Grenfin Swim Club delivered an exceptional performance at the Rodney Heights Aquatic Centre (RHAC) 26th Invitational in St Lucia from 9–12 April, earning 29 medals against top regional competition.
Seventeen swimmers represented the Grenadian swim club over 4 days of intense competition, delivering an impressive showing, winning 4 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze medals, setting meet records and securing a podium finish in the age group championships.
The event attracted 31 swim clubs from across the Caribbean. Grenfin finished 7th overall, with the men’s team placing 4th and the women’s team 8th.
Several swimmers delivered notable performances. Kaleb Williams won 3 gold medals, breaking 2 RHAC records in the boys 15–17 age group. He shattered the 400m individual medley record with a time of 5:35.54, surpassing the previous mark of 5:53.05 set in 2023. He also set a new record in the 200m breaststroke, clocking 2:42.02 to eclipse the former time of 2:58.28, also set in 2023. Williams additionally won gold in the 100m breaststroke and captured bronze medals in the 50m breaststroke, 100m butterfly and 200m individual medley.
Keshon Cobb secured a third-place finish in the boys 9–10 age group championships. He won gold in the 50m butterfly and silver medals in the 50m backstroke, 50m freestyle and 400m freestyle. Cobb added bronze medals in the 200m freestyle, 200m individual medley, 100m backstroke and 50m breaststroke. He also placed second overall in both the boys 9–10 50m and 25m sprint challenge events.
Evie Twum-Barimah competed in the girls 11–12 age group, earning silver medals in the 1500m and 800m freestyle, as well as bronze medals in the 200m and 50m butterfly. Llewella Bernard, also competing in the girls 11–12 age group, captured a bronze medal in the 800m freestyle.
In the boys 15–17 age group, Mark Mitchell won a silver medal in the 50m freestyle and secured third place in both the 50m and 25m sprint challenge events. Tariq Bethel added to the medal count with a silver medal in the 50m breaststroke and a bronze medal in the 50m butterfly.
The 15-and-over boys relay team, comprising Kaleb Williams, Mark Mitchell, Reuben Bernard and Tariq Bethel, provided stiff competition, capturing silver medals in the 400m freestyle relay, 200m medley relay and 200M freestyle relay events.
Swimmers representing Grenfin Swim Club included Brielle DeRoche and Tyler Charles (girls 8 & under); Brianne DeRoche (girls 9-10); Joshua Baldeau, Keshon Cobb and Noah De Freitas (boys 9-10); Dionne Gill, Evie Twum-Barimah, Llewella Bernard, Maddison Charles, Malia Alexis and Payton De Freitas (girls 11–12); Leondre Baptiste (boys 13–14); Kaleb Williams, Mark Mitchell, Reuben Bernard and Tariq Bethel (boys 15–17).
Strong performances across the board resulted in all Grenfin swimmers recording personal best times in multiple events during the competition.
The team was accompanied by Coach Gerson Escobar and parents. Coach Escobar praised the team’s effort and development throughout the meet. “I am very happy with the performance of all 17 swimmers. They achieved 93% personal best times and several competition records. It is important for swimmers to have the opportunity and exposure at regional and international levels. We will continue to work on their competition readiness. I applaud them for their achievements.”
Grenfin Swim Club is a non-profit swim club catering to all levels, from learn to swim to competitive levels. They can be contacted at [email protected].
Grenfin Swim Club
