When the swimming delegation departed on September 4th for the Isle of Man there was no doubt about the goals for the competition. Clearly articulated by the Chef de Mission, Colonel Trevor Browne from the perspective of the Olympic Association, he expected each athlete to be the best he or she can be. More specifically the Swimming Association’s goals for this young delegation had requested them to take the sport to the next level through establishing new marks, making a final in a least one event and of course improving times. The swimmers rose to the occasion and grasp the task at hand and fulfilled this mandate in at least one event.
Mathew Courtis the lone male participant established a new age group 15-17 and men’s open record n the 1500 SCM freestyle in 16:34.75 and finished his heat in this event in 1st position while scorching 18.15 seconds off his seed time. He was a finalist in the 400 SCM IM and in the 200 SCM butterfly placing 5th and 8th respectively and securing best times in the process. His time in the 400 SCM IM was lowered to 4:42.22 a reduction of 4 seconds and in the final of the 200 SCM fly he further shaved 2 seconds off his preliminary time to post 2:14.15. Courtis also improved his performance in the 200 SCM IM posting in on 2:15.22 and in the 200 SCM backstroke in a time of 2:13.78. Courtis had a successful meet.
Zabrina Holder, the youngest of the female swimmers established three new age group records and a new women’s open record in the three events swum. In the 50 SCM butterfly Zabrina’s time of 29.07 which placed her as the 1st alternate in 9th position erased the old record 30:21 established by her in 2010. In the 200 SCM IM she posted 2:25.12 lowering the old record from 2:26.09. In the 100 SCM butterfly Holder romped home 6th in the final to further shave a few splits off her prelim time to 1:02.51 for a new national age group and women’s open record. Both Holder and Courtis posed with Prince Edward on the opening day of the Games.
Lee-Ann Rose started Barbados’ record breaking ball rolling as she established the first record taking the sport up yet another notch. In the 200 SCM backstroke her time of 2:22.28 lowered the old record from 2:22.51 to establish a new 15-17 age group record. Rose also posted a personal best in the 50 SCM backstroke event in 31.45 down from 31.78.
Amara Gibbs also secured her goal in the 200 SCM butterfly where she was awarded a final spot in this event.
The team returns home on Wednesday, September 14th
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