The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH a 36-member team selected, all attaining the qualifying standards, Bahamas Aquatics’ president Algernon Cargill said the Bahamas is poised to go to Trinidad & Tobago and capture its seventh straight CARIFTA Swimming Championship title.

After a three-hour selection process yesterday, coming after the completion of the Last Chance Meet on Friday and Saturday at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex, Bahamas Aquatics named the team.

Managed by Celestial Darville, the team will head to the games on a Bahamasair charter on Wednesday, April 16. 

The swim competition will take place over the Easter holiday weekend April 19-22 with the open water swim on Wednesday, April 23. Travano McPhee will once again serve as the head coach, assisted by Camron Bruney and Jasmine Gibson, The open water coach will be Allan Murray. The female chaperone is Therell Smith and Melvin Rolle is the male chaperone.

Named to the team are the following:

Swim team

Females 11 -12 - Sienna Campbell, Skarlette Donaldson, Isabella Munroe, Taylen Nicolls and Semaiah Rolle.

Females 13 -14 - Isabella Cuccurullo, Alissa Ferguson, Saleste Gibson, Siann Isaacs, DNDN McKenzie, Violet Saralegui, Kimaya Saunders and Skyler Smith.

Females 15 -17 - Tia-Isabella Adderley,  Lelah Lewis, Mia Patton, Elle Theberge, Zoe Williamson and Elyse Wood.

Males 11 -12 - Kai Bastian, Logan Comarcho, Da’Kari Cooper, Nitayo Knowles and Dexter Russell.

Males 13 -14 - Christon Joseph, Alexander Murray, Trace Russell, David Singh, Kaylan Williams and Issac Wright.

Males 15 -17 - Tristen Hepburn, William Farrington, Ellie Gibson, Ayrton Moncur, Donald Saunders and Caden Wells.

Open Water Team

Female 14 -15 - Gillian Albury, Samirah Donaldson and Madison Fox.

Female 16 -18 - Madison Gilbert,  Alanna Murray and Erin Pritchard.

Female 14 -15 - Lauchlan Menzies, Trace Russell and Kaylan Williams.

Female 16 -18 - Kevin Johnson Jr., Malcolm Menzies and Myles Saunders.

“The team is made up of all qualifiers and we are going down to Trinidad & Tobago to repeat as CARIFTA champions,” said Cargill after the Bahamas secured its sixth straight title last year at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex.

“I feel very positive about the team. It’s a group of outstanding people. It has a lot more girls than boys, but none the less, it means that the girls are performing.”

Cargill said looking at the make up of the team, the strength is definitely in the 13-14 girls where they are allowed eight swimmers maximum and they selected eight swimmers.

“That is a very strong age group,” he insisted. “These are girls who have swum outstanding all year and they all made at least two qualifying standards for selection.”

Cargill is appealing to corporate Bahamas coming forth and supporting Bahamas Aquatics in sending the team off on Wednesday, April 16th.

“We won CARIFTA six years in a row and we are heading towards our seventh straight,” Cargill said. “So, we are in a fund-raising campaign for our team.

“The Bahamas have done well for the Bahamas and hopefully we get the support that we need so that the team can leave for Trinidad & Tobago.”

Unlike in the past CARIFTAs, swimming and track and field will be staged sumptuously in Trinidad & Tobago, although the two events will be staged in separate venues at least an hour apart from each other.