Bovell III churns up more gold medals

OLYMPIC medal hopeful George Bovell III continued his fantastic form, splashing to three more gold medals as the 15th Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships continued at Kingston, Jamaica. And Trinidad and Tobago bagged 22 medals on Sunday, including six gold medals, six silver and 10 bronze. But they could do little to stop runaway leaders Puerto Rico on the points standings, with the Puerto Ricans amassing 740 points, TT 635.5 and Jamaica 534.

The six-foot-five-inch tall Bovell won the boys 18-and-over 50-metre freestyle in 22.75 seconds, followed by the 50m backstroke in 26.39, with countryman Christian Espinet third in 28 seconds flat. Bovell will later anchor the boys 18-and-over 800m freestyle relay team (Tron Johnson, Christopher George and Matthew Houllier in that order) to gold in seven minutes 59.56 seconds. Houllier won the boys 18-and-over 200m butterfly in two minutes 7.01 seconds, Nicholas Bovell claimed the boys 15-17 50m backstroke in 27.01 seconds while Sharntelle McLean took the girls 18-and-over 50m freestyle in 25.91, with teammate Linda McEachrane next in 26.91. Other silver medallists for the TT team were Nicholas Bovell — 23.94 in the 15-17 50m free; Joel Sankar — 18:02.07 in the boys 13-14 1,500m free; Walter Romany — 31.67 in the 11-12 50m backstroke and Ayeisha Collymore — 2:30.62 in the girls 15-17 200m butterfly and 31.20 in the 50m backstroke.

In the girls 15-17 50m backstroke, Donna Wickham claimed bronze in 32.10 while, in the boys 13-14 1,500m free, Jarryd Gregoire was third in 18:12.20. Also copping bronze medals were Collymore — 28.05 in the 50m free; younger sister Kimba — 1:18.80 in the 13-14 100m breaststroke; Samantha Rahael — 1:10.30 in the girls 11-12 100m butterfly; John Littlepage — 2:13.89 in the boys 15-17 200m butterfly; Janine Kimberly Thornhill - 33.05 in the girls 13-14 50m backstroke; the girls 15-17 800m freestyle relay team.