The Tribune

By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas continues to prove their dominance in swimming after emerging victorious at the Goodwill Swimming Championships in Kingston, Jamaica.

Team Bahamas finished the Goodwill Games first overall with a combined score of 1,418.50. Jamaica, the host country, placed second with 1,143.50 and last year’s victor, Trinidad and Tobago, amassed 970.50.

Over the course of three days, the 40-member team collected 55 gold medals, 45 silver medals and 29 bronze medals for a total of 129 overall to culminate the swimming experience.

Team Bahamas not only made waves but also broke records at the National Aquatic Centre in Jamaica.

Tiah Seymour turned in a strong showing at the championships, winning three silver medals and two bronze in individual competition. Seymour dipped under the meet record with a time of 1:05.99 in the 11-12 100m freestyle. She placed second in the 100m backstroke finals, touching the wall at 1:18.43.

Additionally, the swimmer earned bronze in the 50m breastroke finals and the 50m backstroke finals.

Tia Adderley earned two individual gold medals along with a silver medal. She got the gold in the girls 15-17 50m breaststroke finals, stopping the clock at 38.30 seconds. In the 100m breastroke finals, she notched 1:22.45 which was under the meet record of 1:28.37.

Alyssa-Christin Clarke left the Goodwill Swimming Championships with four individual gold medals.

The swimmer emerged victorious in the 11-12 50m freestyle with a time of 29.53. She also earned first place finishes in the 50m butterfly finals, 200m freestyle and 50m backstroke finals. Samirah Donaldson wrapped up competition with two individual gold medals and one bronze. In the 11-12 age group she won the 50m breastroke finals with a time of 38.12. She clocked 1:27.27 in the 100m breaststroke finals.

Grace Farrington dipped under the meet record in the 100m backstroke finals. She came in with a time of 1:14.91. In the 200m freestyle finals the 17-year old ended the swim in 2:20.52.

Siann Isaacs earned four gold medals in the 100m freestyle finals, 100m backstroke finals, and the 200m finals. The 12-year old also came away with a 100m butterfly final.

Kymani Cooper came away with a gold in the 8 and under 50m breaststroke finals with a time of 42.99. Cooper broke the previous meet record of 45.07.

Caleb Ferguson came away with new records and gold medals in the 15-17 100m and 50m freestyle finals.

Relays

Team Bahamas added more medals to their overall total in the relays. The team of Clarke, Donaldson, Isaacs, and Seymour clocked 5:11.87 shaving time off the previous meet record of 5:22.26 in the girls 11-12 400m Medley relay. The girls 15-17 400m medley relay team of Bianca Johnson, Adderley, Farrington, and Lauren Bridgewater completed the race at 5:01.18. Team Bahamas broke the previous record of 5:02.12.

The team of Zion Gibson, Ayrton Moncur, Ferguson, and Tristin Ferguson completed the boys 15-17 400m Medley Relay breaking the previous meet record after stopping the clock at 4:13.40.

The girls 8 and under 200m medley relay team featuring Caliyn Dean, Rinia Johnson, Kirsten Rolle, and Samaiya Coleman also achieved a new record with their time of 2:52.12.

The Bahamas also came away with gold in the mixed 8 and under 200m freestyle relay, girls and boys 9-10 400m medley, 13-14 girls 400m medley relay, boys 8 and under 200m medley relay, boys 11-12 400m freestyle relay, and girls 8 and under 200m freestyle relay.