Over 150 swimmers from three clubs, Camana Bay Aquatic Club (CBAC), Seven Mile Swimmers (SMS) and Stingray Swim Club (SSC) and one lone swimmer from Cayman Brac took part in the Dart sponsored 2016 CIASA National Swim Championships. The four day meet saw lots of fast swimming, swimmers congratulating each other for their achievements and many more obtaining both Cayman Islands development and junior team times. These times will be taken into consideration when the National Junior Team which will represent the Cayman Islands at the 2016 CARIFTA Swimming Championships in Martinique is chosen in the very near future.

Representing the Brac, Abby Walton made her presence known by placing 1st in the girls’ 9-10 age group 50m Breaststroke (46.35).

Many CIASA records were broken and now Bailey Weathers, CIASA’s Technical Director has the delightful task of updating the CIASA records book.

In the girls 13-14 age group, Alison Jackson (SSC) showed her strength and swimming ability by setting new records in 50m Butterfly (30.73) as well as the 50m (27.01), 100m (59.67) and 200m (2.12.39) Freestyle. It should be noted that in the 200m Freestyle that the top three finishers, Alison Jackson (SSC), Ria Plunkett (SSC) and Holly Stradling (CBAC) all broke the existing CIASA record with Alison Jackson being the first person to put her hand on the wall to set the new record.

In the boys’ 9-10 age group, Stefano Bonati (CBAC) set new CIASA records in 50m (37.46) and 100m (1.23.57) Backstroke; and 50m (43.59) and 100m (1.34.63) Breaststroke. Similar to the 13-14 girls, in the 50m Breaststroke, the top two finishers, Stefano Bonati (CBAC) and Sam Dakers (SSC) broke the previous CIASA record with Stefano becoming the new record holder.

In the 11-12 girl age group, Sabine Ellison (CBAC) set a new record in the 100m Butterfly (1.10.68) and Corey Frederick-Westerborg (SSC) broke the existing CIASA record for the 11-12 boys in 100m Breaststroke (1.20.17) and 100m Freestyle (1.01.56).

Michael Lockwood, President of CIASA comments, “It was a fun four days with some very fast swimming by our athletes as was evident by the many new CIASA records being set as well as numerous personal best times being recorded. We are immensely proud of how everyone swam and the sportsmanship which was shown. As always, we thank all of our volunteers and National Championship sponsor- Dart for their continued support which allows us to run a successful Championship meet.”

CIASA is a volunteer, not for profit association dedicated to furthering the interests of all aquatic sports in the Cayman Islands. CIASA is the recognised Governing Body of aquatic sports in the Cayman Islands and is a member of FINA, UANA, CCCAN, CARIFTA and the CIOC. For more information on CIASA www.ciasa.ky.