Barbados’ band of young swimmers made their splash recently, competing at the National Sports Council’s Primary Inter-Schools Championships at the Aquatic Centre in Wildey, St Michael.
The youngsters put it all on the line too, as primary school swimmers from across the island turned in fast times amid fierce competition in the preliminary heats.
In the Girls’ 6-and-Under 25-metre freestyle, Savannah Manning of St Winifred’s School led the field with a swim of 26.62 seconds, narrowly ahead of NaBella Gibbs-Edwards from Trinity Academy in 26.75 seconds
and Tiffany Chase of Happyvale Montessori School with 26.94.
All three secured qualification for next week’s finals along with five others including Christ Church Girls’ Primary’s Kaliyah Nicholls-Nurse (28.46 seconds), St Gabriel’s School’s Zuri Watts (28.79), Amaya Cumberbatch from (29.36 seconds) and Lily Simpson (31.05 seconds) from Providence, while Zahra-Marie Mohammed from St Luke’s Academy (30.08 seconds) rounded out the final eight.
The Boys’ 6-and-Under heats at the same distance saw St Luke’s Primary’s Cooper Burridge dominate in 19.24 seconds, followed by St Gabriel’s School’s Zion Massiah at 22.70 seconds and St Luke’s Tacari Francis with 25.22 seconds.
They were joined in qualification by Malcom Nurse from St Cyprian’s Boys’, Christopher Briggs from Gordon Greenidge Primary and Providence swimmers Sebastian Boos and James Stone.
In the Girls’ 7-8 division, Sheaylah Burgess clocked a quick 17.06 seconds to top the group. Warrens Primary’s Kayley Hunter-Cutting was second in 17.66 seconds, and Madeline Joseph from Providence was third in 18.47 seconds.
The top eight also included Providence’s Nyla Cumberbatch (18.57 seconds) and Yazmyn Eastmond (19.06 seconds), who advanced comfortably.
Among the Boys’ 7-8, St Gabriel’s Noah Barker led with 17.71 seconds, ahead of Ethan Greenidge from St Luke’s Academyin 18.31 seconds and Luke Lovell from St Stephen’s Primary in 19.22 seconds. Charles F. Broome’s Kai McMKnee (20.01 seconds), Kye Manning from St Winifred’s (21.33 seconds), and St Cyprian’s Boys’ King Weekes also advanced to the finals.
The Girls’ 9-10 category produced one of the closest races of the morning in the short sprint event. Azura Skeete from Providence touched first in 14.61 seconds. Wills Primary School’s Chloe Payne was second in 15.43 seconds and Aaliyah Pilgrim of Warrens Primary finished third in 15.51 seconds.
All three will headline a strong final line-up that also features Caris Freeman (Warrens Primary), Luara Martins (St Luke’s Academy) and Zhori Parris (St Alban’s Primary).
For the Boys’ 9-10, Liam Courtenay led with 15.14 seconds, followed by Khalil Patrick in 15.62 and Dari Doughlin in 15.69 seconds. Tyler Chase, Blake Graham and Josiah Thompson also made the final cut.
In the Girls 11-12 25-metre freestyle, St George’s Primary’s Skai Cox continued her fine form with a leading 15.39 seconds, ahead of Rayshana Boyce-Edwards of St Winifred’s in 16.62 and Trinity Academy’s Sienna Browne with a time of 17.34.
The trio will be joined by Nya Nurse from Wills Primary, Alyssa Butcher of Hilda Skeene Primary and Ava Harvey from St Gabriel’s in next week’s final.
The Boys’ 11-12 event featured another tight battle. Zahavi Small claimed top spot with 15.74 seconds, edging Kayden Ross, whose time was 15.84 seconds, and Ernesto Ollivierre from Warrens Primary in
16.12 seconds.
Maquale Haqq of St Giles’ Primary (16.57 seconds), The People’s Cathedral Primary’s Taj Conliffe and Nasri Baptiste also qualified.
In the final race of the day, the mixed 100-metre freestyle relay, Warrens Primary took top honours with 1:03.48 minutes, just shy of the meet record, followed by Providence in 1:06.99 and St Gabriel’s in 1:07.62. Charles F. Broome (1:09:39), Blackman and Gallop Primary (1:09:29) and The People’s Cathedral (1:10:89) also advanced to the final.
