Suriname end in pole position after day one of Goodwill swimming

Aug 16, 2008 Sports

Selby & Baptiste break 200m free record

By Franklin Wilson
After the first day of intense rivalry at the 14th Goodwill Swimming Championships (GSC) taking place at the Castellani Pool, Homestretch Avenue, Suriname are ahead of defending champions Trinidad and Tobago with host nation Guyana 3rd and Barbados bring up the rear.

It was a hot, hot day but kudos are in order for all the athletes who braved the heat to give of their best for themselves and country.

The Surinamese who last won the championships when they hosted in 2006 will start today’s penultimate day on 534 points, The Twin Island Republic 490.5, Guyana 241 and Barbados, 239.5.

The Surinamese are also ahead in the men and women team rankings with 268 and 266 points respectively. T&T again are 2nd in both divisions with 233.5 and 257.

Guyana is 3rd in the women class with 119 ahead of Barbados on 108 but the Bajans are leading among the men with 131.5 to Guyana’s 122.

The only record going by the way side on day one was the 9-10 boys 200m free which was broken by Barbadian Christian Selby (2:19.26) and Trinidad and Tobago’s Jabari Baptiste (2:20.36).

Selby took the gold medal with the silver going to Baptiste. Kaieteur Sport spoke with both athletes who said their aim coming to this year’s Goodwill was to break the record and that they achieved. This is also the third year for both swimmers at Goodwill.

Selby, who also broke the Barbados national record which stood at 2:21.43 said he would be attending Queens College in Barbados when the new school term begins after being successful at the Common Entrance Exams last term where he attended St. Angela’s Primary. “I am also aiming to become the age-group champion this year by winning more races.”

Baptiste, who attends Maria Regina Grade School in Port of Spain, Trinidad said he has been competing at Goodwill since he was 8 and under.

“I am aiming to make my country’s team for next year’s competition and am also looking forward to a good time at Goodwill this year.”

Late yesterday afternoon the 100m freestyle relay races saw all the country’s supporters and athletes at the edge of the pool cheering on their teammates and countrymen and women in vociferous style.

The Surinamese won gold in the 11-12 boys, 13-14 boys and girls with T&T taking gold in the 11-12 girls, 15-17 girls and boys.

The final race of the day (15-17 boys relay) saw an exciting duel between Guyana and Suriname with the Guyanese winning in an exciting finish.

The individual events have also been dominated by T&T and Suriname swimmers but both Guyana and Barbados will be looking to turn things around on day two, today.

Warm up is set for 09:00hrs with the first race of the day, event number 41, being the girls 8 and under 100m individual medley.

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