The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net With a $40,000 sponsorship from BTC, the Bahamas Swimming Federation (BSF) is looking forward to hosting the Carifta Swimming Championships for the third time April 12-15. During Tuesday's press conference at BTC headquarters, BSF president Algernon Cargill said with the Betty Kelly Kenning Aquatic Centre expected to be fully functional with a new heater, they are getting ready to welcome the 21 participating countries to the regional championships. And with the championships approved by FINA, the governing body for swimming, Cargill said any swimmer that attains the qualifying standards will be eligible to compete at the 2012 London Olympics. "Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, who currently holds the record as the fastest female in the USA over 100 yards, has already qualified to represent the Bahamas at the Olympic Games and, hopefully, there will be more Caribbean swimmers joining her, some of which may qualify at these 2012 BTC Carifta Swimming Championships," he said. Cargill, accompanied by members of his executive team, said BTC's mission statement includes their commitment to improve the quality of life for the people of the Bahamas and it boasts many programmes that boldly demonstrates its commitment. "The 36 Bahamian swimmers that will compete at the 2012 BTC Carifta Swimming Championships are, by extension, proud ambassadors of BTC's commitment to improving the quality of life of Bahamians and, on behalf of our federation, I again thank BTC," Cargill said. Marlon Johnson, vice president of brand and communications at BTC, said the company's sponsorship of the championships represents their continued investment in the future of the Bahamas. "The event is an opportunity for us to show the region our new sporting facilities, the swim centre, stadium and the new track," he said. "There is nothing like it in the region. The Bahamas has a great deal to be proud of and every right to take pride. In just under a month, the 36-member Bahamas swim team will go up against as many as 500 other equally determined young people from 22 countries. "Team Bahamas is competing on home territory but, beyond the physical facilities and the home team advantage, there is a more compelling reason why BTC is supporting Carifta with such enthusiasm." Johnson said BTC is not only proud to sponsor the championships, but also to make the investment in the team and will also show their appreciation to the public by handing out some of the company's products during the championships. Since last year, the 50-metre pool at Betty Kelly Kenning Aquatic Centre has been without a heater. Despite this, he said the swimmers should be credited as they still took part in training early in the morning and late in the evenings. Kevin Colebrooke, who represented Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Charles Maynard, said he is confident that the new heater will be ready for use by the time the championships get underway. He also noted that there will be additional seating provided to accommodate the amount of spectators expected to attend the championships. Cargill noted that it wasn't an easy task for the swimmers to make the team. And he is confident that the federation was able to select the maximum of six competitors in each of the six divisions to make up a diversified team to represent the Bahamas - there will be athletes from New Providence, Grand Bahama and, for the first time, two from Abaco. The team members are: Girls 11-12 - Celia Campbell, Jasmine Gibson, Margaret Higgs, Keitra Lloyd, Zoe McCarroll and Megan Reid Girls 13-14 - Tremaine Allen, Leslie Campbell, Joanna Evans, Doran Reed, Simone Sturrup and Andreas Weech Girls 15-17 - Alaena Carey, Bria Deveaux, Abigail Lowe, Laura Morley, Je'Nae Saunders and Taryn Smith Boys 11-12 - Miller Albury, Clement Bowe, Nicholas Rahming, Jousha Roberts and Alec Sands Boys 13-14 - Drew Bastian, Dionisio Carey, Farion Cooper, Gershwin Greene, Zach Moses and Meshach Roberts. Boys 15-17 - Evante Gibson, Anibal Hernandez-Valdes, Keith Lloyd, Matthew Lowe, Toby McCarroll, T'Auren and Dustin Tynes While the swim team, coached by Andy Knowles, will be competing at home, Cargill said the federation is also making preparations for the water polo team to travel to Kingston, Jamaica. The team, coached by Laszlo Borbely, has been training in the pool after the completion of the swim team practice. The members of the water polo team are Cedric Bowe, Jonathan Albury, Ervano Brown, Stearlin Lewis, Aaron Charles, Joel Albury, Marcel Ingraham, Llando Chea, Saequan Miller, Nathan Wert, Joshua Knowles and Loron Bain. The team will be managed by Melanie Knowles and the chaperone is Brenda Wert.