A dramatic finish between Connor Macdonald and Will Sellars resulted in the two swimmers sharing gold at the CUC Sea Swim on Saturday, 13 Jan.
The annual swim, which celebrated its 35th anniversary, hosted 105 participants in the 800 metre – the highest number since the 2015 event.
As if the occasion wasn’t special already, Macdonald and Sellars’ efforts made it that much more exciting as spectators along Governors Beach cheered on the duo as they crossed the line at exactly 10:45.80 – resulting in the two swimmers sharing the gold medal.
“It was nice and easy at the beginning, and then we really started pushing it… me and two other guys mainly for the entire race, but I felt like I did really well on the last 200-metre push,” Macdonald told the Compass.
“It is usually always close between a couple of guys and the past couple of events, I have been second, third or fourth, but it’s good to finally come out on top for a change,” he added.
Past 5 overall winners
2020: Jake Bailey
2021: Jake Bailey
2022: Will Sellars
2023: Thomas Ferguson
2024: Sellars, Connor Macdonald
Behind Macdonald and Sellars was CARIFTA standout Dominic Hilton, who clocked in 2.5 seconds behind them. He was followed by Caymanian swimming prospect Harper Barrowman.
She finished fourth overall and was the first female for the second consecutive year at the event. Barrowman finished at 11:09.89.
Barrowman, who trains out of Seven Mile Swimmers, told the Compass that the CUC Sea Swim offers perks when it comes to competition against the boys.
“I like it,” she said. “It gives me a chance to… put some fear into them, because pool swimming is just the girls, you know? It’s funny because I have been at it with Dominic all week, saying ‘I’m gonna beat you, I’m gonna beat you’, and realistically, probably not, but it’s always fun to have that type of competition.”
Taking second place female behind her teammate was Teagan Nash (12:11.55), ahead of Stingray Swim Club’s Felicity Westin (13:01.08).
The next sea swim on the calendar will be the National Open Water CIASA 5K swim, set for 3 Feb.
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