Cayman’s swimmers collect more gold
(CNS Local Life): The medal haul continues for Cayman’s national swimming team, earning 13 more, including three gold, on Monday, 22 April, day three of the CARIFTA Aquatics Championships in Barbados. In noting the three-day tally of 35 medals, Steve Broadbelt, director of the Cayman Islands Aquatic Sports Association, said the team looks capable of making “history with the total medal count climbing”.
The Cayman Islands synchronised swimming team has already earned seven medals – four gold, one silver and two bronze – at the CARIFTA Artistic Swimming Championships held 12-14 April, also in Barbados. Cayman took home a total of 41 medals at last year’s competitions.
Along with the three golds collected Monday, 23 April, swimmers took seven silver and three bronze. The women’s 13-14 4x200m freestyle relay team swam to gold while setting a new CARIFTA record of 8:59 for Avery Lambert, Kyra Rabess, Stephanie Royston and Raya Embury-Brown. Lila Higgo, who has already earned two medals, took the top spot on the podium in the women’s 11-12 200m individual medley, and Ali Jackson took gold in the women’s 15-17 100m freestyle.
Cayman’s swimmers also took in the highest silver tally of the championships so far, with seven earning second-place laurels. Higgo earned silver in the women’s 11-12 50m breaststroke to go with her gold medal on the day. Harper Barrowman added to the four medals she has already earned with a silver in the women’s 11-12 100m freestyle event.
Jordan Crooks, who has a gold, silver and bronze after the first two days, added silver in the men’s 15-17 100m freestyle. Allyson Belfonte earned her first medal of the championships, with a silver medal in the women’s 13-14 200m butterfly. Stephanie Royston placed fifth in that event with only .29 seconds between her and Belfonte.
In the men’s 15-17 200m butterfly Jake Bailey collected his third medal, taking silver in a time of 2:13.23. Crooks added a bronze to his day’s haul in that event, 1.17 seconds behind his compatriot.
Both the men’s (Liam Henry, Zach Moore, Bailey and Crooks) and women’s (Jackson, Sabine Ellison, Elana Sinclair, Tabitha Hawkins) 15-17 4x200m freestyle relay squads earned silver in their events.
Gabriella Royston rounded out the medals with a bronze in the women’s 11-12 200m butterfly.
The competition ends this evening. Check back with CNS Local Life tomorrow for final coverage of the 2019 CARIFTA Aquatics Championships.
