The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH a strong contingent in the senior boys’ division, led by Commonwealth Games participant Izaak Bastian, head coach Travanno McPhee said he’s confident that the Bahamas can three-peat at the XXXIV CARIFTA Swimming Championships.

Following its last chance meet at the Alpha Aquatics International Invitational over the weekend at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex, the federation selected a full slate of 36 swimmers for CARIFTA, scheduled for April 20-23 in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Named to the team are the following swimmers:

Boys 15-17 - Izaak Bastian, DaVante Carey, Kevon Lockhart, Samuel Gibson, Ian Pinder, Lamar Taylor, Luke-Kennedy Thompson and Mark-Anthony Thompson.

Girls 15-17 - Katelyn Cabrral, Jamilah Hepburn, Anya MacPhail, Katherine Slatter and Virginia Stamp.

Boys 13-14 - Nigel Forbes, Taye Fountain, Jared Reckley, Ishan Roiy, Ocean Smith and Erald Thompson III. Girls 13-14 - Devin Cuffy- Bethel, Grace Farrington, Salene Gibson, Rachel Lundy, Delaney Mizell and Keianna Moss.

Boys 11-12 - Amauri Bonamy, Tristin Ferguson, Asher Johnson, Marvin Johnson and Ethan Pinder.

Girls 11-12 - Rhanishka Gibbs, Leylah Knowles, Seannia Norville-Smith, Mia Patton and Giann Sands.

“This is a very familiar pool for all of the swimmers. We have been to Barbados at least 4-5 times in the past 6-7 years, so the swimmers are very comfortable with the pool and the surroundings,” McPhee said. “It’s not a very long flight down there, so we feel comfortable and we feel we have a very strong boys’ 11-12 team with Marvin Johnson and Tristen Ferguson, our 13-14 boys is also very strong with Erald Thompson and Nigel Forbes and the boys 15-17 is very strong with Izaak Bastian, DaVante Carey and Ian Pinder.”

With those swimmers on the male side, McPhee said the Bahamas will be very strong. But he noted that the female swimmers are just as solid and will be able to hold their own as well.

“In the 13-14 division, we re carrying seven girls with Zayle-Elizabeth Thompson, Keianna Moss and Delaney Mizell, the 15-7 girls will be led by Anya MacPhail and Katelyn Cabral and we are looking for some great things from the 11-12 girls with Rhanishka Gibbs and Seannia Norville-Smith leading the way.”

McPhee, a former Cariftqa swimmer turned coach, said once they get the swimmers in team practice starting Saturday, March 23, the coaching staff will have sufficient time to get them fine toned for defense of their title.

“We have four Saturday sessions where we will be doing double training as a team. The swimmers in Grand Bahama will be doing the same thing before everybody come together before we travel in April,” McPhee revealed.

“We have a few more weeks than we would usually have because Easter falls a little later this year, so that gives them more time to prepare and get ready. Having it in late April gives us more time to prepare and get them ready and more fit to race.”

There is only one goal for the team and that is to win.

“We have a very strong senior boys team, so we are looking for them to step it up and hopefully motivate our younger boys and girls, but we are going down there to win,”

Georgette Albury, returning as the team manager, said their aim is to ensure that the team is placed in the right condition to repeat as champions.

“The swim team was chosen on Sunday, the water polo team will be announced by Wednesday and the open water team will be chosen on Saturday after their last qualifying meet,” Albjry pointed out.

“Once the entire team is chosen, the open water and water polo teams will practice together on Saturdays for two hours up until the Saturday before we leave. The swim team will practice twice on those Saturdays.”

Additionally, Albury said a team breakfast, lunch or dinner is scheduled, as well as a Church service and possibly a return courtesy call on Governor General, Dame Marguerite Pindling.

“Our team looks good and we are confident that they will do very well down in Barbados,” she summed up.

The team will leave on Thursday, April 18 and return on Wednesday, April 24. They will be traveling via a charter with a full compliment of BSF officials, team members and spectators.