Record-breaking feats from Atlantis swimmers

Atlantis Aquatics swimmers Jada Chai, Jeron Thompson and Zarek Wilson accounted for five of the six national records set during the meet. Centre of Excellence Seahawks athlete Josiah Changar set the other.

The first record to tumble was Tidal Wave Aquatics Kael Yorke’s 2009 50-metre backstroke record. On Friday, in a time of 37.62 seconds, Atlantis’ Zarek Wilson erased the former record of 37.76 seconds.

During Saturday’s finals, Wilson had to play second fiddle to Seahawks’ Josiah Changar who emerged victorious in the Boys 8-and-Under 100m freestyle in a new national record of one minute 10.79 seconds. However, this record proved to be shortlived as, in a time trial on Sunday, Wilson set a new record to one minute 8.22 seconds.

In other Saturday action, in the Boys 13-14 age group, CARIFTA gold medallist Jeron Thompson displaced the 2007 50m breaststroke record of Ryan Rigues, lowering the standard from 31.16 to 30.91 seconds.

On Sunday, multiple CARIFTA and CISC medallist Chai lowered her own national record in the Girls 11-12 100m butterfly from 1:07.16 to 1:06.79.

Bringing down the curtains on Sunday were the splash and dash 50m freestyle sprints.

The large and vocal crowd enjoyed several close and exciting races. Wilson capped off a successful meet with his third national record, lowering Luke Gillette’s 50 metre freestyle standard from 32.27 seconds to 31.83 seconds.

The National Age Group Swimming Champion served as the trial for the Goodwill Swim Meet to be held next month in Suriname.

INDIVIDUAL POINTS TALLY -

Girls 8-and-Under: 1.Zoe Anthony (Marlins) 52; 2.Neishelah Caseman (Tidal Wave Aquatics) 41; 3.Kiara Goodridge (Tidal Wave Aquatics) 35.

Boys 8-and-Under: 1.Zarek Wilson (Atlantis Aquatics) 50; 2.Josiah Changar (COE Sea Hawks) 45; 3.Nikoli Blackman (Marlins) 35.

Girls 9-10: 1.Victoria Gillette (Marlins) 69; 2.Naomi Patterson (Tidal Wave Aquatics) 65; 3.Destiny (Silver Sharks) 41.

Boys 9-10: 1.Daniel Jesurum (COE Sea Hawks) 75; 2.Riquelio Joseph (COE Sea Hawks) 60; 3.Aaron D Bankay (Tidal Wave Aquatics) 59.50.

Girls 11-12: 1.Sabrina David (Tidal Wave Aquatics) 79; 2.Jada Chai (Atlantis Aquatics) 77; 3.Deshor Edwards (Atlantis Aquatics) 59.

Boys 11-12: 1.Jae-Hwa Lee Wing (Tidal Wave Aquatics) 72; 2.Sebastian Merchand (Tidal Wave) 60; 3.Delroy Tyrrell (Tidal Wave Aquatics) 54.

Girls 13-14: 1.Marissa Dickson (Point Fortin Aqua Darts) 69; 2.Briana Patterson (Tidal Wave Aquatics) 55; 3.Amira Pilgrim (Atlantis Aquatics) 54.

Boys 13-14: 1.Jeron Thompson (Atlantis Aquatics) 81; 2.Antonio Hospedales (Torpedoes Swim Club) 61.50; 3. Mark Anthony Beckles (Blue Dolphin) 44.

Girls 15-17: 1.Sangeeta Maharaj (Atlantis Aquatics) 74; 2.Shania David (Tidal Wave Aquatics) 57; 3.Sajni Maharaj (Atlantis Aquatics) 50.

Boys 15-17: 1.David McLeod (Atlantis Aquatics) 81; 2.Derelle J Prescott (Point Fortin Aqua Darts) 67; 3.Bradley Thomas (Tidal Wave Aquatics) 45.

Girls 18-and-Over: 1.Marie Marcano (University of Trinidad and Tobago) 69; 2.Kimberly Joseph (University of Trinidad and Tobago) 69; 3.Colleen Parag (University of Trinidad and Tobago) 47.

Boys 18-and-Over: 1.Joshua McLeod (Atlantis Aquatics) 72; 2.Mark Alexis (University of Trinidad and Tobago) 47; 3.Mark Cruz (Petrotrin Barcaudas) 42.