Roberts, van Lange, Stephenson, Jabar & Gaskin siblings set 13 new records

Mar 08, 2011 Sports

When the water became calm at the end of what can be described as an exciting competition – the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) Republic Anniversary Meet held at the Castellani Pool, Homestretch Avenue – a total of 13 records were broken by six of the best swimmers in Guyana including Trinidad and Tobago based, Jessica Stephenson.
Not only were new standards set but a number of athletes made the qualifying times for several Regional and International Meets.
First day action started with the grueling 1500m freestyle event which saw the competitors having to swim 60 lengths in the 25m pool. Two records went by the way side; Britany van Lange of Dorado Speed Swim Club (DSSC) who is still competing in the 13-14 age-group, broke her own record of 19:51.80 that was set just a few weeks ago at the Inter-Club Meet by posting a new record of 19:46.42.
Another DSSC athlete, Niall Roberts competing in the boys 18 & over age-group and swimming the 1500m for the first time, won in 19:16.70; bettering Jamaal Sobers’ record of 20:21.75, set almost three years ago.
Roberts’ performance was just the beginning of what turned out to be a satisfying meet for the athlete.
On day two he took centre stage competing in three events and set records in as many; new marks were attained in the 200m Individual Medley (2:21.02), 50m Butterfly (26.66) and 100m Freestyle (53.66).
van Lange was not going to be left out and she too hauled in two more records – 100m Freestyle (1:02.28) and 400m Freestyle (4:48.56). In both events, van Lange attained the qualifying times for the Carifta Swimming Championships.
Trinidad and Tobago based Jessica Stephenson who has always been making time to compete among her peers here, achieved a new record and made the Goodwill Swimming Championships ‘A’ qualifying time in the 50m Breaststroke with a time of 36.59.
Other swimmers setting new records were Athena Gaskin, Hannibal Gaskin and Jaime Jabar.
Following is the full schedule of records that were broken.
Hannibal Gaskin (Dorado Speed Swim Club) Age 13 –
Boys 13-14 800 Free Finals: 10:46.39 National: 10:53.54S
Britany van Lange (Dorado Speed swim Club) Age 14 –
Girls 13-14 1500 Free Finals: 19:46.42 National: 19:51.80S
Girls 13-14 100 Free Finals: 1:02.28 National: 1:02.56S
Girls 13-14 400 Free Finals: 4:48.56 National: 4:53.20S
Athena Gaskin (Dorado Speed Swim Club) Age 15 –
Girls 15-17 200 Free Finals: 2:21.97 National: 2:23.14S
Jessica Stephenson (Dorado Speed Swim Club) Age 15 –
Girls 15-17 50 Breast Finals: 36.59 National: 39.06S
Girls 15-17 100 Breast Finals: 1:17.79 National: 1:25.71S
Jaime Jabar (Dolphin Speed Swim Club) Age 18 –
Boys 18&O 100 Breast Finals: 1:12.13 National: 1:26.55S
Niall Roberts (Dorado Speed Swim Club) Age 19 –
Boys 18&O 1500 Free Finals: 19:16.70 National: 20:21.75S
Boys 18&O 200 IM Finals: 2:21.02 National: 2:27.10S
Boys 18&O 50 Fly Finals: 26.01 National: 26.82S
Boys 18&O 100 Free Finals: 53.66 National: 54.02S
Boys 18&O 100 Fly Finals: 1:00.20 National: 1:02.92S
The following swimmers attained qualifying times for international competitions:
Athena Gaskin – Goodwill A – 200m Freestyle
Ronaldo Rodrigues – Goodwill A – 100m Breaststroke
Jessica Stephenson – Carifta – 100m Breaststroke; Goodwill A – 50m Breaststroke, 200m Freestyle.
Britany van Lange – Carifta – 100m, 200m and 400m Freestyle
Apart from Stephenson, the other visiting athlete was Gabriel Gunby of Barbados. A GASA release noted that the two swimmers contributed to the high standard of the meet as the local athletes rose to challenge, generating fun and excitement.

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