Junior swim team named for CARIFTA
The junior swim team that will be competing at CARIFTA
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association (CIASA) has selected the 22-member junior team which will travel to Martinique to compete in the 2016 CARIFTA 50m pool and open-water championships being held 22-26 March. The team was chosen based on a review of qualifying times and athletes’ compliance with training and eligibility requirements, with coaches recommending the swimmers to CIASA, whose board of directors ratified the final list.
CIASA technical director Bailey Weathers is looking forward to the team competing at the CARIFTA games. “This has been already been an exciting season for so many Cayman Islands swimmers. We have seen an incredible amount of improvement and success; and we are expecting more great swims as well at CARIFTA.”
The selected swimmers come from both the Stingray Swim Club (SSC) and Camana Bay Aquatic Club (CBAC).
The complete team comprises:
11-12 Girls
Sabine Ellison (CBAC)
Avery Lambert (CBAC) *
Stephanie Royston (SSC) *
Isabel Watler (CBAC) *
11-12 Boys
Jake Bailey (SSC) *
Finn Bishop (CBAC) *
Corey Frederick-Westerborg (SSC) *
Ben Somerville (CBAC) *
13-14 Girls
Alison Jackson (SSC)
Ria Plunkett (SSC)
Holly Stradling (CBAC)
13-14 Boys
Jordan Crooks (SSC)
Zachary Moore (SSC)
15-17 Girls
Samantha Bailey (SSC)
Lauren Hew (CBAC)
Catriona MacRae (SSC)
Ella Plunkett (SSC)
15-17 Boys
Rory Barrett (CBAC)
John M. Bodden (SSC)
Jonathan Key (SSC)
Cole Morgan (SSC)
Eddie Weber (CBAC)
*Rookie
Ahead of leaving for the competition, the CARIFTA squad will participate in a camp for pool training and team building, which will focus on common technical aspects of their swims such as starts, turns and relay changes, and is in addition to the swimmers’ regular club training.
CIASA president Michael Lockwood, a competitive swimmer in his youth and now a masters swimmer, said of the team: “The CARIFTA 2016 qualification times were announced in September 2015, with the qualification process being tweaked just a little to acknowledge the increasing number of swimmers achieving the faster qualification times.
“Swimmers were required to achieve a minimum of two qualification times. This requirement notwithstanding, we have seen some outstanding results and this year CIASA is proud to announce a team of 22 swimmers will attend CARIFTA 2016.”
With a potential maximum team size of 32 swimmers, the Cayman Islands team is testament to the athletes’ hard work and dedication, said CIASA in a press release. In addition, veteran CARIFTA swimmers Lauren Hew, Ella Plunkett, Eddie Weber and Cole Morgan will be able to mentor the seven new members of the squad.
In addition to Weathers, associate head coaches Caleb Miller and David Pursley, and assistant team manager Myriam Plante will accompany the swimmers to Martinique.
“I would like to congratulate all of our swimmers,” said Minister of Sports Osbourne Bodden. “Swimming requires incredible commitment, discipline and focus…and many early hours at the pool. I also want to thank our athletes’ parents for the support and often referenced ‘swim taxi service’ which they provide.
“On behalf of the Ministry of Sports and the Cayman Islands Government we wish you all success in Martinique.”
