cayman swimming sponsors were on hand to cheer on the athletes and to present awards in the medal ceremonies. Medal presenters included Ken Hydes, Aimee Bush, Aaron Knapik and Joanne Lawson, all from Dart (meet sponsors); Collin Anglin, government director of sports; Michael Lockwood of Maples; Scott Somerville of MaplesFS and Claire Critchely of Da Vinci Wellness Centre, who will be traveling to Aruba with the CARIFTA team.
Generous sponsorship from Maples assists CIASA with paying the technical director’s wage with that role, along with the other coaches, being a key contributor to the improvement of Cayman swimming.
“We are proud to be in the company of swimming sponsors such as the government and Maples,” Hydes said. “The CEO conference this past week had a panel on youth and sports and the success of these young athletes in the pool this past weekend only goes to prove the positive impact sports can have on the lives of our young people. I am blown away by the focus, determination and true grit these swimmers display day in and day out, and I encourage everyone to come out to the next meet and witness them in action.”
The meet ran flawlessly, and while there are many volunteers to thank for this, there are three the organizers singled out: meet directors Albert Anderson and Ian Lambert ran a tight ship, making it all look easy, as did Sheena Frederick-Westerborg, who organized the teams of volunteers to officiate, time and marshal at each of the meet’s eight sessions.
Fun facts from the first national championships:
First National Champion: Girls – Katie Klein (800 meter Freestyle) and Boys – Eddie Weber (800m Free)
First Tie for a National Championship: Jordan Crooks and Zach Moore (11-12 100m Butterfly)
First Multi-Event Winners: Eddie Weber and Jordan Crooks
First families with two children to win National Championships: The Jacksons and MacRaes
First Butler sibling to win a National Championship: Simon Butler
Official results are available on ciasa.ky in the news section, and a full listing of the records broken, current and previous holder names and times is posted there too. Members of the CARIFTA 2014 team will be announced by CIASA the week of March 10.
Please contact Bailey Weathers at [email protected] if you wish to sponsor the Cayman team competing in Aruba in April.
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