Five-star Donahue shines

As the meet came to a close on Tuesday evening, team TT improved on their 2016 fifth place finish to place fourth overall on the medal standings. Bahamas and Guadeloupe reversed their 2016 final ranking as Bahamas emerged the champion team with Guadeloupe second. Cayman Islands placed third.

Donahue, who won the 50-metre and 200m breaststroke, 50m butterfly and 50m backstroke, added the 100m breaststroke to her vault, winning the event in one minute, 16.45 seconds (1:16.45). Will-Insha Marie Jules-Marthe of Martinique earned silver (1:17.79), while Guadeloupe’s Farah Sheikhboudhou took bronze (1:17.92). Donahue continued to show her versatility as she was just behind Ali Jackson of Bahamas in the 50m freestyle as Jackson took gold in 26.97 to Donahue’s personal best 27.13. Jamaica’s Gabrianna Banks was third (27.35).

Jada Chatoor (TT ) added a second gold to her name as she won the 13-14 girls 400m freestyle in a personal best 4:34.41, ahead of Marie- Lorella Capolini of Guadeloupe (4:39.01) and Ria Plunkett of Cayman Islands (4:42.59). Chatoor also won gold in the 800m freestyle on opening night, and bronze in the 200m freestyle.

TT won both the 15-17 girls and boys 50m freestyle events, through victories from captains Amira Pilgrim and Jeron Thompson. Pilgrim won the girls race in a personal best 26.73 ahead of Elinah Phillip of the British Virgin Islands (26.77) and Madelyn Moore of Bermuda (26.97). Danielle Williams of TT was seventh in 27.81. Pilgrim took her individual medal tally to three as she also took bronze in the 50m butterfly in a national record, and silver in the 100m freestyle.

Thompson sneaked a victory from the outside lane in his 50m freestyle, winning in a personal best 23.61 ahead of Isaak Bastian of the Bahamas (23.76) and Bermuda’s Jesse Washington (23.91). Thompson copped three individual medals in total as he won gold in the 50m breaststroke and a silver in the 50m butterfly.

Zoe Anthony ended the 11-12 girls medal drought for TT , claiming bronze in the 100m breaststroke in a personal best 1:24.09.

The event was won by Zaylie-Elizabeth Thompson of Bahamas in 1:20.52., with the silver going to Elan Daley of Bermuda in 1:22.30.

Arielle Dickson of TT was fifth in a personal best 1:24.64.

Nikoli Blackman earned his first individual medal in the 11-12 boys 400m freestyle in a personal best of 4:38.48. The event was won by Stephen Mulongo of Guadeloupe (4:36.55), with silver going to Nigel Forbes of Bahamas (4:36.93).

Jahmia Harley added more metal to her collection as she collected silver in the girls 13-14 200m backstroke in a personal best 2:28.25.

Danielle Titus of Bahamas was the victrix in 2:26.66, while Laureen Foumann of Guadeloupe took bronze (2:30.58). Harley also won gold in the 200m butterfly and a bronze in the 100m backstroke.

TT had its best relay night with four medals. The 11-12 boys 200m freestyle relay team of Kadon Williams, Blackman, Zarek Wilson and Riquelio Joseph were golden in 1:50.59, ahead of Jamaica (1:53.80) and Guadeloupe (1:53.81).

The 13-14 girls had to settle for bronze this time around as Donahue, Harley, Regan Allen and Chatoor combined to clock 1:53.72 behind Jamaica (1:50.77) and Martinique (1:53.48).

The 15-17 girls achieved their first relay medal of the meet, snatching silver behind Jamaica (1:49.07). Danielle Williams, Jada Chai, Racine Ross and Pilgrim together registered a time of 1:50.33, ahead of Team Cayman (1:51.29).

Kael Yorke, Justin Samlalsingh, Gabriel Bynoe and Thompson got Team TT ’s first 15-17 boys relay medal with bronze in the 200m relay in 1:38.89. Suriname won gold in 1:36.41, while Bahamas were second in 1:37.49. This was TT ’s highest points accumulation since 2013 when the team placed second. TT last won the CARIFTA Swimming Championships in 2010 in Kingston, Jamaica.