Elinah Phillip, 11-12 age group Gold medalist in 50m & 100m Butterfly at 2013 OECS Swim Championships held in November in St. Lucia.
By: Eugenia O’Nea
Two age group swimmers, Amarah Phillip, girls 15-17, and Elinah Phillip, girls13-14, have been selected to represent the BVI at the XXIX Carifta Swimming Championship in Savaneta, Aruba from April 22 to 26. This will be the BVI’s second appearance at the event after the territory’s inaugural appearance in 2012.
This year’s competition has been sanctioned by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) as a Youth Olympic Qualifier (YOG) qualifier will also serve as a Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games qualifying event. The Championship is expected to attract the best in the region while offering a very high level of competition.
The swimmers will compete in four events each, the girls 50 and 100 freestyle, and the 50 and 100 butterfly.
“Based on the rankings going into the event, the BVI has an excellent chance of medalling and bringing home BVI’s first Carifta swimming medals. It will mark a huge milestone in swimming for the territory, especially for the BVISF which has only been active since its first team was dispatched in 2011 to the OECS championships,” said National Coach and President of the Swim Federation, Elsworth Philip. At the BVI’s first Carifta appearance in 2012, the swimmers performed exceptionally well, making appearances in the finals on that first outing.
The two swimmers will be accompanied by their parents, Mr. Phillip as Coach, and Tracy Bradshaw, BVISF Secretary, who will also act as Manager and Chaperone.
