Walter says CISC returns a 'boost'

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Jackie Walter, head coach of Jamaica's swimming team, said she was very delighted with their performance at this year's Caribbean Island Swimming Championships (CISC), which ended in Havana, Cuba, last Friday.

The Jamaicans finished fifth in the championships with 353 points.

Trinidad and Tobago won with 1,301 points, while Cuba ended second with 1,276 points. They were followed by The Bahamas (578) and Barbados (476). Aruba ended sixth with 312 points.

The Jamaicans captured 26 medals - three gold, 12 silver and 16 bronze. "I think that was a very good performance compared to the last time we travelled, which was in 2006, because I think our swimmers really made us proud," said Walter.

"I think it will be a boost for the medallists because I believe that it will certainly give them a lot confidence going into other major tournaments," Walter added.

Kevaughn Campbell was most outstanding Jamaican swimmer at the championships, as he won three gold medals in the 11-12 age group category.

The 12-year-old Campbell, who attends Wolmer's, also broke two meet and group records for his country at the championships.

100-metre breastroke

Campbell won the 100-metre breastroke in a new mark of 1:12.89. He then captured the 50m breastroke, also in a record 33.43 seconds. He then took his third gold medal of the championships when he won the 200m breastroke in 2:44.56.

Dominic Walter, son of head coach Jackie, broke the two national senior records on his way to winning five medals, which included two silver and three bronze.

Walter, who competed in the 15-17 age group, clocked 4:11.31 in the 400m freestyle to break the national record on his way to winning the silver medal.

Walter, who also attends Wolmer's, also earned silver in the 1500m butterfly in a new national mark of 16:40.15.

He then won the 5K Open Water event in 1:04.05.33. Walter also took home a bronze medal in the Individual Medley in 4:54.68.

Timothy Wynter also produced an outstanding performance, as he broke two national age-group records in the 13-14 category and, in the process, won four silver medals.

New national mark

Wynter finished second in the 100m butterfly in a new national mark of 59.94; captured silver in the 200m backstroke in a new national age-group record 2:14.76; then took silver in the 50m backstroke and 100m backstroke, respectively, in 28.47 and 1:01.83, respectively.

On the girls' side, Priscella McClure, competing in the 13-14 age category, won four medals, including two silver and two bronze.

McClure won silver in the 100m breastroke and 200m breastroke in 1:18.50 and 2:52.49, respectively. She took home bronze medals in the 200m butterfly in 2:35.10 and the 50m breastroke in 36.48.

Kendese Nangle, who competed in the 15-17 category, also won four medals - two silver and the two bronze. Nangle won silver in the 100m backstroke (1:06.93) and the 200m backstroke (2:28.98). She got bronze medals in the 50m butterfly (29.62) and 100m butterfly (1:09.02).

Victoria Hoo, who also competed in the 15-17 category, won two silver medals and a bronze. Hoo won silver in the 400m freestyle in 4:35.745 and the 800m freestyle in 9:27.74. She captured bronze medal in the 200m freestyle in 2:11.00.

Ivan Chang, competing in the 11-12 age group, also made it to the medal podium. She won bronze medals in the 50m freestyle (28.78) and 100m freestyle (1:03.71), while Alexia Eatmon won a bronze medal in the 15-17 50m backstroke in 31.56.

Jamaica's team of Wynter, Antonie Young, Sidrell Williams and Craig Burnett won bronze in the boys' 13-14 4x100m relay.