Ramkissoon makes big splash in Canada

The 4th year Mathematics student at the University of Waterloo won one gold, two silver and a bronze while setting a number of school records and threatening the national mark in the 200 metre breaststroke.

The meet, which was contested in a 25 metre pool, saw Ramkissoon defending his title in the 100 metre breaststroke.

In the final of that event, he was closely marked by Eli Wall of Toronto but pulled away for the victory in 1:00.41, just off his Championship record of 1:00.18.

Wall took the silver in 1:00.94. Ramkissoon has medalled the last four years in the event, taking bronze in 2015 and silver in 2014. That ranks Ramkissoon as the 2nd fastest swimmer in the Canadian College rankings heading to the U Sport Championships (Canadian College Championships) being held from February 24- 26.

In the 50 metre breaststroke, Ramkissoon set a new school record in the morning heats of 28.01. In a very tight final, he was pipped at the wall by Wall whose 28.11 bettered his time of 28.18.

In the 200 metre breaststroke, Ramkissoon moved from 6th place in 2016 to earn the bronze this year. The medal was unsure up to the last 50 metres but Ramkissoon unleashed the fastest last 50 metres of 34.13 to stop the clock in a time of 2:15.52. That time puts the 2012 national record of 2:15.15 by Abraham McLeod on notice to be lowered.

The 200 freestyle relay saw the TT swimmer earning silver in a new school record. The Warriors team of Alex Lokjo (23.78), Danyon Chu (22.83), Ramkissoon (23.07) and Jamaican Aidan Chow (22.99) set a new Waterloo standard of 1:32.67.

Speaking after the Championshipsm Ramkissoon said: “I thought the 100 was decent, could’ve been better technically but I have another shot at it in U Sports in two weeks.

Came second in the 50, race was technically very off so I have some stuff to work on heading into U Sports.”