BVI Swim Federation:
Elinah Philip proudly bears the BVI flag as she collects her gold for her first place finish in a time of 28.71 in the Girls 13-14 50m fly. She is flanked by silver medalist, Keely Maduro, of Aruba, and Amira Pilgrim of Trinidad and Tobago.
Tortola, British Virgin Islands, April 24, 2014 – Elinah Phillip powered her way to a first place finish in the Girls 13-14 50m fly in a time of 28.71 to collect the BVI’s first gold at the XXIV CARIFTA Swimming Championships in Aruba last evening. This is the territory’s first CARIFTA swimming gold and its second appearance at the Caribbean’s premier age group swimming event following an inaugural appearance in 2012.
Keeley Maduro of Aruba and Amira Pilgrim of Trinidad were second and third in the 50m fly event. All three shattered the old record of 29.49.
Elinah previously picked up a bronze for her time of 1:08.82 in the Girls 13 – 14 100m fly on the first night of the Championships.
“The team is off to a fantastic start,” said Elsworth Philip, President of the BVI Swimming Federation. “The Federation hasn’t looked back since its first team event in 2011 and we continue to go from strength to strength, with a cadre of age group swimmers based at home and abroad who are propelling BVI swimming forward despite the local challenges and setbacks.”
The Championships are an annual age group meet for the Caribbean, similar in form and origin to its athletics counterpart. This year’s event has been sanctioned by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) as a Youth Olympic Games qualifier and has attracted the best in the region for a very high level of competition. The Championships also serve as a Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games qualifying event.
Elinah and her sister, Amarah, were the BVI’s sole qualifiers at this year’s CARIFTA Championships which features 23 countries and territories from around the Caribbean region. The five day competition will see the BVI athletes work through the rounds in the sprint events with their eyes fixed on gaining places on the winner’s podium as they swim their way into the CARIFTA and BVI record books with medals in tow.
“We’d like to thank the Swimming Federation’s partners, including the BVI Olympic Committee, for providing the grant funding that made the trip possible, and also KPMG for their continued assistance,” said the girls’ mother and Federation Secretary General, Tracey Bradshaw.
The Championships run from 22nd to 26th April.
