TT swimmers impress ASATT boss Lai Hing

Team TTO began the final day yesterday just 10 points and five medals adrift of Puerto Rico, their main rivals during the tournament, as both teams continued to rack up the majority of the medals at the Championships.

In an interview with Newsday, Lai Hing stated, “It is really an honour to be a part of this and to witness the TT athletes putting their best foot forward at the Championships and representing the nation to the best of their abilities.” He continued by expressing his gratitude to the supporters and well-wishers who filled the stands throughout the tournament.

“The crowd support at the Championships was a great motivating factor for our athletes and seeing the red of our nation filling the stands and roaring in support was important as it gave them that extra boost and home advantage which was evident by their performances in the pool.” Christian Dieffenthaller (two minutes 13.75 seconds) won gold in the Boys 13-14 200-metre individual medley as he defeated Nkosi Dunwoody, representing Barbados, who only managed to stop the clock at 2:16.69 to claim the silver medal. Panama’s Fernando Carrillo took bronze in 2:18.72.

In the Girls 13-14 50m breaststroke, TT ’s Gabriella Donahue copped gold in 34.68 seconds, ahead of Paola Guerra of Puerto Rico (35.20) and Paola Cwu representing Honduras (36.65).

Jeron Thompson’s national record of 29.26 seconds secured gold in the Boys 15-17 50m breaststroke.

He was followed by Dominican Republic’s Fausto Huerta (29.32) and Curacao’s Rainier Rafaela (29.58).

In the Boys 13-14 100m freestyle, Aqeel Joseph’s time of 54.85 seconds won gold for Trinidad and Tobago, followed by Kevon Lockhart of the Bahamas, who touched the wall in 54.97, and Jamaican Kyle Sinclair (55.04).

However, TT also missed out on the gold medal position in some races on Saturday night, securing silver and bronze in numerous categories.

In the 18-and-Over 200m individual medley, Tariq Lashley’s time of 2:09.05 was enough to claim the silver as he finished behind United States’ Adriel Sanes (2:08.81).

Puerto Rican Christian Bayo stopped the clock split seconds behind Lashley to round of the podium in third with his time of 2:09.69.

Amira Pilgrim’s 58.63 seconds copped the bronze medal in the 100m freestyle as she finished behind Curacao’s Chade Nersicio (57.67) and Cathy Cooper (58.39) representing Panama. The 2017 CCCAN Championships was expected to conclude last night.

Other swimming results: Boys 15-17 200m butterfly: 1.Brian Alvarez (Costa Rica) 2:05.51; 2.Jarod Arroyo (Puerto Rico) 2:05.58; 3.Emil Goin (Trinidad and Tobago) 2:05.91.

Boys 15-17 800M freestyle relay: 1.Puerto Rico (7:51.02); 2.Trinidad and Tobago (7:59.14); 3.Costa Rica (8:03.95).

Boys 18-and-Over 800m freestyle relay: 1.Puerto Rico (7:54.88); 2.Costa Rica (8:01.99); 3.Trinidad and Tobago (8:12.00).