The Blue Marlins Swim Club won 8 of the 10 individual age group championship trophies at the SVG Gallagher National Swim Champs 2024, held Sept. 12 -15 at the Shrewsbury Aquatic Centre.
The club took a clean sweep of the 8 and under, 9-10, 11-12 and 13-14 age group individual champion trophies.
Saige Jobe and Zane Da Briel were the 8 and under individual champions. Da Briel also etched his name in SVG swimming history by becoming the first 6-year-old to win the 8 and under individual trophy.
Skylar Byron and Saj Caesar captured the 9-10 individual champion titles.
Belle Adams and Jadon Hamilton won the individual titles for the 11-12 age group, while Tayeah St. Hilaire and Hazen Da Briel took home the 13-14 individual titles.
The team captured 2 out of the 6 sprint challenge trophies, with Xid Toney copping the title for the 8 and under males and Belle Adams for the 9-12 females.
There were several swimmers in the top 3 of their age group. Xid Toney came in second while Jayce Thomas came in 3rd in the 8 and under age group.
Zoey May placed 2nd in the 9-10 female age group. Soy Toney was 3rd in the 9-10 male division. Rolene Sam placed second in the 11-12 girls age group and Malique Mayers came in 3rd in the male 15 and over age category.
“This is the third time that the team has come out on top at a national swim meet, and this has been by far their best performance to date,” the club said in a statement.
Black Sands Swim Squad (BSSS), H2O Lions from Leeward and Sail Fish Swim Club from Grenada also competed in the championship.
BSSS smash national records
Thirty-two BSSS swimmers competed winning 147 medals — 46 gold, 53 silver and 48 bronze.
BSSS swimmers also broke four national records at the meet.
Olympian Kennice Greene broke the girls 15 to 16 years and the open age group record in the 50m freestyle in a time of 26.37 seconds. This record was previously held by Sh’ne Joachim.
Greene also broke her own record in the 50m butterfly in a time of 28.64 seconds.
Matthew Ballah was also in record-breaking form and broke his 15-to-16-year age group record in the 50m backstroke in a time of 27.77 seconds, previously 27.80 seconds.
Kentreal Kydd, SVG’s 2024 Paralympian smashed his 50m butterfly record by 2.11 seconds, swimming a new record time of 39.69 seconds.
The BSSS individual sprint champions for the competition were:
- Ira Hadley, girls 8 and under age group.
- Kione Deshong, boys 9 to 12 age group.
- Kennice Greene, girls 15 and over age group, also winning overall age group champion.
- Matthew Ballah, boys 15 and over age group, also winning overall age group champion.
BSSS Head Coach Kyle Dougan said:
“Congratulations to all the swimmers that took part. Also, congratulations to Blue Marlins Swim Club for winning overall club champions. Swimming in St. Vincent and the Grenadines continues to go from strength to strength and I encourage more youngsters to get involved in the sport.”
The Blue Marlins swimmers won a total of 168 medals, as follows:
- Saige Jobe — 4 gold, 5 silver, 1 bronze
- Xyon Sealey-Nicholls — 1 silver, 1 bronze
- Raya Adams — 1 bronze
- Zane Da Briel — 7 gold, 3 silver
- Xid Toney — 3 gold, 6 silver
- Jayce Thomas — 5 bronze
- Skylar Byron — 12 gold
- Zoey May — 4 silver, 7 bronze
- Kmar Rose — 1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze
- Saj Caesar — 10 gold, 2 silver
- Soy Toney — 3 silver, 7 bronze
- Belle Adams — 12 gold
- Rolene Sam — 1 gold, 11 silver
- Jadon Hamilton — 8 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze
- Caghry Williams — 3 silver, 3 bronze
- Tayeah St.Hilaire — 6 gold, 6 silver
- Zaryah Samuel — 1 gold, 1 bronze
- Hazen Da Briel — 12 gold
- Malique Mayers — 1 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze
- Frencille Davis — 1 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze
- Jod Baker — 1 silver, 2 bronze