The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

EVEN though they got some welcomed competition from the visiting Surf Side Ocean Academy Aquatic from the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Barracuda Swim Club still emerged as the champions of their Atlantic Medical Invitational.

The two-day meet was held over the weekend at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex in the last meet before the Bahamas Swimming Federation hosts its final trials for this year’s CARIFTA Games.

At least 35 events contested saw competitors attain the qualifying standards for CARIFTA, which will be hosted at the same venue over the Easter holiday weekend.

The Barracuda, coached by veteran Sue Coleby and Travano McPhee, accumulated a total of 2,537.50 points to dominate the field of 11 teams that participated. Team Orca came in second with 628 and the Dolphins were third with 604.

Surf Side Ocean Academy brought an 11-member team as they made their maiden voyage to compete as they attempt to qualify some of their athletes for their first appearance at CARIFTA.

The team, which trains out of their hotel pools, turned in a surprising fourth place finish with 546.50 with Alpha fifth with 458, Sea Waves sixth with 418, Swift Swimming sixth with 284, St Anne’s eighth with 150, Lyford Cay School ninth with 125, Mantas Water Polo Club tenth with 118 and the Grand Bahama Tritons 11th with 66.

“It was an excellent meet, ran very smoothly and on time,” said coach Travano McPhee. “We had a lot of kids who tried to qualify for Carifta with the trials set for this weekend.

“We also had a team from the Turks and Caicos Island, which sort of livened up the meet with some new faces. They are also trying to make their first Carifta. So it was a good meet.”

With the BSF only allowed to select a 36-member team, McPhee said it’s going to be a hard choice because there are so many swimmers who are performing very well this year.

“We’re looking good at this point,” he said.

Among the list of Carifta qualifiers in their respective events were Zoe McCarroll, Tristan Russell, Anya MacPhail, Jake Thompson, DaVante Carey, Luke-Kennedy Thompson, Salena Gibson, Rachel Lundy, Shawn Neely, Liya Moncur, Ishan Roy, Brayden Dam, N’Nhyn Fernander, Joshua Murray, Noah Albury, Zaylie-Elizabeth Thompson, Jolise Newbold, Serena Tynes, Ian Pinder, Virginia Stamp, Mark-Anthony Thompson and Rachel Lundy.

See the results posted in The Tribune later this week for their performances.

There were also the high point winners in the various age groups.

Jade Grandire led the way, winning the lone individual title for Surf Side. She collected 128 points to pull of the girls’ under-8 crown over Barracuda’s Rayven Ward, who won all of her events, for 97 points.

“It was good. My favourite event was the breaststroke because I had a good experience diving of the board,” Grandire said. “It was a good experience.”

Maxwell Daniels of the Dolphins took the boys’ 8-and-under title with 133. It was 40 points better than his nearest rival and teammate Donald Saunders.

“It was good. The competition was good. I liked how I was coming second in most of my races. I won my 100 fly,” said the 8-year-old Daniels, who is in the third grade at St Francis/Joseph School.

Anajaleah Knowles won the girls’ 9-10 division with 115, holding off a close showdown with her Sea Waves’ teammate Taliyah Bowe, who had 108.

“I was scared, but I know I was going to do well,” said Knowles, a nine-year-old student of Temple Christian. “I had a lot of pressure because I want to make the Goodwill Games’ team.”

And on the boys’ side, there was a showdown between Barracuda’s teammates Amauri Bonamy, who won with 137, compared to Tristin Ferguson’s 128.

“It was good. It was a tough race, but I was pretty confident that I would get the high point trophy,” said a confident 11-year-old Bonamy, a sixth grader at Queen’s College.

Liya Moncur had 121 points to out-duel five other Barracuda’s teammates, including Devin Cuffy-Bethel, who was second with 118 in the girls’ 11-12 division.

“It was not my best performance in the met, but I tried to improve on my times because I want to make the Carifta team,” said Moncur, 12, an eighth grader at St Andrew’s. “My 50m back is my best event. It was my first of three events that I made the Carifta cut in.”

Brayden Dam took the boys’ 11-12 title to Abaco with 133 as he nipped Barracuda’s Ishan Roy, who had 132.

Anya MacPhail emerged as the girls’ 13-14 champion with 114 points over her Barracuda’s teammate Kaliyah Albury, who was second with 110.

“It was a little chilly and windy, but the competition was good,” said MacPhail, 14, ninth grader at St Andrew’s.

“I enjoyed my 400m IM and 200m. Those are my best events. I’m looking forward to making the Carifta team in them.”

Ian Pinder picked up the boys’ title with 110 points he outdistanced his Barracuda’s teammate Gadville McDonald, who had 88.

“Today I achieved some best times, so I’m proud of myself,” said Pinder, 14, a 120th grader at Queen’s College. “Hard work paid off because even though the competition was tough, I was able to push through it and did my best. I’m getting ready for Carifta.”

Amber Pinder was the winner of the girls’ 15-and-over category with 104 points. Her nearest rival was teammate Kaitlyn Slatter with 87.

“I am doing better than I did last year, so I’m very happy,” said Pinder, a 15-year-old 11th grader at Queen’s College. “I love the 50m back because my stroke felt good. It felt like it used too. I haven’t done any Carifta cut yet, but I’m working on it.”

And Joshua Murray claimed the boys’ 15-and-over crown with 131 points, ahead of his Barracuda’s teammate Tenajh Gaitor, who had 119.

“It was pretty good. The wind was a factor in some of the races. It was pretty chilly too, but overall, it was a good meet,” said Murray, 15 - a 10th grader at Queen’s College. “The competition was good too. The 100 breast and 50 free were my best events.”