The Tribune

OVER a three-week period from CARIFTA to the international Davie meet, four different swimmers broke six Bahamian national records.

The onslaught started with the 12-and-under girls age group with Celia Campbell lowering both the 50 and 100 backstroke records. The previous 50m back record was held by Andreas Weech at 34.01 in April, 2011 and Campbell lowered the time to 33.43 in March, 2013.

The 100m back record was held by Jade Thompson at 1:13.50 in June, 2004 and Campbell lowered the time to 1:13.13 on March, 2013.

The other 12-and-under record was set by Victoria Russell in the 50m breaststroke. The old mark was 36.86 which was set by Anthaya Rolle in July, 2004 before Russell lowered the time to 36.05 in April, 2013.

The other three records were set by Joanna Evans with two and Dionisio Carey with one. Both swimmers are in the senior 15-and-over age groups. All three of the previous records were held by two of the big names in Bahamian swimming, namely Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace and Jeremy Knowles.

Evans lowered the records in the 800m and 400m free. The previous times were 9:10.50 in the 800 set in June, 2007 and 4:32.97 in the 400 set in March, 2008 and both were held by Vanderpool-Wallace before Evans broke them. The new records are now 9:01.84 in the 800 free and 4:25.46 in the 400 free. The new record in the 800m free qualified Evans for the Junior World Championships later this summer.

On the men’s side, Carey lowered the 50 back record that was previously held by Knowles at 27.50 set in June, 2008 to 27.40 in March, 2013.

Both Evans and Carey have just moved up into the new senior age groups and they both have already set new records.