CARIFTA swim, water polo squads announced

Performances from October 1, 2016, to the recently concluded National Age Group Long Course Championships were considered by ASATT officials. Trinidad and Tobago boast the most CARIFTA trophies, but in the 2016 edition they placed a distant fifth which has been their lowest ranking to date. However, with the depth of this year’s squad, swim team manager Bertram Blackman is confident they can recapture the trophy.

Blackman, serving as a team official for the fifth time and second consecutive as manager, is pleased with the composition of the team.

“We have a very experienced cadre of team officials who I am confident can bring the best out of our team.

The team itself features a nice mix of experience as some athletes have already made the CARIFTA podium and debutantes who had excellent recent successes by virtue of national records and attaining top tier qualifying times,” he said.

He continued, “This group can be nurtured to ensure we have success when we compete at CCCAN right here in Trinidad and Tobago in June, and I am proud to be a part of this unit.” Among the team are veterans Amira Pilgrim, Kael Yorke, Jada Chai, Justin Samlalsingh and Jeron Thompson, who have all won regional medals in the past. Age group record-holders Zarek Wilson, Zoe Anthony, Nikoli Blackman and Josiah Changar are poised to make their CARIFTA debut.

Jada Chatoor, who established the only national record at the recently concluded Long Course would also be a strong contender for CARIFTA gold.

Trinidad and Tobago continue to participate in the open water portion of the tournament and the Head Coach to lead the charge of this contingent is Hazel E Haynes. The CARIFTA open water race is 5km and will take place on April 19. The first national team training session is scheduled for 7am on Saturday at the National Aquatic Centre in Couva.

ASATT also selected two teams to compete in the CARIFTA Water Polo Championships in Bahamas from April 7-9. The Under-15 boys and the Under-18 girls teams will participate in the Under-16 Male and the Under-19 Female categories at this year’s CARIFTA where Trinidad and Tobago are the defending champions.

Girls U-18 water polo squad: Zoe Van Reeken (G), Aaliyah Aching, Jaeda Attong-Julien, Tahirah Beepat, Hailey Deleon, Victoria Gillette, Brean Jordan, Leah Mitchell, Yasmin Mohammed, Amy Pounder, Sahara St. Clair-Douglas, Megan Stafford, Abeo Valentine.

Boys U-15 water polo squad: Tristan Francis (G), Kelvin Caesar, Christian Chin Lee, Dante Drakes - McKell, Ross Gillette, Nathan Hinds, Everson Latchman, Antonio Newallo, Ricardo Ramdan, Yannick Robertson, Nicholai Yorke, Tommy Ou, Benjamin Chow Quan.