Two silver medals for Phillip at XXXII Carifta Swimming Championships

April 21, 2017 by

By BVI Swim Federation

Elinah Phillip won two silver medals representing the British Virgin Islands at the 32nd Carifta Swimming Championships held in the Bahamas April 15-19, 2017. Photo: BVI Swim Federation

Elinah Phillip won two silver medals representing the British Virgin Islands at the 32nd Carifta Swimming Championships held in the Bahamas April 15-19, 2017. Photo: BVI Swim Federation

Elinah Phillip won two silver medals representing the British Virgin Islands at the 32nd Carifta Swimming Championships held in the Bahamas April 15-19, 2017.

Elinah competed in three events, the 50 butterfly, 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle.

She came in second in the 50 meter butterfly race on April 16 ending the race with a new personal best and national record time of 28.13s.

On April 18, Elinah took the silver medal in the 50 meter freestyle with a time of 26.67. Prior to that race, she had placed 5th in the 100 meter freestyle with a season’s best of 59.30 in the heats and a time of 59.62 in the final.

Elinah’s medal winning times rank her 3rd and 4th respectively in the Great Britain rankings for her age group to date.

The regional meet which is the premier age group competition in the region, attracted the participation of athletes from 26 different countries

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BVI swimmers shine at Virgin Islands Short Course Swim Meet

February 10, 2017 by

By BVI Swim Federation

BVI Swim Federation swimmers from the Makos Swim Club (L to R) Coach Elworth Phillip, Arianna Angus, Khadijah Sampson, Kassia Nichols, Jaden Marshall, Kurt Salapare at the Virgin Islands Short Course Meet, St Thomas. Photo: BVI Swim Federation

Five Makos Swim Club Swimmers started their 2017 swim year with stellar performances at the USVI Birthday Bash Swim Meet on 28 January 2017.

Competing for Team BVI were Jaden Marshall, Khadijah Sampson, Kassia Nichols, Kurt Salapare, Arianna Angus. This was an open meet where all swimmers competed in mixed age group events.

Coach Elsworth Phillip said he was happy with the way the swimmers performed at this event simply based on the fact that the young swimmers had an opportunity to compete against older, stronger swimmers in mixed events. “Meets like these provide an opportunity for our swimmers to compete for better times as they are being pushed by stronger swimmers.”

Notable results for BVI Swimmers
Makos male swimmers showing great progress were Jaden Marshall swam 43.92” in the 50m breaststroke beating Kurt Salapare by a small margin of 0.65” to win the event. Not to be outdone by his teammate, Kurt Salapare sprinted to 1:11.08 in the 100 freestyle, the fastest time for a BVI male swimmer in this event.

Khadijah Sampson continues her dominance as the Virgin Islands top 9 to 10 year old female swimmer by winning three of the four events she competed in.

Events and Results:

50m Free

100m Free

200m Free

50m Fly

100m Fly

50m Breast

100m Breast

50m Back
Jaden Marshall

32.26

40.87

43.92
Kurt Salapare

32.46

1:11.08

44.57

1:35.54
Khadijah Sampson

39.97

1:32.45

3:23.12

53.41
Kassia Nichols

34.19

42.87

1:44.44

44.43
Arianna Angus

1:27.02

38.35

 1:36.69

45.13
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BVI Swimmers Grab 24 Medals At St. Croix Races

May 31, 2016 by
Photo provided

Photo provided

By BVI Platinum

The five-member BVI swimming team made the Territory proud with an impressive medal haul of twenty four medals at the 34th Dolphin Invitational Swimming Championships over the weekend in St. Croix.

The team, consisting of Five Makos/BVI Swim Federation swimmers, won 9 Gold, 12 Silver and 3 Bronze medals.

Top swimmer for team BVI was eight year-old Khadija Sampson, who won six gold medals in all of her individual events, and won the high point award for her age group with a perfect score of 120 points. She was also member of 12 and under relay teams that won of the gold and silver for team BVI.

Competing for team BVI were Keyon Sampson, Khadija, Kassia Nichols, Kurt Salapare and Arrianna Angus.

Coach Elsworth Phillip said he was happy with the way the swimmers performed at the two-day event, held annually in St. Croix.
He said this was the first time that the swimmers competed in a long course pool (50 meters) and they had great swims and established many personal best in their individual and relay events.

“I would like to thank the management of Prospect Reef for allowing our team to have a place to train; all that these kids achieve wouldn’t be possible without them providing a place for the kids to train,” Phillip said.

Four islands were represented at the meet – St. Croix Dolphins, St. Eustatius Super Splash Swim Team, St. Maarten Stingrays and the British Virgin Islands Makos Swim Club.

Other notable swimmers were Keon Sampson who won 2nd place high point honors in the 13 to 14 boys age group.

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Young BVI Swimmers to compete in EU Swim Series in Orlando

September 22, 2015 by
Photo courtesy of BVI Swim Federation

Photo courtesy of BVI Swim Federation

Six young BVI swimmers are to participate in the 10th Annual EU Swim Series in Orlando, Florida scheduled for 19th and 20th at the YMCA Aquatic Center. Hosted by the YMCA of Central Florida, the championship will see swimmers from nine countries participating in the first EU Swim in the Western Hemisphere. Previous EU Swims have been held in France, Brussels, Finland and other European countries. This will be the first time the BVI is participating.

The BVI team will be composed of Kassia Nichols, 12, (Elmore Stoutt High School), Kurt Salapare, 11, (St Georges Primary), Arianna Angus, 10, (St. Georges Primary), Kayla Roberts , 13, (Elmore Stoutt High School), Khadija Sampson 8, (Althea Scatliffe Primary School), and Tia Roberts, 7, (Althea Scatliffe Primary School).

“This championship is open to swimmers of all ages and levels so it will give our kids the opportunity to be exposed to world class age group competition while serving as an excellent prep meet for the OECS Swimming Championship in November,” said Coach and President of the BVI Swimming Federation, Elsworth Phillip, who is accompanying the team. “The slogan of this meet is Swimmers Without Borders which exemplifies the spirit of our swimmers who have been engaging in competitions around the region and the world.”

The EU Swim competition has been held in a different European city and country each year since its start in 2006 and, annually, has attracted between 200-600 swimmers from up to 12 countries. Though begun in Europe, the EU Swim is truly international and inclusive.

The YMCA Aquatic Center where the meet will be held boasts a long history of excellence with a record board that includes swimming greats Matt Biondi, Janet Evans, Missy Franklin and Michael Phelps. The competition itself will be held in the 8-lane, 25 meter by 25 yard pool.

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Makos Swim Teams shine in St Thomas

April 24, 2015 by

By BVI Swim Federation

Makos Teams took part in the St Thomas Swimming Association Spring Swim Meet on April 18, 2015. Photo: Provided

Makos Teams took part in the St Thomas Swimming Association Spring Swim Meet on April 18, 2015. Photo: Provided

Eleven Makos swim team members attended the St. Thomas Swimming Association (STSA) Spring Swim Meet which was held at the Aquatics Center on Saturday 18th April, 2015.

The Makos swimmers, four males and seven females ranging in age from 7-15, competed in four events, against teams from St. Thomas and St. John. No medals were given out at the meet but many of the Makos swimmers placed in the top three of their individual heats.

“Our swimmers have shown great commitment to their training and this was evident in their exceptional performances on Saturday,” said Coach Elsworth Phillip, pointing out that many of the Makos swimmers not only did well in their events but also set personal best times. “Some of our new swimmers showed spirit by challenging themselves in some strokes and were still able to place in the top 3. Overall this was a very successful and most importantly fun and developmental meet for team Makos.”

The Coach thanked the STSA for organizing the meet and for the invitation extended to Makos.

“ The BVI team did exceptionally well against the other competitors, proving that their hard work is paying off although the intent was a fun meet,” said parent Shauna Roberts.

Makos Swim club team members at the St Thomas Swimming Association Spring Swim Meet 2015. Photo: Provided

Makos Swim club team members at the St Thomas Swimming Association Spring Swim Meet 2015. Photo: Provided

Swimmers who competed were Makeeda Christopher, Diimori Maduro, Kayla Roberts, Tia Roberts, Arianna Angus, Jada Angus, Giselle Archibald-Bowers, Kassia Haymer, Kurt Godwin Salapare, Alexander Chinnery, and Raheem Johnson.

Makos will now gear up to compete at the upcoming May and June swim meets in St. Croix.

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