Over hundred junior swimmers turned out for the ‘Fall Kickoff’ swim meet on 23-24 Oct., at the Camana Bay Aquatic Centre.
The highly anticipated competition was the first local meet of the 2021-22 season.
Grant Ferguson, newly appointed head coach for Camana Bay Aquatic Club, told the Cayman Compass that the two-day event was a success.
“For me, it’s a great start,” said Ferguson. “There are fantastic swims coming out of the pool; I think the kids are hungry to get going.”
Athletes from ages 8 to 18, across all three swim clubs (CBAC, Seven Mile Swimmers and Stingray Swim Club) performed in front of a limited crowd due to COVID-19 regulations.
“We have 188 swimmers competing, which is mind blowing,” Ferguson said. “We are trying to keep to the government protocols…so we’ve limited entry to 250 people and keeping the mask on as much as possible as well as some social distancing.”
SSC’s Kyra Rabess and Raya Embury-Brown were among the swimmers competing at the Fall Kickoff.
Both girls are expected to represent Cayman at the Junior Pan American Championships next month in Colombia. Stingray head coach David Pursley said the meet was beneficial for the girls and his team as a whole.
“It just worked out perfectly this season,” Pursley told the Compass. “We are right on our best times, so it’s a great start for us,” he said, adding that training will intensify over the coming weeks.
The Coconut Cup, which is the next scheduled swim meet on the Cayman Islands Aquatic Sports Association calendar, is set for early December, according to CIASA.
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