The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

JOSHUA Roberts erased five records and Joanna Evans picked up two to help Swift Swimming retain their title, while turning in some of the more impressive performances at the Bahamas Swimming Federation’s 2013 RBC National Swimming Championships at the Betty Kelly Kenning National Swim Complex over the weekend.

Roberts, a 12-year-old student of St Andrew’s High School, was the high point winner in the boys 11-12 division after he smashed the records in the 200 metre freestyle (2:13.39), 100m free (1:00.68), 200m backstroke (2:35.37), 400m free (4:44.22) and the 50m back (33.38).

“I’m really happy with what I achieved because I’ve been swimming my hardest,” Roberts said. “This is the best performance that I had in my swimming career.”

Of all the achievements he accomplished, Roberts said his specialty in the 200m free was by far the best in the meet because that was the one record that he knew he had a chance to break.

“If there was any I was surprised with, it would have been the 50 back,” he said. “I didn’t think I was going to swim that fast.”

With his performance, Roberts also qualified for the XXVIII CCCAN Swimming Championships in San Jose, Costa Rica, June 29 to July 5. Among the other qualifiers were Alpha Aquatics’ Alexander Encinar in the boys 13-14 100m breast with his record feat of 1:09.25 and Barracada’s Tenajh Gaitor in the boys 13-14 50m free in 24.85.

Evans, 15, was a multiple national champion as a part of Swift Swimming relay teams, but she posted her record breaking performances in the girls 15-and-over 800 free (8:59.49) and the 400m free (4:26.77). She has already qualified for the CCCAN.

“My performances were very good. Everybody swum very well, so I was just happy to have done what I did,” Evans said. “I was training hard, so I was even more pleased with the record performances.”

When asked which one she enjoyed the most, Evans said it would have to be the 800m free which was by far the best that she enjoyed.

Other record breakers were Barracuda’s Matthew Lowe in the boys 15-and-over 1,500m free (16:08.19), Swift’s Albury Higgs in the girls 13-14 50m breast (25.25), Freeport Aquatic’s Nigel Forbes in the boys 8-and-under 50m free (1:00.68), Barracuda’s Virginia Stamp in the girls 11-12 50m back (33.85) and Barracuda’s Tenajh Gaitor in the boys 13-14 50m free (24.85).

The newly formed Alpha Aquatics Swim Club was not to be left out as their 28-year-old head coach Lucas Leite led by example when he took the boys 15-and-over 50m breaststroke in 29.24.

“It was unexpected because I haven’t really been competing for years,” he said. “I go to the gym to stay fit and stay in shape. I stopped swimming since I was 21-22, so it was surprising. I was really happy with it because I was able to go out and score some points for the team. I just hope it inspired the kids.”

Perez Moss of the Sea Bees Swim Club captured the title as the fastest man in the nationals when he won the 15-and-over 50m free in 24.34 ahead of his team-mate Amando Moss and Freeport Aquatic’s Ashton Knowles, who finished tied for second in 24.40.

“I’ve been training every day thinking about this same goal,” Moss said. “I came here just to get the gold. So it feels good. It just motivates me now to go out there and try to accomplish some other goals.”

Although one of the visitors touched the wall first to take the victory in the girls 15-and-over 50m free, Ariel Weech of Alpha Aquatics Bahamas was crowned the national champion in 27.13, holding of Barracuda’s Bria Deveaux (28.09).

The visitors produced two open records as Raminta Dvariskyte took one in the girls 15-and-over 50m breast in 29.24 and Isabella Arcila got the other in the girls 15-and-over 100m back in 1:03.41.