The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

After two days of competition in the XXVIII CCCAN Swimming Championships in San Jose, Costa Rica, Team Bahamas has delivered several impressive performances to set the tone for the remainder of the meet.

The 21-member Team Bahamas totalled 106 points for ninth place among the combined team scores.

On the medal table, the Bahamas is in 11th after totalling seven medals – two gold and five silver.

Joanna Evans and Laura Morley led the way early for the Bahamas when they each captured a pair of medals in the first two days of competition in the girls 15-17 division. 

On day one, Evans won gold in the 800m free in 9:06.43s and followed with silver in the 200m free in 2:07.64s.

Morley opened day two with gold for the Bahamas in the 200m breast in 2:46.41s and won silver in the 100m breast in 1:17.22s.

In the girls’ 11-12 division, Victoria Russell set a new national record in the 100 breast stroke with a time of 1:18:79s. The previous mark stood for 13 years. She also narrowly missed the medal podium in the 50m breast in 29.31s.

Gershwin Greene was the only medal winner on the male side after two days with a silver medal in the 13-14 50m free in 25.27.

CARIFTA sensation Albury Higgs took silver in the girls 13-14 200 breast in 2:47.48s.

Up to press time last night, Venezuela led the team point standings with 440 points, followed by Costa Rica with 248, Aruba with 179 while Honduras and Barbados are tied with 174 points.

In terms of medals, Venezuela distanced themselves quickly from the competition with 40 medals - 18 gold, 11 silver and 11 bronze.

Trinidad and Tobago was second with 12 medals - six gold, one silver and five bronze - Honduras with 13 medals - five gold, five silver and three bronze.

Higgs was the top seed to advance in the 100m breast with a time of 28.62s.

Greene entered the final as the second overall qualifier in the 50m back in 29.5s.

Joshua Roberts reached the final in both the 200m free (2:17.53s) and the 50m back (34.60s).

Taryn Smith also reached two finals in the 200m fly (2:31.47s) and 50m free (28.62s).

In the boys 15-17, Perez Moss qualified in the 50m free in 24.43s while Dionisio Carey qualified in the 50 back in 28.40s.

In the Boys 13-14 100m breast, both Alexander Encinar (1:12.63s) andJared Fitzgerald (1:13.50s) qualified for the final.

Celia Campbell reached her first final of the meet as the fourth fastest qualifier in the 50m back in 34.84s.

CCCAN is the body that organises and overseas aquatic sports competitions in the Caribbean and Central American region and hosts their championships in odd years. The meet concludes on Friday, July 5.