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Immaculate, Campion retain titles at Mayberry Swim Meet

Published:Saturday | April 6, 2019 | 12:26 AMAkino Ming/Gleaner Writer
Zaneta Alvaranga of Immaculate Team A competes in the butterfly section in the girls’ age 13-14 200m medley relay. Alvaranga earlier broke the 50m breaststroke record with a time of 35.15 at the Mayberry Swim Meet held at the National Aquatics Centre yesterday.
Zaneta Alvaranga of Immaculate Team A competes in the butterfly section in the girls’ age 13-14 200m medley relay. Alvaranga earlier broke the 50m breaststroke record with a time of 35.15 at the Mayberry Swim Meet held at the National Aquatics Centre yesterday.

Immaculate Conception High School and Campion College retained their Mayberry Investment Swim Meet high school boys and girls’ titles, respectively, yesterday, after competition at the National Aquatics Centre.

Immaculate, which captured their 20th title, tallied 441 points. The girls from Campion College finished second with 266, while St Andrew High School for Girls rounded out the top three with 172.

Immaculate’s coach, Teddy Hayles, credited the school’s swim programme, and its focus on early development for their continued success.

“What makes us different is that these girls learn all the finer points of swimming from an early age. They learn the best way to swim a race. We do a lot of stroke mechanics,” said Hayles.

“Swimming is a part of the school programme at Immaculate and every girl is taught how to swim when they come to school. Plus, our principal, Sister Angela Harris plays a major part in the programme,” Hayles added.

Campion grabbed their eighth straight title on the boys side, after amassing 416 points. Wolmer’s Boys School, 361 points, finished second, while Kingston College topped off the top three with 142 points.

“I think the reason we have been doing well is because we have a great collaboration because when you look on our team, a lot of them do multi-sports. We also have a lot of athletes who are a part of the national team and club teams as well, so that gives us an advantage, “ said coach of Campion College Gillian Millwood.

Records broken

Twelve records were broken on the day, but it was Britney Williams of Wolmer’s High School for Girls who was most impressive. She shattered the 200m freestyle for the 17-and-over girls, touching the wall in 2:12.44. The previous mark was 2:20.30.

She also lowered the 50m backstroke record with her 34.12 effort to erase the previous mark of 34.54.

National representative Zaneta Alvaranga was also in record-breaking mood as she lowered the age 13-14 group record in the 50 breaststroke. The Immaculate Conception High School student touched the wall in 35.15 seconds to erase the previous mark of 35.67.

Campion College’s Akeem Alleyne smashed the boys age group 15 -16 100m breaststroke record in 1:14.01 to beat the previous mark of 1:16.04.

His team-mate Nathaniel Thomas broke the age group 13-14 50m freestyle record in 25.04. The previous mark was 25.48.