Wynter happy with performance - Jamaica finish with 14 medals at CCCAN

Orane Hart, Gleaner Intern

Jamaica added two silver and a bronze medal to its overall tally on Sunday, the last day of competition at the Central American and Caribbean Swimming Championships (CCCAN) in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, for a total of 14 medals. This represents Jamaica's best ever medal-haul at the championships.

Kendese Nangle won both silver medals on Sunday, posting 1:05.49 (new national senior and age-group records) in the 100m backstroke and 29.50 in the 50m butterfly, taking her personal tally at the meet to five medals.

Timothy Wynter was third in the 50m butterfly in 26.22 seconds, a new national age-group record.

The 15-year-old Wynter, who also earned five medals at the championships - two gold, two silver and one bronze - and smashed records along the way, said he was "very pleased" with his performance.

"I am quite happy with my performances, especially since this is my first year competing at the CCCAN because the last one Jamaica didn't send any representatives because of the swine flu that had been going around at the time," said Wynter.

Wynter, who attends Campion College, broke his own national senior record in winning the gold in the 50m backstroke in a time of 26.96.

"I was just glad that I was able to outdo my personal best in the event. Swimming 26 secs is quite fast for someone my age," Wynter commented.

Wynter said that his long-term goal is to represent Jamaica on the global stage, such as the Olympics, in 2016.

"By that time I would be 20, so that is the dream. Hopefully I can become a finalist (at the Olympics)," he admitted.