The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH one spot available for the men if there are no automatic A qualifiers at the Bahamas Aquatics’ National Swimming Championships this weekend, top contender Izaak Bastian proved he’s here to take on the challenge with a national record-breaking performance.

During the first night of the four-day competition at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex, Bastian lowered his national record in the 200 metre breaststroke from two minutes and 16.07 seconds in winning the 15-and-over race in 2:15.14.

Mako’s Tyler Russell was second in 2:29.37 and Alpha’s Mark-Anthony Thompson got third in 2:29.59.

“It went a long better than I expected,” Bastian said. “I didn’t come too rusty for the meet, so I just decided to get up and race and put everything behind me. I’ve been putting in some good training over the past few weeks. I came out with my personal best time, so I won’t complain at all.”

If there are no A qualifiers, Bastian said he’s hoping that he will be able to accumulate enough FINA points to beat out the field of Bahamian male swimmers in contention for the one spot.

“I could only control what I can control. I wish nothing but the best for my competitors,” he said. “But I know I came to race and I will try to do my best.”

Bastian, coming off an NCAA Championships appearance for the Florida State Seminoles, still has the 50m breaststroke final tonight and the 100m breaststroke on Saturday. Hopefully, his winning streak can continue as he holds onto the top spot.

The Bahamas already has a female competitor qualified for the Olympics, so if there are any others wishing to join Grand Bahamian Joanna Evans in Tokyo, they will have to attain the A qualifying standard in their respective events.

Evans, who is competing in the meet, earned her berth on her second straight Olympic team by securing the A standard in the women’s 400m freestyle at the Longhorn Aquatics Elite Invite at her alma mater at the University of Texas.

The 23-year-old was second in the 400m freestyle in 4:07.33 seconds as she touched the wall behind American Katie Ledecky, who won in 4:00.37.

Laura Morley, one of the top prospects hoping to follow Evans on the team, needed to swim 2:25 in the women’s 200m breaststroke to qualify, but she fell short in winning the 15-and-over race in 2:28.12.

Lilly Higgs was second in 2:31.23 and her sister Margaret Higgs was third in 2:34.61. They are both trying to qualify for the Olympics as well.

“It was a good first raced to get into the meet,” Morley said. “My plan is to race it a few more times to get more comfortable with it. But it’s really nice to be home and to be racing in front of the home crowd. I’m just happy to be here.”

While here at the meet, 24-year-old Morley said she will take another stab at the 200m breaststroke in a timed trial tonight to see if she can surpass the A standard.

A number of other finals took place last night. Among the winners were the following:

Girls 8-and-under division

Taylen Nicholls, of Mako Aquatics, won the 50m backstroke in 43.88 over Skarlette Donaldson of Mantas Swim and Water Polo Club in 46.60.

Boys 8-and-under division

Grand Bahama’s Nitayo Knowles of the YMCA Waverunners won the 50m backstroke in 40.96 with Adrian Dean of Mako as the runner-up in 47.36.

Girls 9-10 division

Christin-Alyssa Clarke of the Barracuda won the 50m backstroke in 37.07 over her team-mate Alissa Ferguson, who did 37.39.

Madyson Julien of the Barracuda’s won the 100m butterfly in 1:20.55. Saleste Gibson of Alpha was second in 1:21.85.

Boys 9-10 division

David Singh of the Barracuda took the 50m backstroke in 37.73 with Trace Russell of Mako second in 38.10.

Kylan Williams of the YMCA Waverunners won the 100m butterfly in 1:26.38 over Barracuda’s Neil Morada, who got second in 1:26.85.

Girls 11-12 division

Rayvon Ward of Mako took the 50m backstroke in 34.18. Trinity Pratt of the Barracudas was second in 35.93.

YMCA Waverunners’ got a 1-3 punch in the 100m butterfly as Zeo Williamson won in 1:11.06 Lelah Lewis was second in 1:15.94.

And in the 200m breaststroke, YMCA Waverunners’ Zizou Salting won in 3:08.69 over Barracuda’s Madison Gilbert second in 3:09.31.

Boys 11-12 division

Anish Roy of Mako won the 50m backstroke in 30.91 as Tristin Hepburn YMCA Waverunners came in second in 31.03.

Lightning Aquatics’ Donald Saunders took the 100m butterfly in 1:02.44 with Freeport Aquatic Club’s Ayden Bain second in 1:09.63.

Hepburn won the 200m breaststroke in 2:44.48 with Barracuda’s Will Farrington second in 2:56.58.

Girls 13-14 division

Elle Theberge of Mako won the 50m backstroke in 32.65 with Kyana Higgs of the Barracudas second in 32.78.

YMCA Waverunners’ Seannia Norville-Smith won the 100m butterfly in 1:10.16. Barracuda’s Rhanishka Gibbs was second in 1:09.48.

Gibbs took the 200m breaststroke in 2:53.70 with Alpha’s Maria Fox second in 2:56.20.

Boys 13-14 division

Amauri Bonamy of Mako won the 50m backstroke 29.98 his team-mate Zion Gibson second in 30.70.

YMCA Waverunners’ Asher Johnson captured the 100m butterfly in 1:03.52 and Barracuda’s Matthias Simms was second in 1:01.41.

Mako’s Caden Wells won the 200m breaststroke in 2:42.82 with Mako’s Ayrton Moncur second in 2:35.01.

Girls 15-and-17 division

Katelyn Cabral of the YMCA Waverunners won the 50m backstroke in 31.89 with Keianna Moss of Mako second in 31.70.

Moss, however, came back and won the 100m butterfly in 1:08.63 as Cabral got second in 1:06.18.

And in the 200m breaststroke, Mako’s Jamilah Hepburn took the win in 2:48.43 with Alpha’s Zaylie-Elizabeth Thompson second in 2:53.11.

Girls 18-and-over division

Ariel Weech of Alpha won the 50m backstroke in 31.65. Blue Waves’ Alexa Dean, the only other competitor entered, was second in 39.50.

Mako dominated the top two spots in the 100m butterfly with Anya MacPhail first in 1:11.50 and Kaliyah Albury second in 1:13.62.

Boys 15-17 division

Lamar Taylor of Mako won the 50m backstroke in 27.30. Joshua Newry of the YMCA Waverunners was second in 30.06.

YMCA Waverunners’ Nigel Forbes took the 100m butterfly in 55.80 with Taylor settling for second in 59.36.

And in the 200m breaststroke, Mako’s Erald Thompson III, won in 2:32.41 over Barracuda’s Emmanuel Gadson, who did 2:34.80 for second.

Boys 18-and-over division

Davante Carey of Mako won the 50m backstroke in 26.10 with Gershwin Greene of the Barracuda getting second in 28.03.

Ian Pinder of Mako won the 100m butterfly in 56.09. Barracuda’s N’Nhyn Fernander was second in 56.13

The nationals will continue today at 9 am with the morning session and 6 pm for the evening. It will have the same times on Saturday before everything come to a close on Sunday.