SPORTS

Stingray swimmers perform in Jamaica

Seiji Groome set a new meet record in the 400m IM

Bethany Cleaver was one of the standout performers
for Cayman

Geoffrey Butler set new personal bests in all his
events

Amanda Shum continued her improvement in all her
events

Lara Butler takes a big gulp of air

Thursday,  February 23, 2006

The Stingray Swim Club left friendly waters last weekend to compete in the Walter Rodgers Age Group Swimming Championships in Jamaica. 
The 19 swimmers who made up the team were accompanied by head coach Dominic Ross, coach Alex Webb, and team manager Melinda Robertson, as well as seven parents to help keep the group organised.

This was the first away meet for the team this season, and gave some of the swimmers their first taste of international competition.

Of the 157 swims in which the athletes participated, 132 produced new personal best times.

The star of the show for Stingray Swim Club was Seiji Groome, who broke the meet record for the 400m individual medley in his first attempt at the event.

Seven of Cayman’s swimmers set new personal best times in every event they participated in – Ariana Bain, Joshua Bain, Geoffrey Butler, Lara Butler, Bethany Cleaver, Seiji Groome, and Amanda Shum.

The team also managed to claim third spot in the team competition.

It was a very positive start to the swim club’s international season, and with the young swimmers showing consistent improvement, Cayman can expect a good showing by its swimmers at the Carifta swimming championships.

However, to get all the qualified swimmers to the event, which will take place in Bridgetown, Barbados from 5 to 10 April, the Cayman Islands Amateur Swim Association needs more funds. The event has been moved from its usual time just after Easter, when the airfares are cheaper, to just before Easter. Although this might seem to be a minor change, the financial impact is likely to be quite substantial.

CIASA is embarking on a number of fundraising initiatives to raise the additional funds, including a sponsored swim along Seven Mile Beach on Saturday 25 February. A raffle is also planned for the near future.

Travelling to Carifta is a major expense for Cayman swimming every year, but because the competition requires a 50 metre pool, as well as a separate warm-up and warm-down area, Cayman is not equipped to host the event. 

The final chance for swimmers to qualify for Carifta will be at the Walkers Invitational and Carifta Trials Meet from 2 to 5 March.

Carifta has been key to the rise of the Caribbean on the world swimming scene, with George Bovell of Trinidad capturing the first ever Caribbean Olympic medal in swimming when he claimed bronze in the 200m individual medley at the 2004 Games in Athens. 

eugene@caymannetnews.com

    Back...