The National Aquatic Centre in Couva witnessed an electrifying display of emerging talent during the Aquatic Sports Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ASATT) Invitational Age Group Championships this past weekend. The competition served as a critical proving ground for the nation’s next generation of swimmers, with numerous athletes achieving coveted qualifying standards for the upcoming Carifta Games.
The highlight of the evening session on December 13 featured a thrilling showdown between two US-based national team prospects. University of Indianapolis freshman Zachary Anthony narrowly defeated University of Tennessee’s Nikoli Blackman in the marquee 100m long course butterfly event. Anthony captured gold with a blistering time of 54.56 seconds, merely 0.19 seconds ahead of Blackman’s 54.75 finish. Both swimmers comfortably surpassed the 54.78 ‘A’ standard required for Carifta qualification.
In the Girls 15 & Over division, Toni Rae Yates of RWBAA edged out Davia Richardson (YMID-MR) by 0.04 seconds in another nail-biting butterfly final, clocking 1:05.76 to Richardson’s 1:05.80. Both athletes secured Carifta ‘B’ standard times.
The 11-12 age category emerged as particularly promising, with Sapphire Parks (SJ’S) establishing herself as a standout performer. Parks achieved an ‘A’ standard in the 100m butterfly (1:07.70) and continued her dominance on December 14 with a winning time of 2:38.22 in the 200m individual medley, another ‘A’ standard performance. She additionally secured a ‘B’ standard in the 400m freestyle (5:04.41), finishing second to Zahara Anthony (MARL) who won in 5:03.87.
On the boys’ side, Keone Deshong (BSSS) delivered exceptional performances with gold medals and ‘A’ standard times in both the 50m breaststroke (33.50) and 200m IM (2:31.07). Ethan Chu Fook (SAILF) also impressed with an ‘A’ standard time of 2:32.32 in the 200m IM and a ‘B’ standard victory in the 400m freestyle (4:39.23).
The 13-14 age group saw strong performances from Jacob Collymore (SAILF) who won the boys’ 100m butterfly in 58.48 (‘B’ standard), and Anya DeGannes (VIPER) who took the girls’ title in 1:08.32 (‘B’ standard). Arush Rochlani (SASC) claimed the boys’ 13-14 400m freestyle in 4:26.23, while Marena Martinez (MARL) won the girls’ equivalent in 4:45.79 plus the 200m IM title in 2:37.84.
Breaststroke specialists also made their mark with Ethan McMillan-Cole (boys 13-14, 31.08), Kristin Greesham (girls 13-14, 36.12), and Anpherne Bernard (boys 15 & Over, 29.58) all achieving ‘B’ standard times in their respective 50m events.
The championships concluded with spirited relay competitions. The BASC team (Giddings, Antoine, Pantin, Dan) won the girls 9-10 200m medley relay in 2:33.33, while RWBAA (Valentine, Nesbitt, Nixon, Venture) captured the boys 11-12 medley relay title in 2:13.47.