1.   Introduction

 

CARIFTA swimming 2004 is over but the feeling lingers. Although we never won there were some exhilarating and stupendous performances that left us breathless and wanting more.We were privileged to have witnessed the tenacity and indomitable spirit of which champions are made. Buoyed by the enthusiastic support and feverish cheering of the 20 strong Jamaican contingents that journeyed the 300 miles from home and aided and abetted by our Jamaican countrymen and women living in the Bahamas our swimmers fought a good fight.

 

When the last whistle was blown and the last chant subsided Jamaica placed a commendable 4th of the 13 participating teams by amassing 503 points. The final points standing were as follows:

 

Place

Team

Points

1

Trinidad & Tobago

591

2

Cayman

550

3

Bahamas

536.5

4

Jamaica

503

5

Antilles Guyane Francaise

470

6

Barbados

351

7

Netherlands Antilles

299.5

8

Suriname

253

9

US Virgin Island

148.5

10

Grenada

105

11

Aruba

88

12

St. Lucia

80.5

 

 

 

 

Significantly the men’s team placed first among the male teams and in the process outscored the second placed team Barbados by 71 points while the female team placed 5th among their counterparts. Brad Hamilton was the outstanding swimmer for Jamaica winning 7 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze Medals while establishing 5 new National Age Group Records and 2 new CARIFTA Records (100 FREE, 200 FREE, 400 FREE, 100 FLY & 400 IM)

 

2.   Jamaica’s Medal Count

 

 

Boys Individual

Boys Relay

Girls Individual

Girls Relay

Total

Entries

68

9

48

6

131

Medals

19

8

3

2

32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gold

7

1

2

0

10

Silver

4

3

0

2

9

Bronze

8

4

1

0

13

 

 

 

 

 

 

11-12

4

2

0

0

6

13-14

9

3

3

2

17

15-17

6

3

0

0

9

Of the 32 medals won the boys’ team accounted for 27 (or 84%) compared to the girls’ 5. Of particular note was the dearth of medals won by the girls 11-12 and 15-17 age groups. Throughout the meet it was patently clear that our sole female entrant in the 11-12 age group was outclassed notwithstanding her achieving PBs in all her races. The 15-17 girls feared better by virtue of securing many final placings.

3.   Medal Winners

 

Name

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Total

Brad Hamilton

6

1

0

7

Renee Wright

2

0

1

3

Dominic Lee

1

1

1

3

Todd Johnson

0

1

1

2

Ramon Walton

0

1

1

2

Travis Forte

0

0

1

1

Matthew Hilton

0

0

1

1

Jonathan Wong

0

0

1

1

Andre Smith

0

0

1

1

Brandon Loshusan

0

0

1

1

Total Individual

9

4

9

22

Relays

1

5

4

10

 

Notably, the team featured in 86 Individual finals or 74% of the 116 events entered. Significantly only one(1) girl medalled.

 

4.   Finals Made

 

Names

Entries

Finals

DQ

 

Allison Bardowell

6

1

0

 

Taryn Bridgewater

6

0

1

 

Tamari Farquharson

7

7

0

 

Travis Forte

6

4

0

 

Alford Green

2

1

0

Time final

Brad Hamilton

9

8

0

 

Matthew Hamilton

5

3

0

 

Rhoan Johnson

3

2

0

 

Todd Johnson

2

2

0

 

Audette Lawrence

1

1

0

Time final

Dominic Lee

6

6

0

 

Brandon Loshusan

6

6

0

 

Lemone Lowe

6

3

0

 

Gillian Millwood

5

3

0

 

Leachim Palmer

3

2

0

 

Raine Paulson-Andrews

6

6

0

 

Kherri-Ann Robinson

4

1

0

Time final

Andre Smith

3

2

0

 

Gillian Stewart

6

5

0

 

Donovan Todd

3

3

0

 

Ramon Walton

7

7

1

 

Johnathan Wong

7

7

0

 

Renee Wright

7

6

0

 

 

116

86

2

 

             

 

5.   Memorable Moments

 

There were some memorable and gallant performances that are indelibly etched in our minds.

 

Who will forget Brad and Renee playing possum in their 200 IM events and failing to qualify for the finals. Expectations were high that both would have won those events. Instead it proved to be a strategic moved that deceived the opponents and lured them into a false sense of security. Both swimmers returned triumphantly in their pet events to decimate the field and record personal best (PB) times in their respective 100M and 200M freestyle events.

 

How about Brad stalking the swimmer from ARUBA in the 200 free and at the final turn kicked in the turbo and eased past him to win the race and reduce the swimmer to tears and a flagged ego.

 

And Kheri-Ann who let it all hung loose in the fly leg of the medley to return her best time in the 100 fly.

 

6.   CARIFTA & Bahamian Records

 

The Jamaican team stamped its class on the championships by establishing three (3) CARIFTA records and eleven (11) Bahamian all comers’ age group records.

 

CARIFTA Records

 

The incomparable Brad Hamilton who continues to amaze and leave us in awe was responsible for two (2) CARIFTA records.

 

He recorded a fast 53.69 sec in the 100M free to erase the old mark of 54.97 and returned in the 50M free to lower the old mark of 24.95 to 24.92.

 

In the 400 free relays Brad teamed with Alford Green, Johnathan Wong and Rhoan Johnson to lower the old mark of 3:52.94 to 3:52.46.

 

            Bahamian Records

 

Congratulations to the following swimmers for establishing Bahamian all comers’ age group records:

 

q      Renee Wright in the100 M freestyle: 1:01.79

 

q      Brad Hamilton in the 50 M freestyle: 24.92

 

q      Brad Hamilton in the 100 M freestyle: 53.69

 

q      Brad Hamilton in the 200 M freestyle: 1:59.84

 

q      Brad Hamilton in the 400 M freestyle: 4:17.16

 

q      Brad Hamilton in the 100 M Butterfly: 1:00.82

 

q      Dominic Lee in the 200 M Breaststroke: 2:28.59

 

q      Boys 13-14, 400 M freestyle relay: 3:52.46

 

 

 

 

7.   Top Performer

 

Brad Hamilton emerged best in class by scoring 62 points in the 13-14 age group. For his effort he was awarded an high point trophy. Of eight (8) individual events he had five (5) 1st places, one (1) 2nd place and one (1) 8th place.

 

Although not copping the high point trophy Rene Wright was the top Jamaican female

swimmer. She was the 12th (of 77) highest points earner in her class.  

 

Commendations are in order to the 14 boys and 7 girls who contributed to Jamaica’s point’s tally of 507 and for those who did not we congratulate you and all the other swimmers for recording PBs in your respective events swam.

 

A Special congratulation to first time CARIFTA swimmers who won medals. They are:

 

q      Ramon Walton for scoring the 12th highest points among males and winning 1 individual medal.

q      Brandon Loshusan who won himself a bronze medal

q       Kherri-Ann for a gutsy butterfly leg in the medley relay,

q      Andre Smith for a 3rd place finish in the 100M breast