The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

After the final trials over the weekend at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex, the Bahamas Swimming Federation has selected the swim and open water teams that will defend The Bahamas’ title at the 2020 Carifta Swimming Championships.

The federation, however, has not released the names of the water polo team, which will compete a week before the Carifta swimming and open water competitions take place in Bridgetown, Barbados from April 9-14. That team is expected to be named by the end of the week.

As for the swim team, which will be coached by Travano McPhee, assisted by Andy Loviett, Cameron Bruney and David Delcueto, the swimmers selected are as follows:

Girls 11-12 - Tia-Isabella Adderley, Mia Patton, Zidane Salting, Elle Theberge, Rayven Ward and Zoe Williamson.

Girls 13-14 - Abayomi Brown, Maria Fox, Rhanishka Gibbs, Keianna Moss, Seannia Norville-Smith and Mia Sastre.

Girls 15-17 - Katelyn Cabral, Jamilah Hepburn, Rachel Lundy, Anya MacPhail, Delaney Mizell and Zayle-Elizabeth Thompson.

Boys 11-12 - Jarrod Charles, Caleb Ferguson, Ellie Gibson, Zion Gibson, Tristan Hepburn, Asher Johnson, Donald Saunders and Caden Wells.

Boys 13-14 - Jack Barr, Tristin Ferguson, Nigel Forbes, Marvin Johnson and Joshua Newry.

Boys 15-17 - Davante Carey, Ian Pinder, Lamar Taylor, Erald Thompson and Mark-Anthony Thompson.

The open water swim team, coached by Andy Loviett, comprise of the following:

Girls 14-15 - Grace Farrington, Seannia Norville-Smith and Mia Sastre.

Girls 16-18 - Kaliyah Albury, Giovanna Eneas and Salene Gibson.

Boys 14-15 - Tristin Ferguson, Marvin Johnson and Hodari Prince.

Boys 16-18 - Ocean Smith, Ocean and Mark-Anthony Thompson.

Georgette Albury will travel as the team manager. She will be joined by Denise Mizell as the female chaperone and Kendric Albury as the male chaperone.

Albury said the team selection by the coaches was a tedious one as there were more than 40 swimmers who attained the qualifying standard, but the maximum for the team selection was just 36.

“It was a very difficult decision, but the coaches feel as if they have chosen the strongest team for the 2020 Carifta Swimming Championships,” Albury said. “We had many swimmers with the Carifta cut, but we can only take 36 in the pool.

“We expect to do well. We expect to have some really good swims. The kids have been training hard all season and we expect that to continue over the next four weeks as the team get ready to leave on April 9.”

In preparation for their travel, Albury said a number of activities are being planned for the swimmers to get acclimated to each other. They include a church service and team breakfast, lunch and dinner, which will be outlined to the parents.

The Bahamas will be going after its fourth straight championship title and its sixth in the past seven years. The Bahamas last lost the title in 2016 in Martinique.

In winning last year’s title, The Bahamas picked up a total of 73 medals, inclusive of 35 gold, 18 silver and 20 bronze to finish well ahead of Jamaica, who had 22 gold, 25 silver and 12 bronze for their total of 59. The Bahamas also finished with 889.50 points ahead of runners-up Jamaica with 748.