The Tribune

MAKO Aquatics Club, coached by Travano McPhee, has produced several CARIFTA swimmers and two national championships in their brief history and now they are adding to the number of swimmers they have competing in the NCAA.

Kaliyah Albury, Benjamin Lundy, Anya MacPhail, and Lamar Taylor have all committed to successful swim programmes in the US as they look to transition to collegiate swimming this fall.

When asked to comment on the college commitments made by his swimmers, coach McPhee responded: “I am proud of these swimmers. They have worked hard - in and out of the water.

“Each of them will bring value and leadership to their respective teams. As they begin this next chapter in their lives, I wish them all the best.”

Kaliyah Albury is a three-time CARIFTA team member who has committed to swim for Howard University - a Division 1 school in Washington, DC. The St Augustine’s College graduate (June 2020) is well positioned to be Howard’s distance freestyle swimmer, with 500/1,000/1,650 freestyle as her primary events. Kaliyah joins fellow Bahamian, Luke-Kennedy Thompson, who is entering his sophomore year at Howard.

Benjamin Lundy graduates (June 2020) from Woodbury Forest School in Virginia and transitions to Trinity College - a Division 3 school in Hartford, Connecticut. It is anticipated that Ben will make an immediate impact as one of Trinity’s top freestyle and butterfly swimmers in the 50 and 100 metre distances.

Anya MacPhail is a six-time CARIFTA team member, and 2019 CARIFTA team captain, who will be swimming for Oklahoma Baptist University - a Division 2 school in Shawnee, Oklahoma. The St Andrew’s School head girl is expected to be OBU’s distance swimmer, competing in the 500/1,000/1,650 freestyle and the 400 individual medley.

Lamar Taylor is another six-time CARIFTA team member making the jump to collegiate swimming having committed to swim for Henderson State University - a Division 2 school in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

The 2020 graduate from St John’s College grew up in Freeport and holds several National age group (13/14) records, achieved while swimming for Freeport Aquatics Club.

Lamar joins a strong Division 2 programme where he will be expected to contribute swimming backstroke, butterfly and freestyle.

For most club swimmers the focus tends to be on achieving qualifying times for The Bahamas National Swimming Championships, CARIFTA, and other regional meets.

For senior swimmers, however, there is an additional goal of being recruited by a US college swimming programme.

Mako Aquatics Club values the academic opportunities that are created by achieving excellence in the pool and celebrates the successes of their senior swimmers as they transition to NCAA competition.