Team BVI reports on 2016 OECS Swimming Championship

By CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank

Diane Francis, Manager, Retail Banking, CIBC FirstCaribbean (L) with BVI Swim team members who competed in the 2016 OECS Swimming Championships (l-r), Khadija Sampson, Arianna Angus, Keon Sampson, Kurt Salapare, Kassia Nichols, swim coach, Elsworth Phillip, and Kishma Williams, Administrative Officer, CIBC FirstCaribbean. Missing from photo, swimmer Jaden Marshall. Photo: CIBC FirstCaribbean

Diane Francis, Manager, Retail Banking, CIBC FirstCaribbean (L) with BVI Swim team members who competed in the 2016 OECS Swimming Championships (l-r), Khadija Sampson, Arianna Angus, Keon Sampson, Kurt Salapare, Kassia Nichols, swim coach, Elsworth Phillip, and Kishma Williams, Administrative Officer, CIBC FirstCaribbean. Missing from photo, swimmer Jaden Marshall. Photo: CIBC FirstCaribbean

With the support of CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank and the BVI Olympic Committee, the BVI Swimming Federation sent its top six local based swimmers to the 26th OECS Swimming Championship which took place in St Vincent and the Grenadines on November 10-12.

The 2016 championships fielded a total of 187 competitive swimmers from the OECS region. Teams participating included Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, St. Martin, St. Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia and Martinique.

Khadija Sampson, who won the 2015 OECS Swimming Championship 100m freestyle bronze medal, participated in the Girls’ 8 and Under category competing in the 100m, 50m and 25m Freestyle, the 100m Individual Medley, the 25m ButterFly, the 25m Backstroke, and the 25m Breaststroke.

Arianna Angus, Kassia Nichols competed in the Girls’ 11-12 age group while Jaden Marshall, Keon Sampson and Kurt Salapare competed in the Boys’ 11-12 age group. Both sets of groups swam in the 400m, 200m, 100m & 50m Freestyle, the 100m & 50m Breaststroke, the 100m & 50m Butterfly, the 100m & 50m Backstroke, and the 200m & 100m Individual Medley.

The top male swimmer for Team BVI was Jaden Marshall who won three of his heats swimming to national records and top female swimmer for Team BVI was Khadija Sampson who swam to all personal best and became the first BVI 8 and under Swimmer to swim the 25m freestyle under 17 seconds swimming the event in 16.98 seconds.

This was the first swim meet of its size that the swimmers had competed in and representatives of CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank met with the young swimmers to recognise their representation of the territory and their personal achievements.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you and to hear about your performances and your experiences in St Vincent and the Grenadines,” said Ms Diane Francis, Retail Banking Manager. “CIBC FirstCaribbean is really proud to support you in your efforts and to encourage you to keep up with the hard work and effort in improving in your sport. It’s good to know that you enjoyed visiting a new country and meeting other young swimmers from around the region while representing the BVI. We look forward to keeping up with your progress.”

“Even though team BVI did not win a medal at this year’s OECS Swimming Champs, we were happy with the overall performance of our swimmers as they swam for many personal bests at the meet, which is a clear indication to their commitment to the sport,” said Elsworth Phillip, the BVI Swimming Federation coach, “As a Federation and as a team, we are very appreciative of the support and encouragement that we have received from CIBC FirstCaribbean and the BVI Olympic Committee.”

Download results.

The 2017 OECS Swimming Championships will be held in Martinique.

VI swimmers net spectacular results at St Thomas Swim Meet

Source: VINO

The Virgin Islands' swim team in St Thomas, USVI. Mrs Simone Foster (left) of Harneys is seen presenting a sponsorship check to the VI swimmers at the St Thomas Meet. Photo: Provided

The Virgin Islands’ swim team in St Thomas, USVI. Mrs Simone Foster (left) of Harneys is seen presenting a sponsorship check to the VI swimmers at the St Thomas Meet. Photo: Provided

Six Virgin Islands’ swimmers competed in the St Thomas 2016 October Opener Swim meet with spectacular swims and numerous personal best times last weekend in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands.

Swimming for Team Virgin Islands (VI) were Jaden Marshall, Keon Sampson, Kurt Salapare, Kassia Nichols, Khadija Sampson, and Arianna Angus and Coach Elsworth Phillip said he was happy with the many new personal best times.

Khadijah Sampson, competing in the U8 Division led the way with first place finishes in the 25m Freestyle event (21.19), 25m Breaststroke (25.99 new PB), 100M Freestyle (1:39.49) and a second place in the 25m Butterfly (22.71).

It was the team’s first meet since April and Elsworth pointed out that his team still has quite a bit of work to do heading into the OECS swimming Championships next month in St Vincent.

Jaden Marshall won the Boys 11-12 50m Breaststroke in a time of 45.13, which was a new PB and also finished first in the 50m Butterfly with a new PB of 42.29.

Arianna Angus claimed first place in the 11-12 Girls 100m Butterfly in a time of 1:41.69 (new PB) and in the 50m version with a new PB of 41.79.

Official Meet Results

Event Swimmer Place

Finals Time

Achievement
Boys 11-12 50Meter Freestyle Jaden Marshall 2nd

32.62

PB

Boys 11-12 50Meter Freestyle Kurt Salapare 3rd

33.63

PB

Boys 13 and Over 50Meter Freestyle Keon Sampson 4th

37.14

PB

Girls 8 & Under 25meter Freestyle Khadija Sampson 1st

21.19

Girls 11-12 50 Meter Breaststroke Kassia Nichols 2nd

45.04

PB

Boys 11-12 50 Meter Breaststroke Jaden Marshall 1st

45.13

PB

Boys 11-12 50 Meter Breaststroke Kurt Salapare 2nd

45.73

PB

Boys 13 & Over 50 Meter Breaststroke Keon Sampson 2nd

49.61

PB

Girls 8 & Under 25meter Breaststroke Khadija Sampson 1st

25.99

PB

Girls 11-12 100 Meter Butterfly Arianna Angus 1st

1:41.69

PB

Boys 11-12 50 Meter Backstroke Kurt Salapare 2nd

41.99

Girls 8 & Under 100 meter Freestyle Khadija Sampson 1st

1:39.49

Girls 11-12  100 meter Freestyle Kassia Nichols 4th

1:24.31

PB

Boys 11-12  100 meter Freestyle Jaden Marshall 2nd

1:19.59

PB

Boys 11-12 100 meter Freestyle Kurt Salapare 3rd

1:19.87

PB

Boys 13 & Over 100 meter Freestyle Keon Sampson 3rd

1:30.31

PB

Boys 11-12 50 Meter Butterfly Jaden Marshall 1st

42.29

PB

Girls 11-12 50 Meter Butterfly Arianna Angus 1st

41.79

PB

BOYS 13 & Over 50 Meter Butterfly Keon Sampson 4th

44.57

PB

Girls 8 & Under 25meterButterfly Khadija Sampson 2nd

22.71

Girls 11-12 100 Meter Breaststroke Kassia Nichols 2nd

1:42.63

PB

Girls 11-12 100 Meter IM Arianna Angus 2nd

1:34.79

PB