Soroya Simmons wins gold, Sheik Amir bronze

Aug 16, 2009 Sports

---

By Franklin Wilson in Barbados Compliments of Bakewell, Western Union Money Transfer,
Caribbean Airline, Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club,
Windjammer International Hotel

Soroya Simmons won Guyana’s only gold medal on day two of the 15th annual Goodwill Swim Meet which is taking place at the Aquatic Centre here in Barbados.
On a day where cool and slightly overcast conditions were the order, the swimmers from the Land of Many Waters continued to do their best for their country and reaped reasonable success.
Simmons won gold in the girl’s (11-12) 50 metre backstroke finishing in a time of 35.70 ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Katherine Keane (35.82) and Marushka Tirion (35.89) of Suriname.
Britany Van Lange (girls 11-12) won silver in the 100m free (1:05.52) better than the record time which was held by Christy Romany (1:05.88) set last year in Guyana. Trinidad and Tobago’s Syriah David set the new record of 1:05.25. Surinamese Sungaila was the bonze medal winner (1:06.93). Van Lange’s silver adds to her first at this level also, a bronze on day one (Friday) in the 200m free.
Sheik Amir claimed his first at this level, bronze in the 13-14 boys 100m free finishing in a time of 58.33, Barbados ’ Darren Beckles took gold in a record time of 56.43, T&T’s Alex Pantin won silver in 58.20. Pantin shattered Angelo Ferrier’s 1999 mark of 57.71.
Niall Roberts (boys 15-17) continued his fine form – having won gold (50m fly); silver (200m free); bronze (100m fly); bronze 400m free relay teaming up with Henk Lowe, Jaime Jabar and Stephen Soares – with another bronze medal in the 100m free and silver in the 400m individual medley.
In the 100m free, Roberts had to settle for the spot behind the record breaking Trinidad and Tobago pair of Abraham McLeod who swam to gold with a new time of 53.37, his countryman Walter Romany, who had set the previous record of 53.92 in 2008, had to settle for the silver in 53.84.
Roberts again teamed up with Lowe, Jabar and Soares to win silver in yesterday’s final event (400m medley) clocking 4:25.18 behind winners Bjorn Lie Kwie, Jair Blokland, Tuchard Panka and Shelemiah of Suriname whose winning time of 4:10.51 was a new Goodwill record. They cracked the old time of 4:10.80 which was set by the Guyanese quartet of Earlando Mc Rae, Niall Roberts, Yannick Roberts and Jamaal Sobers in 2007.
Commenting on her first individual Goodwill Gold medal performance, Soroya Simmons said she is very proud of herself and what she has achieved.
The Marian Academy student, who will be entering 2nd form when the new school term begins next month, told Kaieteur Sport that she had contemplated quitting many times but her mom (who is in Barbados to support) and dad have been encouraging her to stay the course and it has certainly paid off.
Head Coach Nicholas Fraser summing up the performances of his charges stated that it was a mixed day for them. “We had some good results in some of the races. I did not think that the bigger guys performed as well as they could have but the younger ones have been dropping off a lot of time especially Daniel Scott. I think this is one of the first times he is being pushed because in Guyana he does get that much competition.”
Fraser said the team did not get much rest in between the first and second day.
The first day’s activities commenced with the official ceremony after 18:00hrs on Friday evening and concluded after 22:00hrs.
By the time the swimmers had dinner and went to bed it was Saturday morning and they were up by 06:00hrs to reach the pool for warm ups at 07:30hrs for competition which got underway at 09:00hrs.
“It was kind of hectic we had less than six hours rest so they weren’t really rested this morning (yesterday). This afternoon (yesterday) we have a bit of free time, we will go through our paces and be ready for tomorrow (today) when we should have a better day.”
The other Guyanese swimmers in action yesterday did not medal but are promising better performances today. Noelle Smith was a bit under the weather but has promised to  rebound today.
Travis Henry (boys 11-12), Henk Lowe (15-17 boys), Steffi De Nobrega (13-14 girls), Omali Dare (13-14 boys), Joseph Seguina (13-14 boys) and Nayira Freso (15-17 girls) are also representing Guyana in Barbados.
In the overall pursuit for top honours, the Guyanese are 4th overall on 195 points just ahead of guest nation, Grenada who are on 129.
Defending champions Suriname remain in pole position heading into the final straight today with 991 points comfortably ahead of fierce rivals Trinidad and Tobago hovering on 904 and host nation Barbados third with 847.
Suriname are also leading the individual team scores. Among the boys they have 513 followed by Trinidad 447, Barbados 418, Guyana 119 and Grenada 43.
The Surinamese girls are large and in charge on 478 just ahead of Trinidad 457, Barbados 429, Grenada 86 and Guyana bringing up the rear on 76.

---

---