ATKINSON AND HAMILTON ADD SIX MORE GOLD MEDALS AT CARIFTA SWIM CHAMPS

April 8, 2006

Alia Atkinson and Brad Hamilton led the way with three Gold’s each as Jamaica hauled in twelve more medals on Day 3 of the 2006 CARIFTA Swimming Championships being held in Barbados. The Jamaican’s also broke three CARIFTA Records, three Jamaican National Age Group Records and one Jamaican National Records.

Alia Atkinson claimed two CARIFTA records when she won the 15-17 200 M Individual Medley (2:25.25) and the 50 M Breaststroke (33.56). Hamilton placed his name in the CARIFTA Record books winning the 15-17 50 M Breaststroke. His 30.25 also smashed Dominic Lee’s Senior National and National Age Group Record of 30.39 set a year ago in Santo Domingo. In the same event, Garrick Robinson swam a fast 31.27 to claim the Silver Medal.

The 15-17 100 M Freestyle events were solidly in Jamaica’s camp as Atkinson and Hamilton struck Gold swimming 59.73 and 53.47 respectively. Travis Forte swam 54.49 to take the Silver. Hamilton and Forte stole the show again when they finished first and second in the 200 M Butterfly swimming 2:11.57 and 2:12.77.

Renee Hall won her first CARIFTA individual medal taking the Bronze in the 11-12 100 M Freestyle swimming a respectable 1:06.32. Two more Bronze Medals were added in the 4 X 200 M Freestyle Relays. Donovan Todd, Brian Forte. Richard Graham and Dominic Walter teamed up to set a new 13-14 National Age Group Record (8:51.44) as did Gillian Millwood, Lauren Soutar, Tamari Farquharsen and Alia Atkinson whose 9:33.01 lowered the 15-17 record by an incredible 23 seconds.

Jamaica entered the final day of competition with high hopes of more medals. The Male and Female Water Polo Teams will play for Gold in the Finals which are scheduled to start at 12:00 PM